China's Birth Rate Crisis: Policies and Demographics

China faces a demographic challenge a decade after ending its one-child policy. Efforts to boost births with policies like cash incentives and condom taxes haven't succeeded, as the population continues to shrink. Economic pressures and cultural beliefs contribute to low birth rates, complicating China's economic transition.

In the face of a demographic crisis a decade after terminating its one-child policy, China is struggling to encourage population growth through a series of governmental measures. Despite these efforts, recent population figures show that China's birth rate continues to decline, heightening the urgency of the issue.

This decline has persisted even as authorities attempted to stimulate higher birth rates by introducing various policies ranging from financial subsidies for families to the controversial taxation of condoms. These measures have yet to produce significant results, with the country's total population dropping for the fourth consecutive year.

Economic concerns play a significant role in this demographic shift, as rising living costs and societal pressures deter many families from expanding. China's ambition to transition from labor-intensive industries to a high-tech economy is further complicated by a shrinking working-age population, threatening economic growth amidst an aging demographic.

(With inputs from agencies.)