Cons
Little Emperors
In China, the One-Child Policy has led to a generation of pampered only children, better known as the Little Emperors. When couples give birth to a single child, their offspring are more likely to inherit certain personality and behavioral traits. A study done by a team of Australian economists shows a variety of negative traits that are common amongst China’s Little Emperors; people born under the one-child policy were significantly less trusting and less trustworthy, less willing to take risks, and less competitive than Chinese citizens who were born before the One-Child Policy. After conducting personality tests, it was evident that the Little Emperors were less conscientious and more neurotic than those born before 1979. It was also evident that the Chinese citizens born under the One-Child Policy were prominently pessimistic.
Another study shows similar results.
LITTLE EMPERORS WERE:
3.3% Less altruistic
4.5% Less trusting
of others
8.3% Less willing
to take
risks in an
investment
scenario
7.6% Less
competitive
In China, the One-Child Policy has led to a generation of pampered only children, better known as the Little Emperors. When couples give birth to a single child, their offspring are more likely to inherit certain personality and behavioral traits. A study done by a team of Australian economists shows a variety of negative traits that are common amongst China’s Little Emperors; people born under the one-child policy were significantly less trusting and less trustworthy, less willing to take risks, and less competitive than Chinese citizens who were born before the One-Child Policy. After conducting personality tests, it was evident that the Little Emperors were less conscientious and more neurotic than those born before 1979. It was also evident that the Chinese citizens born under the One-Child Policy were prominently pessimistic.
Another study shows similar results.
LITTLE EMPERORS WERE:
3.3% Less altruistic
4.5% Less trusting
of others
8.3% Less willing
to take
risks in an
investment
scenario
7.6% Less
competitive
China's Elderly Population
Because of dramatic declines in fertility, China faces a rapidly aging population. China’s elderly make up approximately 1/8 of its populace. By 2050, one third of all Chinese people will be aged over 60.
Shanghai is one of the largest aging cities in the world. One in every four Shanghai citizens is retired. In Shanghai, twenty percent of the population (out of 13.6 million citizens) is over the age of 59; by 2020, one third of Shanghai's residents will be over 59. China’s largest eastern cities embrace about 100,000 new seniors each year.
The imbalance between young and old threatens the country's pension system. Because China’s population is aging at such a rapid pace, the pension system is inadequate to support the entire elderly population. This has begun to show signs of labor shortages and a decrease in China’s economic boom. One way to relieve the pressures on the pension system would be to increase the retirement age. Although this would solve one problem, more may arise; young people will have a hard time finding jobs and old people would resent the change in retirement age.
The One-Child Policy has left China with an insufficient number of young people to care for the aging. On top of this, China has a very small nursing home sector in comparison to its growing elderly populace. Only the very old (age 85) are candidates for nursing home care; about 2% of China’s elders live in a state nursing home. As a result, people from younger generations are hired as caregivers for the aging population. So far, there are only 100,000 government hired caregivers throughout all of China. These caregivers are paid very poorly ($95 a month) to monitor China’s elderly men and women. In order to aid China’s continuously growing elderly population, more government provided care is needed. Demographers estimate that by 2040 China will have the same number of elderly people with dementia as the rest of the world put together; disadvantages and illnesses such as this call for even more government support. If the Chinese government fails to increase its involvement in care-giving, citizens could face further hardships down the road.
However, the Chinese government dreads the nations aging population for a different reason; they fear that China’s economic model could be breaking down. China’s economy relies on a supply of cheap and young workers; one quarter of economic success in China is a result of low-cost laborers. However, because China faces a severe increase in elderly citizens, the supply of young people is disappearing, leading to severe labor shortages. A lack of young and cheap employees has already shown to be problematic in eastern cities like Shanghai. Because of the aging population, investors have begun moving factories to inland locations where the work force is both cheaper and younger. Officials worry that if industries don’t move inland, the rural population will migrate outward into large cities and depopulate the countryside. China is facing a struggle in which it has grown too old to get rich.
Because of dramatic declines in fertility, China faces a rapidly aging population. China’s elderly make up approximately 1/8 of its populace. By 2050, one third of all Chinese people will be aged over 60.
