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Little emperors: behavioral impacts of China's One-Child Policy
L Cameron1, N Erkal, L Gangadharan
1Department of Econometrics, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia. lisa.cameron@monash.edu
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|January 12, 2013
Summary
China's One-Child Policy (OCP) significantly impacted personality, creating less trusting, risk-averse, and pessimistic individuals. This policy
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Economics
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- China's One-Child Policy (OCP) was a radical population control measure implemented in 1979.
- The OCP aimed to limit population growth through strict family planning regulations.
- Understanding the long-term societal impacts of such policies is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal effects of the One-Child Policy on individual personality traits.
- To determine if being an only child, due to the OCP, alters personality.
- To quantify the impact of the OCP on trust, risk aversion, competitiveness, and conscientiousness.
Main Methods:
- Economics experiments were conducted with 421 participants born before and after the OCP's 1979 introduction.
- Personality traits were assessed using surveys.
- The exogenous nature of the OCP was used to establish causality, controlling for family background.
Main Results:
- Individuals affected by the OCP exhibited significantly lower levels of trust and trustworthiness.
- Policy-affected individuals were more risk-averse, less competitive, and more pessimistic.
- A notable decrease in conscientiousness was observed in the only-child cohort.
Conclusions:
- The One-Child Policy has had profound and lasting effects on the psychological and social fabric of Chinese society.
- The OCP demonstrably shaped personality traits, leading to a population that is less trusting and more risk-averse.
- These findings highlight the significant ramifications of population control policies on individual behavior and societal development.
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