China one child policy and its impact - Term Paper Example

?It is oftentimes the case that governments around the world had been forced to take a type of man d corrective action as a means of preventing something that the individual might not be able to do upon their own. Due to the fact that governments oftentimes have access to databases and statistics that the average citizen does not and the fact that governmental systems are specifically interested in promoting the longevity and survival of their particular nation inclusive of the current generation and well into the future, such actions have become more and more prevalent within the current world. Recent activities of such a nature have seen formerly separate and independent European nations submit themselves to a European Union and see and degree of their national sovereignty taken away. Naturally, this has engendered a key level of benefits that the respective stakeholders have deemed to be of greater value than the sovereignty loss. Trade agreements between ever write a different nations around the world have also been exhibited over the past several years; providing yet another example of the means by which governmental systems make key choices that the oftentimes deem to be in the best overall interests of the individuals within their society. However, of all of the government mandates that had been carried out within the past 50 years, perhaps the most conspicuous one is with regards to People’s Republic of China and its so-called “one child policy”. As a function of understanding, defining, and analyzing the one child policy of the People’s Republic of China, the following analysis will seek to briefly reference its history, discuss whether or not it has been affected, analyze societal impacts that still logical ramifications, analyze the original scope and intention of the policy, discuss a litany of key issues related to its implementation, and provide something of a Outlook with future with regards to the impact that this policy portend. As a function of such a level of analysis, it is the hope of this author that the reader with a more understanding the means by which one child policy has impacted, impact and will impact upon the Chinese society as a whole. Although it is oftentimes improperly referenced that the one child policy was instituted by Chairman Mao Tse Tung, the fact of the matter is that prior manifestations of this very policy had existed prior to its final institution into Chinese law in 1979; fully 3 years after Chairman Mao had died. As a result of many of the Communist Party’s social engineering projects immediately following the World War and their rise to power, it became clear that one way to avert many of China’s most historically challenging issues was to seek to provide a level of population control. Many times within the long history of Chinese culture, famines and other natural occurrences had threatened the very existence of the nation. As such, seeking to provide a reasonable and solid population foundation by which the development of the country could take place, varying levels of population control or instituted between the years of 1965 until the final implementation of the one child policy in 1979 (Nakra 137). However, these diverse and relatively unenforced directives were ultimately replaced by the one child policy due to the fact that few individuals within society cared to abide by the terms and conditions of a policy or directed that was ultimately without any repercussions and/or ramifications. Rather than merely helping to curtail and manage the population issues that China had, and continues to have, the one child policy has become something of a historical relic that although no longer pertinent in dealing with the problem it was intended continues to derive a high level of respect and support from the stakeholders within the Chinese society. One key aspect of the rhetoric that oftentimes surrounds an understanding and integration with the one child policy is the fact that many individuals misunderstand what this policy ultimately means. Whereas it is true that in past years forced abortions and even sterilization have taken place as a means of effecting a further integration with the one child policy, the majority of individuals within the current era abide by this policy with a level of virtual satisfaction. A recent study conducted within the People’s Republic of China noted that fully 76% of societal shareholders agreed with the policy and the means by which it was carried out. Moreover, the one child policy does not necessarily dictate that only one child is able to be had by each and every family within the People’s Republic of China. Rather, it indicates that within populated city centers, one child is all that is allowed. However, within the more rural areas within China, families are allowed up to two children. Moreover, in rural areas, a level of discretion with regards to the total number of children allowed is invariably more liberal than it would be in a more populated city center. Although this is not specifically denoted in the laws that govern the one child policy, it is nonetheless the case. Moreover, as has been noted briefly earlier within this analysis, key provisions are allowed for individuals that wish to have more than one child. Although many people are led to believe that a draconian level of judiciary process constrains giving birth to anything more than one child, the fact of the matter is that individuals who are wealthy can pay AC to have more children. This theme has oftentimes been referred to as a type of child tax. Due to the fact that the People’s Republic of China is a communist system, the government is ultimately responsible for providing education and healthcare for each and every societal stakeholders (Scharping 86). However, if an individual of a particularly wealthy family seeks to have more than one child, within the city, it is possible to pay this fee as well as to sign documentation attesting to the fact that the family will promote the education and health care of the child as long as they will live all. In such a way, the government is able to find a workaround for individuals who are determined to have a second child and therefore reduce the absolutism that is oftentimes attributed this particular policy. It is necessary to note that this particular juncture that the rapid growth and rise of the middle class within China has seen a large group of individuals eligible, and able to afford, this loophole. In such a way, it is not beyond the realm of reason to