Shanghai is one of the largest aging cities in the world. One in every four Shanghai citizens is retired. In Shanghai, twenty percent of the population (out of 13.6 million citizens) is over the age of 59; by 2020, one third of Shanghai's residents will be over 59. China’s largest eastern cities embrace about 100,000 new seniors each year.
The imbalance between young and old threatens the country's pension system. Because China’s population is aging at such a rapid pace, the pension system is inadequate to support the entire elderly population. This has begun to show signs of labor shortages and a decrease in China’s economic boom. One way to relieve the pressures on the pension system would be to increase the retirement age. Although this would solve one problem, more may arise; young people will have a hard time finding jobs and old people would resent the change in retirement age.
The One-Child Policy has left China with an insufficient number of young people to care for the aging. On top of this, China has a very small nursing home sector in comparison to its growing elderly populace. Only the very old (age 85) are candidates for nursing home care; about 2% of China’s elders live in a state nursing home. As a result, people from younger generations are hired as caregivers for the aging population. So far, there are only 100,000 government hired caregivers throughout all of China. These caregivers are paid very poorly ($95 a month) to monitor China’s elderly men and women. In order to aid China’s continuously growing elderly population, more government provided care is needed. Demographers estimate that by 2040 China will have the same number of elderly people with dementia as the rest of the world put together; disadvantages and illnesses such as this call for even more government support. If the Chinese government fails to increase its involvement in care-giving, citizens could face further hardships down the road.
However, the Chinese government dreads the nations aging population for a different reason; they fear that China’s economic model could be breaking down. China’s economy relies on a supply of cheap and young workers; one quarter of economic success in China is a result of low-cost laborers. However, because China faces a severe increase in elderly citizens, the supply of young people is disappearing, leading to severe labor shortages. A lack of young and cheap employees has already shown to be problematic in eastern cities like Shanghai. Because of the aging population, investors have begun moving factories to inland locations where the work force is both cheaper and younger. Officials worry that if industries don’t move inland, the rural population will migrate outward into large cities and depopulate the countryside. China is facing a struggle in which it has grown too old to get rich.
Gender Imbalance
One of the worst affects that the One-Child Policy has had on China is that, since it was put in place, there has been increased discrimination against female infants and girls. Most Chinese couples want to give birth to a son who can carry on the family name. Discrimination against females has gone to the point that sometimes couples abort their female fetus, abandon their female infants, and don’t register their female children. When females are not properly registered, they cannot receive proper health care or education. Females have faced discrimination on many levels since the One-Child Policy was implemented; according to the World Health Organization, there were 500 female suicides each day; approximately 55% of the world’s female suicides are Chinese women that are of childbearing age. In China, the female suicide rate in three times that of male.
The ratio of males and females in China is extremely unbalanced. In 2000, the estimated sex ratio of all Chinese births 117 boys to 100 girls; higher than any other country in the world. Because of the facts that males are prized in the Chinese culture and the One-Child Policy restricts couples to only one child, many people choose to abort their female fetuses. This increases the birth rate of males far beyond the birth rate of females. It is estimated that 30 million Chinese males will not be able to marry due to the shortage of women in China.
One of the worst affects that the One-Child Policy has had on China is that, since it was put in place, there has been increased discrimination against female infants and girls. Most Chinese couples want to give birth to a son who can carry on the family name. Discrimination against females has gone to the point that sometimes couples abort their female fetus, abandon their female infants, and don’t register their female children. When females are not properly registered, they cannot receive proper health care or education. Females have faced discrimination on many levels since the One-Child Policy was implemented; according to the World Health Organization, there were 500 female suicides each day; approximately 55% of the world’s female suicides are Chinese women that are of childbearing age. In China, the female suicide rate in three times that of male.
The ratio of males and females in China is extremely unbalanced. In 2000, the estimated sex ratio of all Chinese births 117 boys to 100 girls; higher than any other country in the world. Because of the facts that males are prized in the Chinese culture and the One-Child Policy restricts couples to only one child, many people choose to abort their female fetuses. This increases the birth rate of males far beyond the birth rate of females. It is estimated that 30 million Chinese males will not be able to marry due to the shortage of women in China.
