Population Policies (Cambridge International IGCSE Geography)

Spec point — 1.1.3 · Describe & evaluate population policies

Population Policies

• Many countries have population policies in place

  • These policies attempt to either reduce or increase their populations
  • Governments do this to try and achieve a balance between population and resources

• Policies usually focus on birth rates and sometimes migration

Anti-natalist policies

• Anti-natalist policies aim 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

China's population policy

• 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 advertisements 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 had many impacts; it :

  • affected the male/female ratio due to the preference for male children
  • led to over 30 million more men under 20 than women under 20
  • caused a decrease in population growth rate
  • led to an ageing population

• Other places and special administrative regions that have had anti-natalist policies in the past include:

  • Singapore 1972-1987
  • Taiwan 1964 - late 1970s
  • India's National Population Policy

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

• Measures used 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)

French population policy

• 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