This law only lets couples in cities have one child, unless they are from a minority group, or are both only children themselves. If they live in the countryside, they are allowed another after a long break.
The problem with this policy was parents want sons over daughters, because men can earn more than women in China. Sons also don't leave the family when they get married, and usually look after their parents when they get old. Because of this, some families chose to get rid of the baby if it's a daughter. The number of baby girls being abandoned, aborted, or dumped on orphanage steps was unbelievable. Another problem lead from this is the imbalance in the sex ratio In 1995, there were 1,166 boys born for every girl. In 1994, there were 1,211; in 1993, there were 1,213. These numbers add up over time, leading to a population of many unmarried men
The solution is working: the one child policy has brought the birth rate in China down. In 1970 the birth rate was 33.43 per thousand, and in 1990 the birth rate dropped to 21.06 per thousand people. The average number of children per woman in 1970, in China was 5.01, and in 1990 the number of children per woman has dropped to 2.31 children. It has worked because the figures have dropped and the birth rate statistics has gone down a lot. So the purpose of the plan has worked. Although the solution has worked it has caused many tragic effects like deaths of many baby girls but the purpose of the plan has worked.
It is impossible to overstate both how crucial the one-child policy is to China's stability and how firmly it is enforced. I agree that if the population, already at 1.2 billion, is allowed to grow, the result will be economic collapse, environmental ruin and famine. The policy is very severe but I think it is need for the country's economic prosperity. It has been successful but in a harsh way, I would think this is taking away human rights to have kids but the problems that it would have caused in the future I think this is a needed plan for china. If everybody continues giving birth to so many children, there will not be enough food/resources to meet the demands of the population. This will result in poverty causing pain and suffering.
