ABSTRACT
The One Child Policy has had a profound effect on the lives of nearly one-quarter of the world’s population for a quarter of a century. The Policy was introduced in 1979 because population containment was seen as essential to economic growth. It consists of regulations governing family size, with one child allowed in urban areas and two children in most rural areas. The demographic impact includes: 1) a reduction in total fertility rate from 2.9 to 1.7, with 250-300 million births prevented; 2) an increase in the male:female sex ratio, from 1.06 in 1970 to 1.17 in 2000; and 3) an increase in the population over 65 years from 5% in 1982 to 7.5% in 2004. Women have benefited from fewer pregnancies and safe abortion, but contraceptive choice is limited and unapproved pregnancies have a higher mortality. There is little empirical evidence for harm to psychosocial adjustment and development. The Policy was planned for the short term, with a goal to create a small family culture, and evidence suggests this has been achieved. This, together with the huge societal
changes, the unpopularity of the policy, and problems with enforcement, suggests that China is ready for a Two Child Policy.
