Types of Population Policies

Pro-natalist / Expansive

Anti-natalist / Restrictive

U.S.S.R. - pro-natalist

Starting on July 8, 1944 the government of the U.S.S.R. began awarding medals to women in order to encourage a high fertility rate.

Why did the government believe there was a need for a pro-natalist policy at this time ?

Motherhood Medal 2nd Class

5 children 8,000,000 awarded

Motherhood Medal 1st Class

6 children 4,000,000 awarded

Order of Maternal Glory 3rd Class

7 children 2,000,000 awarded

Order of Maternal Glory 2nd Class

8 children 1,000,000 awarded

Order of Maternal Glory 1st Class

9 children 500,000 awarded

Order Mother Heroine

10 children 200,000 awarded

Germany Cross of Honor of the German Mother (Ehrenkreuz der deutschen Mutter)

1938 - 1944http://www.nobeliefs.com/mementoes.htm

Bronze 3rd Class Mother’s Nazi Cross 4, 5Silver 2nd Class Mother’s Nazi Cross 6, 7Gold 1st Class Mother’s Nazi Cross 8 or moreDiamond – 14 or more

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-medals/nazi2.htm

China - anti-natalist

One Child Policy 1979

- rewards start once 1 child contract is signed

Rewards

•free medical care •free daycare and schooling•guaranteed job for child•bonuses for parents•extra maternity leave•better housing•bigger old age pension

Penalties

•must repay financial benefits•educational, medical benefits, & guaranteed jobs are withdrawn•parents’ wages reduced

Millions of dollars have been spent on education and on advertising.

http://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/pop1.html

http://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/pop.htmlhttp://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/pop1.html

http://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/pop.html

Do a good job in family planning to promote economic development

http://www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/pop.html

The anti-natalist policies worked so well, now China is promoting births again

http://static.flickr.com/56/133361262_16edfe9ada_m.jpg

Bolivia

http://info.k4health.org/pr/j50/p5.jpg

Ethiopia

Vietnam: Two children are enough!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/3150039863_cb3ba3359d.jpg?v=0

Why do you believe that mostposters show a girl rather than a boy ?

What do you notice about this population pyramid? Note two things.

India

Wait until the 1st child is 3 before having your 2nd

www.ecoworld.com/waters/indias-population.html

What do you notice about India’s pyramid?

Egypt

United States

Why would a country want an anti-natalist policy ?

http://www.upiasia.com/thumbnails/63232c7d88b2a81dfa3c881741f3ac7a.jpg

Thomas Malthus (1766-1834)

Current world population: 7.1 billion

From Plan B 2.0• Per capita income in China will equal that of the US

by 2031 if China’s economy grows at current pace.• With a projected population of 1.4 billion at the time,

a China as prosperous as the US would:– Burn 99 million barrels of oil a day, 18% more

than is now produced globally– Consume 2/3 of world’s current grain harvest– Use twice as much paper as the world currently

produces– Drive 1.1 billion cars, more than the world’s 2005

fleet of 800 million--forcing China to pave roads, highways, and parking lots equal to the area it now plants in rice.

Why would a country want a pro-natalist policy ?

http://www.aishbaltimore.com/zz/family/rebbitzen/The_Joys_of_A_Large_Family.asp

http://www.imb.org/southern-africa/images/Malagasy_children.jpg

Problem is not resources, but allocation of resources…

Costs of Population Decline/Aging Population:

1. Dependency ratio, currently 3:1, will become 1.5:1 by 2050.

Costs of Population Decline/Aging Population:

2. ‘Graying Means Paying’: the rise of the ‘old,old’ (85+ yrs old) will require care…Expensive care. Who will pay? Greece,

Italy, Portugal, and Ireland already on verge of bankruptcy.

Costs of Population Decline/Aging Population:

3. In Germany, foreign workers (mostly Turkish) will constitute 30% of population.

What problems might that entail?

Costs of Population Decline/Aging Population:

4. Fewer soldiers. Thus, ignore some international problems, over-react to others.

In recent years China has relaxed the rules, and in some cases have even started encouraging two children.

In many cases, parents are not takingadvantage of this opportunity.

Why ?

Quebec - Pro-natalist

1950’s - one of the highest Fertility Rates in the developed world (Catholic & rural)

1987 - FR of 1.4 (1.7 Canada) & Quebec’s share of Canadian population was decreasing

1st set of incentives

•$500 for each of 1st 2 children•$3000 for each subsequent child•child care facilities improved & expanded •tax free family allowance if 2 or more children•interest free housing loans (up to $7000)

1987

1992

2nd set of incentives

•$500 for 1st child•$1000 for 2nd child•$6000 for each subsequent child•other benefits remained the same

1997

Program ended after 10 yrs. of minimal success

Greek debt crisis: Retirement age 58