China ends its one-child policy
China's one-child policy, which has been in effect since the late 1970s, has come to an end, according to the state-run Xinhua News Agency. Couples in China will now be allowed to have two children, not just one, a decision intended to help manage economic growth, avoid a "middle-income trap," and boost the labor pool. Intended to curb population growth, the one-child policy has been blamed for China's gender imbalance and aging workforce; the decision follows the first year in at least two decades that China's working-age population shrank.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
