Human Development and the One-Child Policy: A theoretical discussion of the implications of the policy on the Chinese population

This project examines the relationship between the One-child policy and the human development of China. This is carried out by first analysing the actual implementation of the policy, second looking at the population compared with the human development, third examining one of the social consequences of the policy, the unregistered percentage of China. The theoretical framework consists of a sociological law theory, population theory, sociological theory, and the concept of development. Through the works of Ehrlich, Malthus, Boserup, Becker and the concept of development, the epistemologies can successfully be connected to help set a foundation for our research on this subject. For the conclusion the project aims to answer the problem; how has the implementation of the one-child policy affected the human development in China? The analysis is based on research gathered from books, articles, annual statistics by The World Bank, United Nations Human Development reports, and two interviews with three experts within the field of China.

Julie Franck, Abigail Samuelsen, Lalah Sitez, Punah Sitez and Søren Lund-Hansen. International Social Science, Roskilde University, Denmark.