What Are the Pros and Cons of China’s One Child Policy?

China’s so-called one child policy has had the effect of drastically reducing the birth rate and controlling population growth while causing distress and disruption at the personal level. China formally announced plans to ease the policy in December 2013.

The one child policy was implemented in 1979 after a decade when China’s population surged, growing at a rate of 2 percent annually. While the policy did succeed in curbing population growth, and therefore supporting its rapid economic growth at 7 to 8 percent annually, there have been many negative social consequences:

• A skewing of the population in favor of male children via increased abortion rates of female fetuses and neglect of female babies
• Forced abortions and infanticide
• An aging population demographic overall.

History

From Wimbledon to the French Open: The History of Grand Slam Tournaments in Tennis

Science

These Endangered Species Were Brought Back From Extinction in the Wild

World View

What Are the Different Types of Microcomputers?

Pets & Animals

Are Turtles a Good First Pet?

World View

How to Replace Your Lost Social Security Card

Science

What Moon Is It This Month? A Year-Round Glossary of Named Moons