assume that the one child policy might soon be constrained to an even further degree to counter the effects of this demographic and societal shift that the People’s Republic of China is currently experiencing as a result of the economic boom. Ultimately, a discussion and analysis of the one child policy cannot be conducted without discussing whether or not has been active. Without delving into statistics and running figures that span the 30+ years that this particular policy has been instituted, it can definitively be said that it has helped to affect the ultimate goal that party members originally sought to engage. In terms of numeric values, prior to the one child policy, the average fertility rate of the Chinese woman was 2.63; far above sustainment levels (Tan 47). In this way, such a high fertility rate necessarily increased the likelihood of a ballooning Chinese population would result by which the governments, and/or the land, would be incapable of providing the physical needs that such a large population with demand. Within such an understanding, recent analysis, as of 2009, has indicated that the average fertility rate of the Chinese woman within the current era approaches 1.61; just above the level that is required to maintain population – 1.3 children per woman. Ultimately, the effectiveness of the one child policy is not in dispute. Rather, the more salient question is with regards to the sociological and societal impacts that this particular policy has had. The first sociological impact this particular policy has had necessarily as concentric upon the fact that it has restricted the ability of the individual family to determine on their own whether or not they will have a certain number of children. Although the People’s Republic of China does not pride itself on providing its citizens with a high degree of personal choice with respect to many societal actions that the remainder of the Democratic world takes for granted, such an action necessarily increases the sovereignty of the state and diminishes the human rights of the individual. Although the right to fertility is something that can ultimately be put in question, when considered within the framework of the greater good of society, this is oftentimes a right that has been delegated the individual within many other societal systems throughout the world. Another means by which the human rights aspects of the one child policy can be challenged is with regards to the level of forced abortions and sterilizations that often take place within the People’s Republic of China. Due to the fact that not every individual that gets pregnant a second time is economically prosperous enough to pay the fee and continued pregnancy, many of these abortions are ultimately forced. What is meant by this is not the fact that the individual is led away to the hospital by the police and abortion is performed. Rather, the individual it was pregnant is faced with a very real eventuality that they cannot afford the government tax and fee that will accompany the second child. As such, they are left in a state of duress and have no other alternative but to abort the pregnancy. However, it is the view of this particular author that a far more important aspect of the one child policy does not regard the humanitarian aspects; rather, it impacts upon the level and extent to which the Chinese society will be impacted in the very near future. When the policy itself was implemented, the intention was to create a manageable population by which the geographic will representation of China on the map could provide for any and all physical needs of the population it held within its borders. This was a laudable and respectable choice to make given the reality of an unconstrained population boom that was portended to take place. However, a key oversight was not considered with regards to how this situation would unfold. This particular oversight, in the view of this author, is the most important factor that relates to the one child policy within the current time.. Ultimately, Chinese culture is one that pays a very high level of respect to one’s elders. These elders, are typically most revered when they are the parents and/or grandparents of the individual. Part of this deference and respect is the tacit understanding and cultural reality that once these parents and grandparents are aged and/or no longer capable of taking care of themselves, it is the responsibility and duty of the children to then take over their care. As compared to the Western world, where parents and grandparents are often institutionalized within assisted-living communities were nursing homes, Chinese culture does not have an exhibition of anything similar to this (Li et al 1536). The reason that this has been mentioned is due to the fact that the one child policy necessarily means that each and every family, within the modern era, could potentially face the situation by which they are responsible for supporting a household of up to seven individuals (Greenhalgh 22). Such a numerical equivalency is derived by assuming that the mother, the father, their child, their grandparents, on both sides, would all be under one roof and/or dependent upon to potential salaries. This creates a demographic and sociological crisis. Moreover, the child policy has effectively guaranteed that the People’s Republic of China will face what demographers referred to as a population level. This population bubble is due to strike between the years of 2035 and 2050. Whereas this may seem as tangential and unimportant information, the fact of the matter is that a population bubble within any society places and undue strain upon the governmental system and creates an economic situation that can be difficult to survive and/work recover from (Anderson 469). For instance, due to the fact that the Chinese population is ultimately growing by nominal numbers alone, it is impossible for the current generation of the use to continue to fill the positions and responsibilities that the current bubble fulfills. As such, as the generation that is currently in power ages, the economic potential output and efficiency of the economic sectors comes into question. It must be noted that although what has been presented thus far represents something of a doom and gloom scenario, it is unlikely that any catastrophic level of crisis will be exhibited. Rather, as with so many societies around the world, a gradual graying of the Chinese population see a situation by which the rampant economic growth that is been exhibited within the past two decades will cool significantly