Al Jazeera: The Many Problems Caused by China's One-Child Policy

China's one-child policy has been a subject of much controversy, both within China and in the international community. In the years when it was first implemented, most people agreed that it was an economic and social necessity; now, thirty years later, it is likely creating more problems than it is solving. Al Jazeera reports:

http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2010/05/2010519111922223452.html

The two most pressing issues, as analyzed in the above article, are that there is an increasing gender imbalance, due to the cultural preference for sons, and that a decreasing working-age population is expected to support an increasing population of retired elders (the oft-cited 4-2-1 problem).

Even if the policy is retracted today, the problems will still persist for decades. One can only imagine the lasting consequences if it remains in place for another few decades, or if it is never retracted. The current system was a fine stop-gap measure; it is unsustainable, and it doesn't take a genius to recognize it. It boggles the mind -- what is the government thinking?