Two-child policy needs multiple support

On Wednesday, Li Bin, minister of National Health and Family Planning Commission, vowed on a press release that the authorities will consider introducing more policies that could support more couples to have a second child.

Last week, China Daily reported that the government is considering giving "birth rewards and subsidies" to parents to encourage them to have a second child. This revolution in China's family planning policy - from restricting to encouraging childbearing - is remarkable in terms of both its speed and scope. It also shows how concerned the government is about the state of the country's demography.

At face value, a cash incentive scheme makes sense. Since one of the most frequently cited reasons for restricting childbearing (previously) in China and elsewhere is the cost of raising children, financial support seems like an intuitive response.