| Abstract: | The Chinese experience suggests that the socialist system can create more favorable conditions for a decline in fertility than the capitalist system. This is related to 5 factors: 1) changes in the traditional functions of the nuclear family; 2) popularization of education and the transmission of culture; 3) improvements in the status of women; 4) rapid decreases in mortality, especially infant mortality; and 5) social security for the aged. In addition, the structure of social organizations and the widespread dissemination of information about birth control methods have facilitated family planning practice. The impact of theswe structural factors has been intensfied by the Chinese social environment, which has changed individual attitudes toward family size. Overall, the social environment has created attitudinal change while implementaton of the national family planning policy has made the fertility decline in China possible. |
