2.
7 Population Policies
Objective and Essential Learning
2.7 Explain the intent and effects of various
population and immigration policies on population
size and composition.
● Types of population policies include those that promote or discourage population growth, such as
pronatalist, antinatalist, and immigration policies.
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Pro-Natalist Population Policies
Pro-Natalist Population Policies: Government programs
designed to increase the fertility rate and accelerate
population growth.
▪ Also referred to as “expansive” population policies
▪ Why? Concerns about...
▫ Aging population
▫ Declining population
▫ Labor force
▪ Where? Stage 4 and Stage 5 countries
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Pro-Natalist Population Policies
Methods
1. Propaganda -> Ethnic and
national pride, anti-
immigration
"Glory to the Mother-Heroine!" Propaganda
France, 1920s
poster on a Soviet mother’s duty to the state. 116
Current Day Singapore (1944)
Pro-Natalist Population Policies
2. Financial Support
▫ Free/subsidized child care
▫ Lengthy & paid maternity &
paternity leave
▫ Free educational opportunities
▫ Tax breaks for children
▫ Housing subsidies
▫ Free/inexpensive access to healthcare
▫ Subsidize the cost of everyday childcare items: diapers, wipes, formula.
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Anti-Natalist Population Policies
▪ Anti-Natalist Population Policies: Government
programs designed to decrease the fertility rate and
slow down population growth.
▫ Also referred to as “restrictive” population
policies
▪ Why? Concerns about...
▫ Overpopulation & rapid growth
▫ Limited resources & infrastructure
▫ Reduce the risk of famine Singapore, 1972-1987
▪ Where? Stage 2 countries 118
Anti-Natalist Population Policies
1. Propaganda
a. Economic fears, smaller families are more prosperous
b. Encourage later marriage, less children, acceptance of girls
It is better to marry and have
Kenya, 1992
A 1992 poster from the India Ministry of Health and 119
children later in life. China Family Welfare
Pro-Natalist Population Policies
2. Financial Disincentives & Incentives
a. Fines & taxes per child
i. Sometimes 10-20% of income,
sometimes higher
b. Prizes & rewards: Discounts on
childcare, cash bonuses, preferential
housing, loans, cars etc.
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Pro-Natalist Population Policies
3. Family Planning & Contraception
a. Family Planning Education - free
community health programs
i. Access to low-cost or free
contraceptives
ii. Legalization of abortion (low-cost
or free; in some cases mandatory) Illegal births and legal abortions –
the case of China
b. Sterilization Campaigns
i. Medical methods of birth control that intentionally leaves a person
unable to reproduce. Sterilization methods include both surgical and
non-surgical, and exist for both males and females.
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Unintended Consequences - Anti-Natalist Policies
● Forced sterilization & abortions
● Abandonment of babies
● Sex-selective abortions favoring boys
over girls.
● Skewed sex ratios which impacts future
marriage and reproduction.
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Video: Do it For Denmark
21st Century Focus
● Address broader social issues instead of
directly targeting population.
○ Poverty, war, education
● Aid countries in economic development or
fighting AIDS/HIV
● Focus on gender empowerment & equality.
125
Objective and Essential Learning
2.7 Explain the intent and effects of various population
and immigration policies on population size and
composition.
● Types of population policies include those that promote or discourage population growth, such as
pronatalist, antinatalist, and immigration policies.
126