久久亚洲国产成人影院-久久亚洲国产的中文-久久亚洲国产高清-久久亚洲国产精品-亚洲图片偷拍自拍-亚洲图色视频

Global EditionASIA 中文雙語Fran?ais
Opinion
Home / Opinion / Chinese Perspectives

'Rebound' in birth rate a temporary phenomenon

By MU GUANGZONG | China Daily | Updated: 2024-11-23 09:10
Share
Share - WeChat
SONG CHEN/CHINA DAILY

The recent announcement that there has been a "rebound" in the birth rate in certain areas of the country has evoked an animated response in some circles. Between January and June 2024, the number of live births in Guangdong province increased by 1.4 percent year-on-year. Places like Qingdao in Shandong province, Tianmen in Hubei province, Baoji in Shaanxi province and Alxa League in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, too, reported an increase in the birth rate in the first half of the year.

Given the declining birth rate nationwide, these upticks are seen by some as a glimmer of hope. But what are the reasons behind these localized "rebounds"? Do they indicate a lasting trend or just a temporary blip?

At the heart of this question lies the complex relationship between fertility preferences, cultural values and government policies. One critical factor that may have influenced couples to have a child this year could be China's zodiac culture. The Year of the Dragon being an especially significant year for the Chinese people, many couples, driven by cultural beliefs, may have sought to have a "dragon baby".

The dragon, as a symbol of power, prosperity and good fortune, has a revered place in Chinese culture. Many Chinese emperors wore robes adorned with dragons to signify authority, and demonstrate they were descendants of the dragon.

For many couples, the desire to have a "dragon child" could have influenced their fertility decision. This phenomenon may explain why there has been an increase in the birth rate in certain regions. In all probability, the year-on-year increase in the birth rate is likely a short-term phenomenon, driven by the desire to give birth in the "lucky" Year of the Dragon. Once the Year of the Dragon is over, one could witness a return to the longer-term trend of declining birth rates.

From a policy perspective, fertility support measures, though crucial, will not have an immediate effect, let alone reversing the demographic trends.

The "rebound" in the number of births in certain areas, therefore, does not indicate a broader shift in the fertility rates at the national level. In demographic terms, a "rebound" refers to an increase in the total number of births, not necessarily in the average number of children per family.

China recently introduced a series of new birth support policies in a bid to encourage couples to have two to three children each to offset the effects of a rapidly rising aging population. In 2024, the State Council, China's Cabinet, outlined 13 targeted measures to improve childbirth support services, expand the childcare system, strengthen support for children's education, as well as housing and employment, and foster a fertility-friendly society.

But it remains to be seen whether these measures will help raise the fertility rates.

So far, 23 provinces in the country have introduced varying degrees of fertility subsidies, and more than 20 provinces have extended insurance coverage to help improve reproductive health services. But the effectiveness of these policies is still unclear.

The key questions remain: How aware are prospective parents of these policies? Is there a direct link between these measures and their fertility decisions? To evaluate the success of these initiatives, it is crucial to assess their accessibility, affordability and relevance to the needs of families.

Indeed, the introduction of fertility support policies is necessary and important. While it may not immediately reverse the declining birth rate, it can help couples access the benefits of a supportive reproductive environment, contributing to the well-being of families. However, creating a truly fertility-friendly society involves not only financial incentives, but also a cultural shift that supports child-rearing as a valued and meaningful endeavor.

The ultimate goal is to establish a system that raises fertility rates to a sustainable level. To achieve this goal, the government needs to take concrete steps to provide economic incentives and social policies that make raising children a viable and fulfilling experience for young families.

Only then can China move closer to its goal of achieving a moderate fertility rate that ensures long-term demographic stability.

The author is a professor at the Institute of Population Research, Peking University. The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

If you have a specific expertise, or would like to share your thought about our stories, then send us your writings at opinion@chinadaily.com.cn, and comment@chinadaily.com.cn.

Most Viewed in 24 Hours
Top
BACK TO THE TOP
English
Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

Registration Number: 130349
FOLLOW US
主站蜘蛛池模板: 中文字幕人成不卡一区 | 久久凹凸 | 92精品国产自产在线 | 欧美一级免费在线观看 | 国产成人免费手机在线观看视频 | 成人性视频免费网站 | 91精品国产免费 | 伊人久爱 | 久久99亚洲精品一区二区 | 亚洲视频国产 | 成年男女免费视频网站播放 | 一级日韩| 五月激激激综合网色播免费 | 理论片我不卡在线观看 | 美女很黄免费 | 欧美成人毛片一级在线 | 久久久国产精品福利免费 | 国产女人伦码一区二区三区不卡 | 久久精品视频免费播放 | 国产日韩在线观看视频 | 超清首页 国产 亚洲 丝袜 | 手机免费在线看毛片 | 日本www高清 | 久久成人网18网站 | 日本欧美一级二级三级不卡 | 成人黄色在线视频 | 欧美成人精品欧美一级乱黄 | 国产精品免费大片 | 欧美极度极度另类 | 韩国午夜三级理论 | 欧美一级毛片欧美一级无片 | 中文字幕一区二区三区久久网站 | 精品一区二区三区视频在线观看免 | 久久亚洲精品成人 | 国产日韩在线看 | 国产大片中文字幕在线观看 | 911国产自产精选 | 欧美视频一区二区 | 成人精品综合免费视频 | 亚洲国产成人在线观看 | 欧美午夜影院 |