China: millions of men left without a wife as women become scarce
China's shortage of women leaves millions of men without a partner and speeds up ageing. Causes include the one-child policy and economic factors.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
China: the shortage of women unbalancing the Asian giant
India has already overtaken China as the world's most populous country, with around 1.5 billion people compared with 1.4 billion. But China's real demographic challenge lies elsewhere: a structural shortage of women that leaves millions of men unable to start a family.
The most frequently cited cause is the combination of the one-child policy and the selective abortion of female foetuses. However, growing emphasis is being placed on economic factors: university studies that stretch until the age of 30, wages too low to support a household and unaffordable housing. This situation, already seen in Europe, Japan and South Korea, has cut birth rates through individual choice, not just state mandate.
Some also point to the non-material cost of children: time, sacrifice and commitment, things money cannot buy and which explain why income does not always translate into babies. As the shortage of women begins to fuel phenomena such as the search for wives abroad — even through illegal networks — ageing is accelerating. The Asian giant is growing old before it grows rich, and the gender imbalance is emerging as one of its thorniest problems.
India has already overtaken China as the world's most populous country, with around 1.5 billion people compared with 1.4 billion. But China's real demographic challenge lies elsewhere: a structural shortage of women that leaves millions of men unable to start a family.
The most frequently cited cause is the combination of the one-child policy and the selective abortion of female foetuses. However, growing emphasis is being placed on economic factors: university studies that stretch until the age of 30, wages too low to support a household and unaffordable housing. This situation, already seen in Europe, Japan and South Korea, has cut birth rates through individual choice, not just state mandate.
Some also point to the non-material cost of children: time, sacrifice and commitment, things money cannot buy and which explain why income does not always translate into babies. As the shortage of women begins to fuel phenomena such as the search for wives abroad — even through illegal networks — ageing is accelerating. The Asian giant is growing old before it grows rich, and the gender imbalance is emerging as one of its thorniest problems.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (10 replies).
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