2.  Initiated in 1980, the policy was intended to rein in explosive population growth and help raise living standards.  Led to a host of problems – abortions and sterilization forced upon women by officials to meet population targets. Tiny families place heavy burden of elderly care on single children

3.  New rules allow couples to have two children if one spouse is an only child.  Previous exemptions allowed some rural couples to have a 2 nd child and ethnic minorities to have more.

4.  This reform seems easier to deliver for the Chinese government than change on problems such as poor medical care and pollution that have developed with the country`s huge growth.

5.  Demographers say the new policy comes too late to solve the labour crisis in China’s rapidly ageing society.  Should only see modest growth one to two million births over the next 3 years.  They won’t enter the workforce for another 20 years.

6.  China’s working-age population (15-64) is shrinking.  Expected to lose 67 million workers between 2010-2030  Fewer Chinese are having or wanting children. The average # of children born per couple in the city is 0.7.