The country is "in earnest"? Urging three children failed, Ren Zeping put forward a "new proposal", and parents agreed
Dear friends, today we are going to talk about a topic that every family cares about - having a baby, that's right, it is the "man-making" plan that makes every family full of laughter! I remember a few years ago, when the two-child policy was liberalized, the streets were full of jubilant mothers-to-be, and the lively scene at that time seemed to be still in front of me.
1. Rollercoaster newborn birth rate
But when it comes to the birth rate of newborns, it is like a roller coaster we played when we were children, up and down, from 2016 after the liberalization of the two-child policy, the number of newborns soared to a peak of 17.58 million in 2017, but the good times did not last long, and then it was like being enchanted, decreasing year by year. By 2023, that number has dropped to 9.02 million, a record low. What's going on here?
Let's first review the policy changes in recent years, in 2016, the country liberalized the two-child policy, and everyone is looking forward to the increase in the number of newborns.
But as time went on, in 2021, the country even liberalized the three-child policy, with a more obvious intention to encourage more families to have children, however, despite the increasingly loose policy, the newborn birth rate has not increased as expected.
Specifically, the number of newborns born in 2017 was as high as 17.58 million, but by 2021 it had dropped to 10.62 million, then to 9.56 million in 2022, and finally only 9.02 million in 2023. The speed of the decline is simply jaw-dropping.
Second, behind the decline in the birth rate of newborns
Some friends may think that the decline in the birth rate of newborns is a good thing, so that everyone can enjoy more resources, but is it really that simple? Let's dive into the reasons behind it.
First of all, let's take a look at the issue of pensions, with the aging of the population, there are more and more elderly people, while the pensions paid by young people are far from enough.
If the birth rate of newborns continues to decline, the number of young people in the future will be significantly reduced, which will lead to a growing gap in pensions, and some experts predict that in the next 5-10 years, the pension gap may be as high as 8-10 trillion, which is undoubtedly a huge challenge.
Secondly, labor shortage is also a problem that cannot be ignored, and many places are now facing the dilemma of labor shortage, especially those jobs that require manual labor and innovative spirit.
If the number of young people decreases, these jobs will be unavailable, and the cost of employment will rise dramatically, and the cost of living will increase accordingly.
In addition, the decline in the birth rate of newborns will also have an impact on related industries, such as businesses selling milk powder, diapers, toys, as well as obstetrics and gynecology hospitals, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, etc., which may face the dilemma of losing jobs or changing jobs.
3. Expert Ren Zeping's "New Suggestions"
Faced with the problem of declining newborn birth rates, economist Ren Zeping put forward a series of practical suggestions. These recommendations have been endorsed and supported by many young parents.
First of all, Ren Zeping suggested that childbirth should be fully liberalized. This means that each family can decide whether to have children and how many children they want based on their actual situation. In this way, people can organize their lives more freely.
Secondly, Ren Zeping believes that the number of public kindergartens should be increased and the rate of infants and toddlers should be increased, and an important reason why many families are reluctant to have children is that the cost of raising children is too high.
If the number of public kindergartens increases and the enrollment rate increases, then parents will be able to take care of their children more easily, thus reducing their financial pressure.
In addition, Ren Zeping also suggested that cash subsidies should be given to families who have children, specifically according to the birth situation of different families.
For example, a one-child family will receive a monthly subsidy of 1,000 yuan, a two-child family will receive a monthly subsidy of 3,000 yuan, and a three-child family will receive a monthly subsidy of 6,000 yuan. In this way, parents can have more peace of mind to have and raise their children.
In addition to these specific measures, Ren Zeping also called for the creation of a childbirth-friendly social environment, including advocating equality between men and women and supporting the male maternity leave system; Improve the protection of women's employment rights and interests, and implement preferential tax treatment for maternity.
At the same time, he also suggested that families with two or three children should be given differentiated individual income tax subsidies and housing purchase subsidies. For example, a two-child family can enjoy a 7% discount when buying a property, and a three-child family can enjoy a 5% discount.
Such a policy will greatly reduce the cost of buying a home for families with many children, thereby further stimulating their enthusiasm for childbearing.
These suggestions sound very practical and in line with the actual situation of our people, if these suggestions can really be implemented, then I believe that the birth rate of newborns in our country will definitely rebound!
After all, for many families, it's not that they don't want to have children, but they feel that the cost of raising children is too high and the pressure is too great, if you can reduce their financial pressure and make them feel that raising children is not so difficult, then they will definitely be more willing to have children!