Policy Responses to Demographic Change

Policy Responses to Policy Responses to Demographic Demographic

Change Change

Population Policies

Pro-natalist / Expansive

Anti-natalist / Restrictive

Why would a country want Why would a country want a pro-natalist policy ?a pro-natalist policy ?

http://www.aishbaltimore.com/zz/family/rebbitzen/The_Joys_of_A_Large_Family.asp

http://www.imb.org/southern-africa/images/Malagasy_children.jpg

Why would a country want Why would a country want an an

anti-natalist policyanti-natalist policy ? ?

http://www.upiasia.com/thumbnails/63232c7d88b2a81dfa3c881741f3ac7a.jpg

Population PoliciesPopulation Policies

• Expansion Policies –Encourage large families –Tax incentives

• Eugenic Policies –Policies designed to favor one sector over another

• Restrictive Policies – Toleration of unapproved birth control– Prohibition of large families

Population PoliciesPopulation Policies

Population ControlPopulation Control• Obstacles

– Manufacture/distribution expense

– Religion– Low female status– Preference for male

children

Birth Control Programs

• One family/one child policies– Female infanticide– Social compensation fees

• Sterilization• Loss of status• Termination

healthcare/food coupons

• Free birth control• Increased literacy

Limitations of Population Limitations of Population Policies Policies

• Urbanization and industrialization more effective than restrictive properties

• Education of women helps more than sex education (1 year education = reduces fertility by 5-10 percent)

• Restricting immigration ages a population

Japan vs. China

Japan – Post Japan – Post WWIIWWII

• Refugees return from colonies• Soldiers return home to families • American occupation improved

medical stuff• Birth rate increased and death

rate dropped

Japan – Eugenic Japan – Eugenic Protection ActProtection Act

• Legalized abortions for social, medical, and economic reasons

• Contraceptives were made available

• Enormous abortions brought down the birth rate – BR +34 per 1000 in 1947 – BR 18 per 1000 in 1957

Japan – Expansionary Japan – Expansionary PolicyPolicy

• 1991 – government encouraged parents to have larger families

• Immigration restrictions limit influx of younger workers

• Will probably use technology to improve productivity

• Japan on the road to negative growth

Japan – Aging Crisis

• 23,000 – Centenarians

• Grows by 13% annually

• Oldest member 114

Japan – Economic Impact

• Under 100 million people by the middle of the century

• 30 million fewer workers at a time when the number of elderly will have almost doubled

• By 2050, if the birth rate remains the same people over 60 will make up over 30% of the population

China – Under Mao • Mao Zedong was

against population control

• Following Mao’s death in 1979 the government introduced population controls

China – One Child Policy China – One Child Policy

• 1979 Policy to encourage couples to have one child

• Applied loosely at first, which did not work

• Restrictions tightened in 1982• Created dramatic reduction in the

birth rate

One Child Policy 1979

- rewards start once 1 child contract is signed

Rewards

•free medical care •free daycare and schooling•guaranteed job for child•bonuses for parents•extra maternity leave•better housing•bigger old age pension

Penalties

•must repay financial benefits•educational, medical benefits, & guaranteed jobs are withdrawn•parents’ wages reduced

Penalties and hardships of the one-child policy

• Farming families had no extra labor and defied authorities

• Gov’t fired offenders from jobs

80,000 Family Planning Workers

Practice birth control for the revolution

source: http://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/pop1.html

source: http://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/pop1.html source: http://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/pop1.html

source: http://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/pop1.html

Millions of dollars have been spent on

education and on advertising.

http://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/pop1.html

http://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/pop1.html

Carry out family planning Implement the basic national policy

http://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/pop.html

Clever and pretty healthy and lovely

source: http://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/pop.html

http://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/pop.htmlhttp://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/pop1.html

http://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/pop.html

http://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/pop1.html

Why do the posters often suggest an association between economic prosperity

and happy 1 child families ?

China – Social Impact China – Social Impact

• Female infanticide• Over 300,000 more males survive

than females• Future males will substantially

outnumber females • Social consequences are unknown

How many missing girls are there in the under 20 categories ?How many missing girls are there in the under 20 categories ?

China – Relaxation of Policy

• 1984 – regulations loosened • Weakened enforcement • Peasants with rising incomes

would pay the fines for births • 2000 Growth rate = .9%

The End!