son of witless

Why do they have a two child limit for couples ? Granted it is an improvement over their previous one child policy, but everything is still about limiting the number of births. I realize they have an over population, but these policies are foolish. They will eventually have not have enough young people to balance out their older population.

The WSJ compared China to Japan. Japan has that problem now because many of their women have chosen not to have children. Japan as the article points out got rich before it got old and likely will muddle through the present.

China will be old before it becomes rich. I believe the journal cite 2040 or somewhere in the after years when this will hit them hard. I speculate that China as it's medical science improves will have more of it's elderly live longer, as in every other developed nation, and if there are not enough young people to take care of them and replace them in the work force, this becomes a huge issue.

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

The One Child Policy didn't prevent people from having more children... As evidenced by the fact that China continued to grow....

It just limited the benefits..

The Two Child policy is in response to the aging population...

I assure you that they are aware of the dangers...

son of witless

Why any restriction ? I don't see the downside. Relaxing freedom of choice on reproduction might lessen the pressures of their other limits of personal freedoms. I doubt with their modernization they would have an uncontrollable population explosion. Chinese women likely would not en mass suddenly want 6 or more children to birth and raise. Those families who did want many kids would help with the dearth of younger people.

Unless the Central Authority fears stronger family units which would be a consequence of allowing larger families. Larger families are generally a positive for any country.

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

In poorer areas the average family size is three to five children...

Large families are great for strong economies... Less so for weak ones...

A simple fact is that poorer folk tend to have larger families...

son of witless

How are they having large families when that is against the law ?

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

Because it's not against the law...

The One Child Policy is often misunderstood. .

Under the OCP a family is allowed one child who will receive full benefits from the government... (exceptions are made for twins, triplets, etc...As well as ethnic groups...My Manchurian wife is one of two children)...

If a family opts for a second child then certain benefits are withheld... Free education, healthcare, tax breaks... And if a member of the party, they are expelled... government employees will lose their jobs..

But nothing prevents an individual from having multiple children if they desire it... Most farmers don't care about the benefits... And are not party members... So they have larger families...

Many businessmen as well... As being able to afford multiple children is a sign of prestige...

To my knowledge there have been several attempts (especially in Central provinces) to try and enforce the OCP by more draconian measures... Forced a******ns and sterilizations... But they were not wide spread, nor were they federal policy...

working class stiff Loc: N. Carolina

When I read the title I thought 'of course, sperm are in a race to be first. That's r****m.'

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

And they're all white

son of witless

Okay some people break the law and live with the consequences. Are they a large number or percentage ? I am guessing most people obey. I am still unclear as to why the government continues restricting births at all. The only possible downside I see is that certain ethnic minorities the central authority fears might suddenly increase in number. I have read of large numbers of farmers being displaced in the Chinese economy and moving to cities, so that faction of large families will decrease over time.

You mentioned businessmen having large families. China has a growing, what is the word, Merchant Class, Oligarchs, or wh**ever, who have the money to get around the rules that control the working class and poor. This has to breed corruption. It has to. In my readings of the old Soviet Union anyone with connections and wealth greased the rails for themselves and their families. It was a necessity for life and prosperity.

Black Markets and corruption were the lubrication that kept the old Soviet economy from grinding to a halt. China with it's Oligarchs must have incestuous relationships between them and regional party officials. It is natural human behavior. I also suspect the higher party officials have all of the children they want. Pure speculation on my part. I think there is also a Chinese nobility within the party, what with children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. It must be great when money marries into political power and you get a union of Oligarch and High Party dynasties.

Sorry that is my European Medieval Historical reading taking over.

debeda

PaulPisces Loc: San Francisco

The disparities you reference are almost always due to economic hardships usually associated with single parents, not the lack of the emotional or moral strength of having a second parent. I am one of three children raised b a single mother in the 50s, we had little money, but I turned out just fine.

debeda

I agree with you. I raised 4 children alone and they turned out fine, too. Way better than they would have had I kept their dad around, IMO.

Lt. Rob Polans ret.

I guess I did something right then, my daughter never got in trouble with the law, did great in school, and has her own business in Kansas. Other single parents I think weren't that lucky.