Coordinate economic and social policies

The so-called two-child policy came into effect more than five years ago, yet the annual number of newborns in China has decreased instead of increasing. Why do couples choose to not have more children?

It is difficult to solve the problems associated with raising a child, especially the financial burden. At the national level, in addition to promoting fertility, we should also better coordinate the economic and social policies. For example, policymakers should deliberate on how to reduce high and rising housing prices in some regions, and make healthcare and children's education affordable.

It is more important for the authorities to address people's childbearing concerns than to simply lift the restrictions on childbearing.

Guan Qingyou, chief economist at Rushi Institute of Advanced Finance

A balanced regional development required

According to the seventh national census, except for the eastern region, the proportions of regional population to the nations' total in China's central, western and northeastern regions have shown a downward trend, with a negative rate of 1.2 percentage points in Northeast China.

As such, in the eastern region, where the population has been increasing, there may be a healthy supply of public goods such as healthcare and education resources, while Northeast China, which has seen a decline in population, may not have enough quality medical and educational resources.

Therefore, policymakers should pay greater attention to the central, western and northeastern regions when formulating development policies, and consider effective ways to enhance regional attractiveness.

Ye Qing, a professor at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law