ABSTRACT
Chapter 3 explores the issue of low fertility levels from an alternative perspective. First, the study introduces the main factors identified in the framework of low fertility studies outside China and shows they also exist in China. Second, methodologies employed in past population studies are discussed in this chapter. In addition, this chapter attempts to explore theoretical solutions to issues in strategic policy making concerning the fertility rate. Our study also provides an overview of the history of theories of population study and family planning in China, and unequivocally points out that theories on an optimal population size shouldn’t be taken for granted as the goal for population growth in China, because the researchers who postulate that the ideal size of population for China should be a few hundred million failed to closely study the population growth rate and population structure, and failed to identify the population trends. Thus, their postulations should not serve as a strategic target for population growth.
