Just three days after Beijing announced changes to the nation's decades long family planning policy, Shanghai wasted no time in becoming the sixth region nationwide to ease previous restrictions.
Four-year-old Tongtong is used to playing by herself. Whether it’s playing with her favourite toy, or reading a book, she doesn’t seem too bored. But that could all change as her parents are now considering taking advantage of the relaxation of the country’s family planning policy.
"I want to have a second child. I grew up as the only child so I know how lonely it is. If we had a second child, I think Tongtong will become more responsible and learn to take care of others. But I’m also concerned with the financial burden of having another child." A Shanghai parent said.
The revised policy which allows couples to have a second child if either parent is an only child, will go into effect in March, in a bid to balance the city’s demographic structure.
"According to official figures, there will be around 370,000 families eligible to have a second child, which is likely to affect the city’s population in the next three to five years. But in the long run, if we want to achieve a balanced population structure, more support policies will be needed."Zhou Haiwang, deputy director of SASS’ Urban And Population Studies, said.
The city now faces a series of demographic challenges, including a low birth rate, an ageing population and a gender imbalance. Experts say the rise in newborns is likely to ease the situation in the short term, but a better welfare system is needed to ensure the long term health of the city’s demographics.