Slashing the Two-Child Limit: Vietnam's Changing Tide
Decline in Vietnam's Birth Rate: Authorities Eliminate Two-Child Limitation Policy
Get ready for a baby boom in Vietnam as the communist government dismantles its long-held two-child policy, aiming to rejuvenate the nation's dwindling population. According to state-owned media, the move comes as a response to the decline in birth rates that's been slipping steadily over the years.
First enacted in 1988, the two-child policy stifled families from expanding beyond two kids. But hey, new day, new rules! From now on, the size of families will be under each couple's control. The national news agency announced this landmark decision.
Recently, the rate at which Vietnamese babies were popping up has dipped significantly. Last year, birth rate reached 1.91 children per woman, plummeting below the minimum required to maintain the population. Worse yet, in 2021, the rate was 2.11 children per woman, falling to 2.01 in 2022, and then 1.96 in 2023. This downward trend is especially noticeable in affluent regions, particularly bustling cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where cost of living bites hard.
At a conference earlier this year, Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong highlighted the increasing difficulty in persuading families to spawn more kids. As the birth rate plummets, it becomes a barrier to long-term socio-economic development, confronting an older populace and labor shortages.
Moreover, Vietnam is battling with a gender imbalance stemming from the long-lasting preference for boys in society. Thus, divulging a baby's sex before birth is forbidden, and sex-selective abortions are banned. Clinics flouting this law face stiff penalties. On a recent Tuesday, the Ministry of Health recommended tripling the current $1,200 fine, bringing it up to an eye-watering €3,340 ($3,800).
Sources: ntv.de, AFP
The Real Deal:
- Population Shifts: Since 2023, Vietnam's birth rate has swallowed steadily, with the proportion of youngsters (under 15) plummeting from 43% to under 25%, while seniors aged 15 to 64 climbed from 53% to 69%. This indicates a rapidly aging population with diminishing workforce contribJuJu-tors.
- Socio-Economic Carousel: The aging population spins economic growth haywire as fewer youngsters support the ever-growing retired populace. The dismantling of the two-child policy aims to grapple this by wheeling more offspring into the world.
- Cultural Factors: High bills in urban zones prompt many families to opt for few kids in exchange for providing superior education and living conditions to their progeny.
- Gender Equilibrium: To balance out the issue of sex-selective abortions, the health ministry proposes inflating the current fine for knowing a baby's sex before birth, aiming to stabilize gender ratios in births.
- Policy Swings: The abolition of the two-child policy marks a radical pivot towards supporting larger families and bumping up low fertility rates. But it's unclear whether this step will pump up the birth rate as observed in other nations like Japan, South Korea, or Singapore.
- The community policy in Vietnam is shifting, as the government dismantles its two-child policy, a move that aligns with the science of population dynamics.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, the government's emphasis on rejuvenating the nation's population could potentially improve family health by addressing the declining birth rates.
- The employment policy in Vietnam may experience significant changes as a result of the increasing population, particularly in the areas of fitness-and-exercise and parenting, which could lead to policy-and-legislation adjustments.
- The policy changes in Vietnam, including the easing of the two-child policy, are part of political maneuvers aimed at addressing general news issues like an aging population, socio-economic development, and the gender imbalance.
