1. The People’s Republic of China
Nature of the One Child Policy

2. Prior to One-Child Policy
The Great Leap Forward ( )
A campaign led by Mao Zedong (leader of the Communist party of China)
introduction of mandatory agricultural collectivization
private farming was prohibited
food production dropped drastically
primary cause of Great Chinese Famine
enforced through social pressures (struggle sessions)
rapidly increased death rate (famine)
decline in birth rate– no desire to have children
population decline

3. After the population decreases…
Reforms of Great Leap Forward were abandoned by 1962
Birth rate and death rate returned to previous levels
radicals in the communist party took over in the 70’s– causing many disruptions
little was done to resolve the countries population growth issues (over a decade)

4. One-Child Policy
Introduced in 1979 by leader Deng Xiaoping as a temporary measure of halting population growth:
All pregnancies must be authorized by women’s work unit
“Granny police” - signs of pregnancy are reported to community officials
Female sterilization encouraged
Centralized around rewards (government payments, land, etc.) and punishments (large fine, loss of land, forced sterilization and/or abortion)

5. One-Child Policy By 2002 Chinese legislation strengthened the policy:
Educating, providing jobs, improving the health and status of women is compulsory in family/population planning
Discrimination and maltreatment of female infants banned
Sex determination & sex-selective abortions prohibited

6. One-Child Policy
After 2002, many wealthy urban citizens disregarded the policy and paid the fines In response they were given larger fines, put on an official “bad credit” file, and banned from receiving any social awards or honors This policy is likely to undergo more revision

8. Impact on Culture/Society
Limited reproduction to one child per being in a culture that depends on sons to take care of parents in old age = sex-determination, gender bias abortion, and infanticide. Women’s rights suffer greatly (with lack of education)
In reaction the PRC added educating, providing jobs, improving the health and status of women to the policy
Also causes problems for the many adult men who have don’t have any women to marry
Experts consider this could result in human trafficking of young girls
Literacy rate = 94.2%
13% of the country in poverty (living under $1.25 USD a day)

10. Impact on Population Approx. 1.3 billion Fertility rate: 1.64
Slowed population growth (increasing still b/c large base)
Aim to banish hunger and raise living standards

12. Impact on Economy
Brought individual economic prosperity, (if policies are followed) you could received grants and land
Raised the middle class population to ¼ of the country
Over all spending and consuming more
More jobs supplied, more women in the workforce
Reduced the number of dependents per household and freedom for women to enter workforce
Population control efforts have helped hundreds of millions out of poverty & contributed to China's economic growth