China

At no time in the twentieth century has a nation witnessed demographic changes as dramatic as those in the Peoples Republic of China. In a time span of less than 30 years, China completed a transition from a premodern to a modern demographic regime. Drawing on a variety of data sources, the authors examine the demographic changes in depth in the context of their relation to socioeconomic change and shifts in state policies. In particular, they focus on the reform era of the 1980s, when China moved from a socialist to a market economy. At no time in the twentieth century has a nation witnessed demographic changes as dramatic as those in the Peoples Republic of China. In a time span of less than 30 years, China completed a transition from a premodern to a modern demographic regime. Drawing on a variety of data sources, the authors examine the demographic changes in depth in the context of their relation to socioeconomic change and shifts in state policies. In particular, they focus on the reform era of the 1980s, when China moved from a socialist to a market economy.