Responding to Demographic Challenges, China Begins to Acquiesce to Third Births

Although China liberalized its second-child birth limit in 2016, the demographic challenges facing the country have become increasingly apparent as the number of new births in China has declined each year in recent years.

According to the Wall Street Journal, although the Chinese government has yet to officially break the two-child policy, many parts of the country have acquiesced to a third child.

In Beijing’s Xicheng District, there is generally no penalty for families having more than two children, and only certain restrictions apply to civil servants. In Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, there are also families who have three children without penalty.

Some demographers say that the two-child policy will be gradually replaced by a three-child or even four-child policy, although the policy of limiting births has not been completely abandoned. At the same time, some economists say that even if the birth restriction is lifted, China will still not be able to relieve the demographic pressure and the rapid aging of the workforce will continue.