China Case Study

Question 1

What are the key facts of the One Child Policy?

Answer 1

• Established in 1979 by the government
• 400 million birth were said to be prevented
• Only one child/ family
• Priviledges were offered to couples with only one child
• 2015: policy was relaxed to two children.

Question 2

What were the social impacts?

Answer 2

• Cut China’s fertility rate to 1.4-1.7 children/woman
• Human rights violation (forced abortions and sterilisation)
• Children would end up lonely and spoilt
• Social imbalance and female infantiside, e.g. in Linchuan, there are 100 girls for every 150 boys.

Question 3

What were the economic impacts?

Answer 3

• Ageing population
• Lack of workers
• Large unequal fines (up to £700,000)

Question 4

What were the environmental impacts?

Answer 4

• More resources availiable
• Less strain on the environment
• Less pollution (sulfur emission declined by 17.5% in large cities)