and the People’s Republic of China will likely join the ranks of the United States and Western Europe; a situation that is defined by having a much older age average within the society with a diminishing level of live births left to support this aging society. Naturally, this also portends a situation by which the one child policy will ultimately be responsible for the first definitive reduction in Chinese population as a result of the debts of the current generation and the fact that these tests are no longer being replaced by live births. It should further be noted that the reduction in Chinese population, which has been referenced within the preceding analysis, will be a gradual one and is not destined to drastically impact upon the viability of the People’s Republic of China, or the society (Meng et al 956). Although key levels of difficulties will doubtless be felt, and the means by which the economy can continue to be as effective and powerful as it currently exhibits comes into question, the overall depth and diversity that is exhibited within the People’s Republic of China will doubtless indicated situation by which even a drastic slowdown in birth rates and increase in the average age of the country will not perfect and disastrous toll upon the society. Of all the information that was analyzed with regards to preparing the analysis and research presented within this essay, perhaps the most surprising information engaged was with respect to the fact that the Chinese population is so overwhelmingly supportive of the one child policy. Ultimately, it appears as if the People’s Republic of China has effectively marketed and presented the policy as the only means by which future success viability of the Chinese culture and nation can be preserved. Taking the Devils advocacy point of view, one might argue that the one child policy has affected a great level of harm upon the People’s Republic of China and ultimately threatens future existence. Although there are a number of arguments that could be cited alongside this to promote such a viewpoint, it is the belief of this author that either a decision to constrain the level of birth rates for a decision to be them as they were would have effected negative impacts upon the Chinese society. Another economic ramification of the one child policy is with respect to the economic base of the nation. Even a cursory study into demographics and consumer spending note the fact that the younger demographic spends a larger percentage of their net income on consumer products; products which in turn are all taxed and provide a level of income to the government (Zhao & Fei 17). Moreover, as the younger citizens of a nation begin to represent a smaller and smaller portion of the overall population, this necessarily means that fewer and fewer people will be of working age; not only impacting upon profitability and efficiency of the economy as a whole but impacting upon the degree and extent to which the government can seek to raise revenue based upon their spending habits and other means of taxation. Further, taxes upon property are reduced for older individuals within Chinese society; by the same token, older individuals are unlikely to buy and sell properties at the same rate as their younger counterparts. All of this leads to a situation in which economic stagnation is a very real threat. However, perhaps the most real and salient threat is with regards to the fact that the Chinese provision of healthcare is universal within their society. As such, the bill for this provision is the sole responsibility of the government. In such a manner, the onus of the one child policy will ultimately come to rest squarely upon the shoulders of the government and the child of the individuals that require care later in life. What can be inferred from an analysis of the one child policy that is been engaged within this essay is the fact that both positive and negative externalities necessarily exist. Without a direct level of action with regards to the demographic crisis the China was facing within the 1960s and 1970s, it is more than possible that economic boom which has been experienced within the 1990s and early 2000’s might not impossible. But are much the same token, the negative externalities that have been discussed, namely the reduction to the overall level of human rights, forced abortions, and possible catastrophic demographic shifts that this might entail, hope to underscore the fact that social engineering programs are oftentimes imperfect and can lead to a situation in which unintended consequences emerge from the decisions made many generations before. However, rather than laying the blame of the current situation squarely upon the shoulders of the Chinese government, it must be understood that the level and extent to which the Chinese population integrates with and appreciates the one child policy is as definitive of China and the Chinese culture, is perhaps the most important determinant with regards to whether or not this particular policy will be continued within the near future. Works Cited Anderson, Gordon, and Teng Wah Leo. "An Empirical Examination Of Matching Theories: The One Child Policy, Partner Choice And Matching Intensity In Urban China." Journal Of Comparative Economics 41.2 (2013): 468-489. Business Source Complete. Web. 22 July 2013. Greenhalgh, Susan. Just one child : science and policy in Deng's China. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2008. Print. Li, Hongbin, Junjian Yi, and Junsen Zhang. "Estimating The Effect Of The One-Child Policy On The Sex Ratio Imbalance In China: Identification Based On The Difference-In-Differences." Demography 48.4 (2011): 1535-1557. Business Source Complete. Web. 22 July 2013. Nakra, Prema. "China's "One-Child" Policy: The Time For Change Is Now!." World Future Review (World Future Society) 4.2 (2012): 134-140. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 July 2013. Scharping, Thomas. Birth control in China, 1949-2000 : population policy and demographic development. London New York: Routledge, 2005. Print. Tan, Guangyu. "The One-Child Policy And Privatization Of Education In China." International Education 42.1 (2012): 44-54. ERIC. Web. 22 July 2013. X. Meng, et al. "Little Emperors: Behavioral Impacts Of China's One-Child Policy." Science 339.6122 (2013): 953-957. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 July 2013. Zhao, Zhongwei, and Fei Guo. Transition and challenge : China's population at the beginning of the 21st century. Oxford New York: Oxford University Press, 2007. Print. Read More