Professor Chen Wei is from the Center for Population & Development Studies at the People's University of China

Abstract

China’s low fertility and demographic challenges evoke considerable debate on changing the one-child policy in China. After a brief review of China’s family planning policy and the debate around policy changes, this research examines demographic impacts of loosening the one-child policy. Using population census and fertility survey data, population projections are conducted under different scenarios of policy changes with a combination of period and cohort perspectives in projecting fertility. Social and economic implications of policy changes are also discussed.