China’s population is growing old at a faster rate than almost all other countries. The effects of China’s 36-year one-child policy, combined with dramatic improvements in health care, have contributed to increases in life expectancy and decreases in China’s birth rate. During the years that the one-child policy was in effect, life expectancy in China improved from 67 to 75 and fertility rate decreased from 2.8 to 1.7. China’s looming demographic shift presents considerable social and economic challenges. This trend is particularly worrisome for China, as its development is tied to its demographic advantages. For decades, China reaped the benefits of a demographic dividend that supplied a young workforce for its manufacturing sector, which enabled China to emerge as a global economic power. Furthermore, China’s demographic shift presents significant social problems. The number of Chinese retirees will soon skyrocket, prompting questions of China’s preparedness to provide senior care. The one-child policy also contributed to a significant gender imbalance among China’s younger population, as some women elected to have sex-selective abortions to ensure that their only child was male. China’s leaders now face a challenge of reaffirming China’s economic power while addressing prevailing social . . . . read more