Effectiveness of One Child Policy in China

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Assess the effectiveness of the Chinese One Child Policy. (15 marks) The Chinese One Child Policy (OCP) is a scheme to encourage families to have less children in order to slow down the rate of population growth in China. The policy was introduced because they wanted to avoid a Malthusian-type of disaster and the government realised that only controlled population can improve the living conditions of its people. The One Child Policy draws a clear line between rewards and punishments, citizens are given benefits if they follow the policy completely. However, on the other hand, penalties are given if they disobey the rule set. This essay will be assessing the positive and negative effects of the OCP and whether or not it has been an effective or successful policy. The birth rate (BR) had fallen from 31 to 19 by the end of the 1990s over 20 years after the policy was put in place. A crisis of population exceeds its food supply would have occurred if the population carried on increasing. This crisis has been avoided as there was a 300 million reduction in the population. Rewards are given to families which follow the policy of having only one child, their salary will rise 5-10% along with priority housing, pension and other family benefits. The only child will also receive free education. Having a smaller family allows parents to spend more time with their child so the child would be well taken care of, also the parents have more money to spend on themselves or on the child. The OCP can help families to achieve a higher living standards. Despite all the positive effects OCP has contributed , it has also created a lot of negative social impacts. Women were forced to have abortions as late as their ninth month pregnancy during their second successful pregnancy. The Chinese society much prefers having a baby

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