Specifics of the problem

Overpopulation:

China’s population boom began around 1949 following World War II. Under Mao Zedong, a large citizenry was viewed as a way to bring wealth to China and promote economic growth. As a result, China experienced exponential population growth during the next 30 years, which can be classified into six distinct periods. We will highlight a few of them:

• Initial High Fertility Period (1958-1961) - Population exploded from 118 million to 540 million from 1949 to 1960. As a comparison, the U.S. population is around 318 million. China’s population grew by more than the current U.S. population during the 1950’s. In addition, high birth rates and declined death rates were common. The Initial High Fertility period was the initial, immediate result of Mao’s encouragement and push for more children.

• Post-Famine Recovery (1962-1969) - China reaches its highest point of fertility, with a Total Fertility Rate (TFR),  the number of children born to an average woman, of 7.4.

• Rapid Fertility Decline (1971-1979) - Total Fertility Rate in China decreased from 7.4 to 2.8. Regardless, population growth continued into the 70’s, adding 290 million more people to China, totaling at 712 million.

• Stagnation Period (1980-1989) - China’s one-child policy was introduced, and Fertility Rate decreased in 2.5

• Below-Replacement Fertility Period (1990-present) - Fertility rate dropped to 2.1 children per average woman.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b8/China_Pop_Pyramid_2012.png

China’s Population Pyramid (pictured above) illustrates a tapered bottom with a bulge in the middle. This indicates a future decrease in population size.

Urbanization:

 Chinese migration from rural areas to coastal cities is often described as the “largest- scale urbanization in human history” (chinadaily.com). Beginning in 1978, a drop and decline in rural incomes sparked the initial migration of rural China. Unable to sustain life, Chinese farmers and rural workers began migrating in search of industrialized jobs with higher wages. The rise of factories in coastal cities and towns led to a demand in cheap labor, thus resulting in migration from rural farms into urban, coastal cities.

http://www.economist.com/node/21548111 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Chinese_administrative_divisions_by_population_density

Consequences:

A major consequences of urbanization, industrialization and overpopulation is severe pollution, especially in the concentrated, crowded coastal cities of China. Such an issue is further discussed below under our blog post on larger consequences.

Other social consequences include China’s implementation of its one child policy. Consequences include:

• China is a lineage based ancestry, with family trees that date back thousands of years. Such a policy disrupts familial relations, communities, and general health

• Forced abortion, crime, snitching, financial strains on family with more than one child

• Recently reformed the policy, allowing rural families to have more than one child. Example: If the family works in fishing, they are permitted to have a second child without punishment.

• Social consequence of over 90% of urban children, and 60% of rural children having no siblings.