China's Population Policies Overview

China's Population Policies

• 1975: China implemented a "late, long, and few" slogan, promoting late marriage and fewer children.
• 1979: The Communist Party mandated a one-child policy, officially limiting families to one child.
• 1984: China adjusted the policy, allowing some exceptions for rural areas and certain circumstances (disabled child, ethnic minorities, remote areas, and both parents being only children).
• 2013: An exception was added, allowing two children for families where only one parent was an only child.
• 2015: The one-child policy was abolished, allowing all couples to have two children.

Benefits of the One-Child Policy

• Empowerment of women: Increased educational opportunities for women.
• Financial benefits for families: The ability to provide better education and opportunities for the single child.
• Increased job opportunities: More jobs became available in China due to the workforce having one less child per family to provide for.
• Improved health outcomes: Increased life expectancy and reduced poverty.

Disadvantages of the One-Child Policy

• Forced contraception and sterilization: Mandatory use of contraception and sterilization measures.
• Gender imbalance: Created a disproportionate gender ratio at birth in China, favouring males over females in many ways.
• Child abandonment and adoption: Forced parents to abandon or give up children for adoption.
• Unnecessary fertility counseling: Couples seeking fertility counseling even when not necessary.
• Migration for childbirth: Chinese citizens would leave the country to have children.
• Violation of UN reproductive rights: Violated United Nations policies on reproductive rights.
• Ageing population: Growing elderly population, threatening the overall workforce strength.

China's Population Concerns

• Ageing population: Life expectancy increased from 40 in 1950 to 73 in 2010. Predictions indicate more than 30% of the population will be over 60 by 2050. This is a 4-2-1 family structure (four grandparents, two parents, and one child).

"Shikumen" Housing

• Former prevalence: Housing more than 60% of Shanghai's population in the 1950s.
• Decreasing prevalence: Rapidly disappearing.
• Characteristics: Closely packed, 2-3 story buildings. Often in disrepair due to age.
• Amenities: Some converted to community amenities due to densely populated areas.
• Living conditions:
• Advantages: Convenience, low amenity costs. Close-knit social ties provided increased security.
• Disadvantages: Fire hazards, lack of running water and sufficient space for growing population. Overcrowding.

Pudong

• Transformation: Pudong waterfront transformed into a major development zone since 1990, resulting in today's iconic skyline.
• Economic hub: Significant presence as important port, sporting venue, financial center, high tech zones.

Sichuan Province

• Rural life: Primarily farmers, living at subsistence levels in single-room farmhouses around courtyards.
• Modernisation: Recent improvements in housing with running water, electricity, and multiple bedrooms; however, lacks sewage disposal.
• Traditional farming: Rice cultivation and fish/duck farming continue.
• Economic challenges: Low wages and manual labour used in traditional agriculture techniques.
• Potential benefits of rural growth: Cost of living being lower with less pollution and access to fresh air. Food needs of the growing population of Shanghai.
• Concerns: Challenges with modern machinery and industrialization

Shenzhen

• Rapid growth: From a fishing town of 30,000 to a world city and manufacturing hub with 12 million people in recent decades.
• Economic activities: Electronics, telecommunications, high technology, financial services, and tourism are significant to the economy.
• Location: Situated in Guangdong province, part of the Pearl River Delta region. Close proximity to Hong Kong and Macau via transportation.
• Status: Special Economic Zone (SEZ) since 1979.
• Development policies: Tax exemptions, grants/loans, and reduced rates for businesses within the SEZ. Foreigner friendliness.
• Economic impact: Attributed significant growth to China's economy, but leading to various concerns.
• Concerns: Unsustainable use of resources, pollution, exploitation of labour due to low wages and long work hours. Compromises for industrial safety and health. Dependence on export demand, making it susceptible to international economic changes.