Anti-Natalist Policies
- In an attempt to limit its ever-expanding population, China instituted a notoriously restrictive population-control policy in 1979. This rule permits only one child per family. The government employs a combination of social pressure, propaganda and, at times, duress to achieve this goal. A system of rewards, including monetary bonuses, higher-quality child care and special housing, act as incentives. The law imposes stiff fines on those who have more children.
- In 2011, China plans to enact a trial policy in five provinces with lower birth rates. The pilot program will allow a second baby if at least one spouse is an only child. In the following year, Shanghai and four other provinces will institute similar programs. The government anticipates nationwide participation by 2014.
- The world's second-most populous country, India, also regulates population growth. In the 1950s, India attempted to halt population growth through sterilization. Government agencies had employee sterilization quotas. Failure to meet these quotas resulted in the nonpayment of salaries.
- In 1994, the Indian government introduced a less extreme policy, the "New Population Plan." This more progressive policy strives to increase reproductive health and contraception education. It also enforces a minimum marriage age of 18.
- In 1989, Iran instituted a national family planning program to ease the large population's burden on the country's economy. The plan encouraged women to limit family size to three children, as well as to wait three to four years between pregnancies. The government covers 80 percent of family planning costs. Due to Iran's population-control efforts, the population growth rate has dramatically declined in the last two decades.