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Unintended Consequences of China´s One-Child Policy

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  • Howden, David
  • Zhou, Yang

Abstract

This paper gives a brief overview of the family planning policy of China which, although being recently relaxed, still controls a large swath of the population. Unofficially known as the “one-child policy”, the policy resulted when the social strife of the 1970s coupled with a Malthusian pessimism concerning the capability of the still largely closed and isolated Chinese economy to care for itself. In this paper we overview the motivations for the policy, the unfortunate demographic future that it will create, and some policy choices that can be undertaken today to alleviate these issues.

Suggested Citation

  • Howden, David & Zhou, Yang, 2014. "Unintended Consequences of China´s One-Child Policy," MPRA Paper 79607, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:79607
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • O21 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Planning Models; Planning Policy
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East

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