1.1.3 Population Policies

Population Policies

Population Policies

• Many countries have at some time had population policies in an attempt to either reduce or increase their populations

• Governments do this to try and achieve a balance between population and resources

• Policies focus on birth rates and sometimes migration

Anti-natalist policies

• The aim of anti-natalist policies is to reduce pressure on resources and improve the quality of life for the whole population

• These are policies introduced to reduce the birth rate

• Policies can be law - as in China - or they can be voluntary 

• The best-known example is China's one-child policy which was in effect from 1979 to 2016, although it was relaxed in 1999

• The policy used a variety of methods to reduce the birth rate including: 

  • Fines for having more than one child

  • Increased access to contraceptives and family planning education

  • Posters and adverts to promote the advantages of only having one child

  • Better employment opportunities for those with only one child

  • No payment for education or healthcare for second children

  • There were also reports of forced abortions and sterilisations 

  • Promoting late marriages

  • Abortion was legalised

• The policy has had many impacts including:

  • Affecting the male/female ratio due to the preference for male children

  • There are over 30 million more men under 20 than women under 20

  • Decrease in population growth rate

  • An ageing population

• Other countries/special administrative regions which have had anti-natalist policies in the past include:

  • Singapore 1972-1987

  • Taiwan 1964 - late 1970s

Pro-natalist policies

• The aim of pro-natalist policies is to increase the population due to:

  • An ageing population which increases social and healthcare costs 

  • A workforce shortage

  • Reduced payment of taxes due to fewer workers

• There are a number of countries that have implemented pro-natalist policies including:

  • France

  • Singapore - after 1987

  • Sweden

  • Russia

• In France, past policies have included:

  • Discounts on public transport for families with three or more children

  • Increased paid maternity leave

  • Better mortgage deals

  • Tax allowances

  • Free childcare from 3 to school age

  • Cash incentives for mothers who stay at home to care for children

  • Subsidised holidays

• The policies have led to one of the highest fertility rates in Europe

• Measures that have been used elsewhere to encourage people to have larger families include:

  • Improved maternity and paternity leave/rights

  • Increased child benefits

  • Tax allowances for larger families which reduce tax payments

  • Baby bonus (Singapore)