Since 1979 China slowed down the growth of its population. Today this policy takes revenge. The Chinese economy desperately needs the next generation.

China’s government plans to back out of the controversial one-child policy. For the last three decades China drastically punished families who were illegally having a second child, with exorbitant fines and withdrawal of fundings – such as kindergarten or free education.

The result: One of the most populous countries in the world approximately reduced its population growth around 400 million inhabitants. Now, China faces a rapidly aging population and shortage of labour that will continue to worsen if China’s fertility rate stayed with 1,7 births per female.

In a pilot project, taking place in five low-birth-rate provinces, parents may receive from next year on a second child, demographic expert and journalist He Yafu told USA Today.

One condition would be that at least one spouse is an only child. This is a given in most cases. Yafu relied on sources in the Commission for Family Planning, the key governmental body for population policy. So far, only those couples could enjoy the privilege of legally getting a second child if they were both from a one-child household.

This exception basically led to the preference of boys for most other couples, and consequentially to the abortion of many girls.

 Until 2012, Shanghai, Beijing and other provinces are in talks to be included in the upcoming relaxed one-child-only policy. The whole country should be included until 2014 the latest, Yafu argued.