Why Hasn’t the Second-Child Policy Led to a Baby Boom?

With the relaxation of Chinas familyplanning policy， a growing number of couples are now allowed to have two children. However， most eligible couples are still not sure whether they wish to have a second child or not. The huge surge of babies that was predicted by many experts has failed to appear.

According to the National Health and Family Planning Commission， so far about 700，000 couples across the country have applied to have a second child in line with the new policy， but this number is almost 70 percent lower than expectations. All kinds of doubts and questions as to the efficiency of the new policy have arisen.

In December 2013， the Chinese Government decided to ease the countrys decades-long family-planning policy， and allow couples to have two children if either parent is an only child in the family. The family-planning policy was first introduced in the late 1970s to rein in Chinas surging population. However， after more than three decades of strict implementation， this policy has resulted in problems. Chinas labor force decreased by over 3.4 million year on year in 2012， marking the first “absolute decrease.” Meanwhile， the number of senior citizens is forecast to exceed one third of the population in 2050.

According to World Bank statistics， the fertility rate in China now stands at 1.6， compared to 2.1， the lowest rate required for a countrys population to remain stable. If todays trend continues， Chinas fertility rate will only be 1.8 at most by 2050.

Despite the many merits a second child will bring to a family， many couples stick with one due to economic reasons. The lack of time to take good care of another newborn is also a source of hesitation.

A personal choice

Zhang Zhang （Guangzhou Daily）： The change in the family-planning policy is expected to help relieve problems like the exploding aging population and balance the demographic structure. However， one year after the implementation of this new policy， the actual number of couples applying for a second child is much lower than expected.

Whether to have a second child is a big issue for most families. Even if a family decides to have one， a lot of preparations must be made. Its too early to say that the new policy has been met with coldness. Families that meet the requirements for a second child perhaps do not want to have one this year， but they might want to have one in the coming years.

In order to have a healthy baby， parentsto-be must first improve their own physical conditions to the best of their ability. They also need to save money for the coming of the child， as they have to pay for everything from diapers to kindergarten fees. Whether to have a second child is ultimately the business of the family， and the relaxed policy only offers permission.

Moreover， society is tolerant to diversified concepts and ways of living. In the old days， the Chinese believed that more children would bring more happiness and blessings， but due to social progress and changes in peoples concepts， this belief is no longer dominant. When it comes to the second-child policy， some families think two children can help and support each other， while others believe that having one child is best for the family. Some families even decide not to have any children. All these ideas and practices are peoples personal business and should be respected.

Zhang Sining （Nanfang Daily）： The publics indifference to the new policy is understandable. Under the heavy pressure from work and social life， particularly the high cost of living， raising a second child is not an easy job for average families， even if they want to have one.

Therefore， its almost impossible to raise the fertility rate by offering a relaxed childbirth policy. Given their worries about the underdeveloped social security network as well as education， medical services， housing and incomes， most of them are actually in a dilemma when asked whether they want to have a second child.

Mingxuan （www.cnhubei.com）： In response to problems like the aging population， the shortage of the labor force， the shrinking family scale， and even Chinas sustainable development， the new second-child policy was finally approved in late 2013.

However， it seems that this muchanticipated policy has failed to produce the expected outcome. Most couples meeting the requirements say they face a dilemma. From the bottom of their heart， they want to have a second child， but they are afraid to do so. Many couples are busy with work—to raise the first child is already occupying too much time. In addition， some of them have already passed the best time for bearing another child. A second child means a heavier economic burden， which makes the future gloomy for the whole family. It seems a natural and yet helpless choice to give up the second child.

It needs time to address the many prob- lems related to population， and well have to wait and see whether the second-child policy can finally work. Meanwhile， we have to realize that the defective social security network and high cost of living have hindered peoples willingness to have a second child. When these issues are solved， couples will feel more willing to do so.

A social issue

Chen Xiaoyan （Guangzhou Daily）： To have a second child is not only the business of a family， but in a broader sense， it is a social issue. This has been a hot debate in China since the state relaxed its family-planning policy in 2013.

Modern society presents more challenges than before. To have only one child is actually a risky choice. In extreme cases， if the child is killed by accident or disease， the loss is huge， and the pain is immeasurable.

Now the family-planning policy has been relaxed and thus its a good time to have a second baby to prepare for unknown risks in the future.

Some may argue they cant afford another child. Indeed， diapers， milk powder， clothing， education and so on all cost money. However， when the child is growing up， he or she is able to bring the family a lot of invisible benefits. The process of raising a child is a valuable experience for parents， as they have to learn to do a lot of things to ensure a good environment for both children.

Since the parents have already had one child， they must have accumulated certain experience. To raise a second child will therefore be easier. While the family has two children， the two will learn to take care of each other and play together， saving the parents many worries and time.

Two children will certainly compose a stronger backing for the family than one child does. They can share the burden of supporting their old parents. Also， according to the Chinese tradition， having more children and grandchildren is a symbol of happiness. When seniors have more children to support them， the burden on society will naturally fall， relieving society from the heavy pressure of taking care of a large aging population.