Modern Penalties
Amongst the modern penalties for violating the One-Child Policy are government forced abortions, sterilizations, abductions, and fines. Chinese women live in fear of what may happen if they cannot pay the steep fines that are charged after giving birth to a second child; priced at about $3,000-$4,400, these fines are equivalent to 7 years of income in China. The government takes such extreme measures that if a couple cannot pay the fines for bearing a second child, the newborn infant will be abducted and given to another family. Sometimes the government goes so far as to punish couples by destroying their homes. After being punished, women are often times forced to use contraception and other forms of birth control. In some extreme cases, the Chinese government has performed forced abortions and sterilizations. According to data from China’s health ministry, a total of 336 million abortions and 96 million sterilizations have been performed by doctors since the 1979 implementation of the One-Child Policy.
Amongst the modern penalties for violating the One-Child Policy are government forced abortions, sterilizations, abductions, and fines. Chinese women live in fear of what may happen if they cannot pay the steep fines that are charged after giving birth to a second child; priced at about $3,000-$4,400, these fines are equivalent to 7 years of income in China. The government takes such extreme measures that if a couple cannot pay the fines for bearing a second child, the newborn infant will be abducted and given to another family. Sometimes the government goes so far as to punish couples by destroying their homes. After being punished, women are often times forced to use contraception and other forms of birth control. In some extreme cases, the Chinese government has performed forced abortions and sterilizations. According to data from China’s health ministry, a total of 336 million abortions and 96 million sterilizations have been performed by doctors since the 1979 implementation of the One-Child Policy.
Human Trafficking
Human trafficking in China has greatly increased since the One-Child Policy was put in act during 1979. Around 70,000 Chinese children are bought and sold each year.
Human trafficking in China has greatly increased since the One-Child Policy was put in act during 1979. Around 70,000 Chinese children are bought and sold each year.
China's Environment
Some of China’s most serious environmental problems are water and air pollution, freshwater shortages, lack of arable land, soil deprivation, erosion, and contamination. China’s population increase is not in itself the cause of China’s environmental issues, but it does contribute to the improper use of resources. As the Chinese population continues to grow, it burns through more and more coal resources, causing severe environmental damage and leading to high levels of indoor and outdoor air pollutants. Because human and industrial wastes are often times dumped into rivers, only 20% of China’s main rivers are operational for irrigation and drinking. China is losing farmland and grassland which is leading to increased risk of starvation and hunger amongst Chinese citizens. It is expected that the current population in China, 1.6 billion, is the maximum capacity for which China’s resources can support. It is clear that in order to better its future, China’s government and residents will need to pay closer attention to the environmental damage that is resulting from the widespread waste of Chinese resources.
Some of China’s most serious environmental problems are water and air pollution, freshwater shortages, lack of arable land, soil deprivation, erosion, and contamination. China’s population increase is not in itself the cause of China’s environmental issues, but it does contribute to the improper use of resources. As the Chinese population continues to grow, it burns through more and more coal resources, causing severe environmental damage and leading to high levels of indoor and outdoor air pollutants. Because human and industrial wastes are often times dumped into rivers, only 20% of China’s main rivers are operational for irrigation and drinking. China is losing farmland and grassland which is leading to increased risk of starvation and hunger amongst Chinese citizens. It is expected that the current population in China, 1.6 billion, is the maximum capacity for which China’s resources can support. It is clear that in order to better its future, China’s government and residents will need to pay closer attention to the environmental damage that is resulting from the widespread waste of Chinese resources.
Fear Amongst Citizens
Violent acts such as government forced abortions, sterilizations, and abductions have led to fear amongst the nation's citizens. Chinese couples have begun to take extreme measures to ensure their children’s safety. Some couples have begun traveling to Hong Kong to give birth so that their children will have Hong Kong identity cards and thus not be included under the One-Child Policy.
Violent acts such as government forced abortions, sterilizations, and abductions have led to fear amongst the nation's citizens. Chinese couples have begun to take extreme measures to ensure their children’s safety. Some couples have begun traveling to Hong Kong to give birth so that their children will have Hong Kong identity cards and thus not be included under the One-Child Policy.
Other Cons...
- Those who fail to comply with China’s strict policies can be fined ten times their average annual income, be imprisoned, get taken from their homes, or even have their child killed.
- When parents fail to pay the charges of bearing a second child, their children are denied basic rights such as marriage, education, and health care.
- Some Chinese couples defy the One-Child Policy by opting to have a second child and simply pay the expensive fines.
- In China, the One-Child Policy has led to a higher divorce rate.