ent has been able to control population by creating economic incentives for families with less than two children. With 1/5 of the world's population and only 7% of the land, population checks were badly needed. Population control was achieved using education, government propaganda, and community pressures. For instance, a couple promising to have only one child receives a one-time reward of money and rice. If that child does not live to maturity, the couple is allowed another. The child will receive a private plot of 70 square meters of land, compared to 50 for a child in a larger family (Mings, 1995). The children of these couples are also given preferential treatment in education, housing, and employment. The policy allows couples to have a second child only under rare circumstances, and does not allow more than two children. After her first child is born, a woman is required to wear an intrauterine device, and removal of this device is considered a crime. Otherwise, one of the parents must be sterilized. Couples are punished for refusing to terminate unapproved pregnancies, for giving birth when under the legal marriage age, and having an approved second child too soon. The penalties include fines, loss of land grants, food, loans, farming supplies, benefits, jobs and discharge from the Communist Party. In some provinces the fines can be up to 50% of a couple's annual salary. In China, the one-child-per-couple policy has been in effect since 1979, with the goal of limiting the nation's population to 1.2 billion by the year 2000. The one-child-per-couple policy was strictly enforced during the early 1980's. Because of strong public resistance, the Chinese government moderated its stance in the late 1980's and tried instead to emphasize public education and good public relations with the people. Since the birth rate started to climb again, the government tightened up its family planning guidelines in 1987 and 1989. Chin...
