China to allow two children for all couples
中国决定全面放开二胎政策
China announced the end of its one-child policy on Thursday, as part of the country's 13th five-year plan. The one-child policy was originally adopted as a national policy in 1982, as a method to reduce the country's population. In late 2013, the policy was relaxed, and couples in which one parent is an only child were allowed to have a second child.
However, the relaxed policy has not produced a baby boom. Nationally, only 1.4 million couples applied for permission to have a second child during the past 20 months, well below government forecasts of 2 million.
Experts say having a second child is not an attractive option for urban couples since they have to consider their finances and age, as well as their housing and education options.