Tracing The Demographic Changes Of China And Singapore

China

Understanding the demographic changes and policies ЁC and their impacts ЁC of China is important, as it holds more than 20% of the worldЎЇs population. If left unchecked, its large population might potentially pose a catastrophe as it leads to strain in EarthЎЇs resources.

1. First Five Year Plan (1949-1953)

After World War II had ended in 1949, China was concerned about re-building the nation. Hence the prevailing state philosophy during that time was that ÐŽoa large population gives a strong nationÐŽ± ЁC more workers would result in China being able to re-build society faster.

Therefore, the government swung into action, giving couples payment up front for every baby born, as well as banning sterilization and abortion. These measures were also compounded by the mentality of procreating more after the war, so as to make up for the loved ones who had perished during the war, and perhaps also for social security, thus leading to high birth rates. Meanwhile, with improved medical supplies and medical care, death rates were also falling. As a result, there was rapid population growth of a net increase of 10 million people a year.

2. First Birth Control Plan and the Great Leap Forward (1954-1962)

By 1954, the population size was 10% more than in 1949, reaching an astounding figure of 600 million people. The impacts of a large population were soon felt in areas of housing, education and medical facilities, hence the government embarked on the first birth control programme in 1956.

However, this was thwarted by a period of attempted industrialization called the ÐŽoGreat Leap ForwardÐŽ±, where everyone ЁC including farmers ЁC were made to produce steel at all costs. With the men of the family all gone out to produce steel, the farms were left only to women and children. As a result, this led to a catastrophic famine which left an estimated 20 million people dead. During this time, infant mortality rates also rose, and birth rates fell as the men were constantly engaged in steel production, leaving them little time or energy to spend with their families or even procreate. The low birth rates were probably also due to the famine, where there were hardly even to feed the surviving members of the family, much less to feed another newborn.

Ironically, under the philosophy of the ÐŽoGreat Leap ForwardÐŽ±, births were actually encouraged as it was thought that there might be labour shortages. However, by 1962, the government had changed its mind, as production had not been rising, hence a new phase of birth control begun in 1964.

3. Second Birth Control Programme and Cultural Revolution (1964-1970)

Just as the birth control programme started in 1964 was having some effect, the Cultural Revolution took place in 1966. The Cultural Revolution instilled fear and insecurity in the people, hence sparking off high birth rates, as more children would provide them with higher sense of security, since killings and torture were rampant during those days. Hence, during the 1960s, ChinaЎЇs population increased by 55 million every 3 years, and this number was the size of the entire UK population.

4. State Family Planning Programmes (1971-1979)

Order was restored once again in 1971 after the Cultural Revolution, and state family planning programmes were introduced. By 1975, the average family consisted of 3 children, but this was still considered too large a family size by the government. Hence, a third family planning campaign was launched with the slogan ÐŽoLater, Longer, FewerÐŽ± ЁC later marriages, longer gaps between children, and fewer children. The whole campaign was driven mainly by propaganda.

Although birth rates were indeed falling, but even if the family size had been reduced to two, it would still mean that ChinaЎЇs population would double within 50 years.

5. ÐŽoOne-Child PolicyÐŽ± (1979-2004)

Due to still-unacceptable high birth rates, which might put a strain to ChinaЎЇs resources, the government decided to act more forcefully, and thus launched a ÐŽoone-child policyÐŽ±, so that by 2000, the total population would be capped at 1.2 billion people.

A set of measures, including both incentives and penalties, were introduced to persuade people to only have one child. Incentives included free education, priority housing, pension and family benefits. Financial penalties such as wage reductions ranging between 10% to 15% of the parentsЎЇ wages up to a period of 14 years are also part of such ÐŽopersuasionÐŽ± measures. Besides, a marriageable age was also set ЁC 22 for men and 20 for women. Couples also had to apply to the state for permission to get married, and again, to have children. However, couples who come from one-child families were allowed to have up to two children. However, there must be a gap of at least 4 years between the two children, and there is also extensive red tape in applying to have two children.

It is indeed ChinaЎЇs official stated policy that observance to such policies is voluntary and is to be achieved through ÐŽopersuasionÐŽ±. However, in practice, more forceful coercion measures were often taken at a local level, especially in the years 1980-1983 when the one-child policy was stringently carried out throughout the nation. These coercive measures include compulsory abortions for a second pregnancy as well as forced sterilizations. Female infanticide was also rampant, since girls were thought to be a liability according to the Chinese, as they were another familyЎЇs ÐŽopropertyÐŽ±, because it was a case of sooner or later where the daughter would be married off to another family and belong there. Moreover, since China is still largely an agrarian-driven society, sons are an asset, especially in the rural areas. This has therefore led to a huge imbalance in the sex ratio, where there is 118 males for every 100 females. This can pose as a problem in the future, where large numbers of unmarried men might lead to social instability or even a huge demand for prostitution.

However, disparities surfaced in the expectations of urban and rural families. Expectations of the rural families were more relaxed since it was hard to implement coercive measures in vast countryside areas. Rural families are also generally larger, because they see their children as their social security guarantee ЁC due to relatively higher infant mortality rates, and also as an extra pair of hands if they are farmers. Hence, incentives are used more than