A few words, triggering a thousand thoughts!
The birth rate is now shocking, from the explosive growth of the last century to the precipitous decline today, behind each figure is the transformation of the whole society. Let's explore the reasons behind this and imagine what the future holds.
Looking back at the population data of the last century, we can't help but sigh at the poor living environment of people at that time. In the mid-40s, China, with a population of less than 500 million, was able to usher in 8 or 9 million new lives under the ravages of war. Hungry and cold, survival is difficult, but the concept of passing on the family has long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the Chinese people. Despite material poverty, the spiritual pursuit never stopped.
In the fifties and sixties, with the reconstruction of the country, the fertility rate soared, and in several years it exceeded the 20 million mark. The growing labor force has laid a solid foundation for future development. However, the good times were short-lived, and the birth data in 2017 came to an abrupt end. Experts were ecstatic, expecting that with the liberalization of the two-child policy, the demographic dividend will reappear. This inflection point was fleeting. In 2022, the number of births will fall below 10 million, which is not much different from the level of the mid-forties of the last century.
Experts expressed shock and called on young people to establish a sense of inheritance and have more children. However, the reality is far from being true, and young people seem to be less interested in getting married and having children. Housing prices are overshadowed by Goliath, the employment situation is grim, and the road ahead is extremely bleak. Under such circumstances, does having children seem extravagant? Some experts even point out that the trend of "maliciously not marrying and not having children" is in vogue.
Where will the future go? Negative population growth is the most terrible nightmare. What kind of impact will the loss of labor force have on the economic and social order? Where will we go from here, the problem of old-age care, which has become a stubborn disease? Should we follow the example of some developed countries and actively open up their immigration policies in order to replenish their supplies? Or should we learn from the clever tactics of other countries and provide more favorable policies for those who have children?
To be born or not to be born is becoming a national topic. All sectors of society also have an unshirkable responsibility to work together to create environmental conditions conducive to childbirth. In any case, young people should strive for self-realization, but at the same time, they should not lose sight of their respect for the eternal ideals of their ancestors. Perhaps, balancing personal pursuits with the responsibilities of family and country is the beacon that guides us to a better future.