The Marriage And Fertility Pattern Of Married Only Child In Developed Regions Of China

There have been more than 20 years Since the carring out of birth control policy in China since 1979.As a result ,a new age of "generation of only child" is formed and play a more and more important role in china society nowadays. In the other hand, the only child born in late 1970s and early 1980s have come to be confronted with problems such as marriage, fertility and so on . In cities of China's eastern developed regions such as Shanghai,Beijing,Tianjin,Suzhou etc, the birth control policy was carried out strictly even in early 1970s when a couple was limited to having one child. Since then, great success has been gained in these areas in slowing down the population growth due to the birth control policy. However some population problems such as the unequal population structure become apparent and serious in these areas. Study on the marriage and fertility of the first generation only child from the demography perspective can contribute to modification of the population policy for government and also can contribute to the literature of only child study in China. The dissertation focuses on the marriage and fertility pattern of only child and its impacts to society based on an empirical study in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, after discussion and analysis, the author tries to propose some suggestions on the modification of birth control policy.The dissertation is consisted of five chapters. Chapter one is introduction; research context ,concept ,research design of the paper are offered and then the current situation of only child in China is analyzed. Chapter two offers a theoretical analysis for the paper; some facts about birth plan policy in China are offered and then the literatures on the only child ,marriage pattern and fertility pattern are reviewed; the early literatures on the related topic illustrated that few study focuses on the marriage and fertility of only child. Chapter three and four are empirical study of marriage and fertility of only child based on a survey carried in Suzhou. Conclusions are drowned in Chapter five and some suggestions on the modification of birth control policy are also proposed.Main conclusions of the dissertation are the followings:1. Compared to those children without siblings, the only child have different characteristics on marriage and fertility; only child have a special bias in choosing spouse, their intermarry ring is broader, the percentage of living with their parents is higher, the married only child intend to having two children and their expected number of having children are higher too. The only child parents who both are only child intend to having two children compared to couples only one of them is only child. Besides characteristics above, the only child is similar to their counter part by the other variables.2. Although there are controversial views on current China's birth control policy, the study shows that it is essential and possible to gradually modify the policy especially in Chin's Easter developed cities. The modification can be carried as following:In first stage, a couple who are both only child can having two children throughout cities and rural areas.In second stage, with the prediction of late birth, all couples both in urban and rural areas can having two children.3. With the modification and perfection of China's current birth control policy, the young couples should be encouraged to having children according to the policy but not simply "one couples one child". The government should continue to give reward and bonus to the early bom only children and build up security system for the late bom only child and their families .Especially the government should guarantee the living of the parents who stick to the policy but their only child died or injured.4. The marriage and fertility of only children brought pressure not only to the birth control policy of China but also lead to many social effects such as childbearing,marriage squeeze,social security and so on. As a prevalent problem throughout China in next coming years, more studies should be investigated on social effect of only child to build a harmonious society.