Population Change

Question 1

When was China’s One Child Policy introduced and modified?

Answer 1

Introduced in 1979

Modified in the last few years (maybe 2015)

Question 2

List the guidelines of the One Child policy

Answer 2

• couples may only have one child
• People with one child were given better access to schools, housing, health care and wages
• People who had more than one child had to pay an extremely expensive fine

Question 3

Successes of the One Child policy

Answer 3

• Population growth rates have fallen
• Around 250million fewer births than there would have been
• Helped china’s recent rapid economic growth
• Reduced overpopulation

Question 4

Problems of the One Child policy

Answer 4

• Led to forced abortions and sterilisation
• Female infanticide because of the traditional preference for men to work
• Men now outnumber women by more than 60million
• Many Chinese people unhappy because they want a larger family
• Many only children are the focus of attention in their family and became very spoilt (the emperor effect)
• Still over 6million more births than deaths each year
• As single children grow up they have to support two parents and four grandparents (4-2-1 problem)
• Young men may be unable to find wives.

Question 5

Modifications to the One Child policy

Answer 5

• Couples in China can now have 2 children

Question 6

Give an example of an alternative birth control policy

Answer 6

Kerala, India

Question 7

Describe Kerala and India’s population before the policy

Answer 7

• India has the second largest population in the world: 1.1 billion people
• Rapid growing
• Overpopulation problems –> food, water shortages and poverty
• Kerala has low birth rates and death rates in comparison to the rest of India

Question 8

Which social welfare schemes have been put in place in Kerala?

Answer 8

• Education: all children go to school until 16. Adult literacy classes available. Literacy rates = 97%
• Health Care Standards: excellent, life expectancy = 73. Improved access to doctors, vaccinations and medical advice reducing infant mortality
• Family planning: free contraception
• Higher incomes: result of redistribution of land –> less poverty, better living standards, improved health

Question 9

Results of the Kerala schemes

Answer 9

• More literate women –> paid work, marry later
• Family planning education: choose number and spacing between children
• Better health care –> less infant mortality
• Encourage parents to have fewer children

Question 10

Describe France’s ageing population schemes to encourage people to have more children

Answer 10

• Parents given three years paid leave from work
• Day care is subsidised for children < age 3
• Full-time nursery care and schooling from age 3 is paid for by the state
• Mothers with three or more children are allowed to retire early with a pension
• Families with 3+ children get monthly allowances and tax concessions
• Birthrates are 1.9 children per adult which is higher than the EU average but a third of the population will be over 60 by 2050