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frequent hospital visits. Medical “My friends who have children ing more children, but it probably
spending is expensive. It is also envy me now. They think having does not have an obvious effect,” he
costly to cover children’s education no children is a smart decision, as says.
expenses,” she says. sometimes children are trouble-
some.” she adds. Sub-edited by Fiona Dongye
Though Wang and her husband
both have full-time jobs, she thinks Cameron D. Campbell, a Chair
they do not have enough resources Professor in the Division of Social
to raise a child. Science at the Hong Kong Univer-
sity of Science and Technology,
“When I just got married, my hus- says the declining population in
band planned to have children. China is an inevitable trend.
But I insisted on not having chil-
dren and threatened divorce. My “That’s just going to happen. Peo-
husband is a good guy, and he un- ple are not having children because
derstands my concerns and thinks they cannot afford it, they don’t
from my perspective. He now have time and they don’t feel con-
shares my views,” she says. fident. It is a combination of soci-
ety, financial, time pressure, career
Wang enjoys watching her favorite pressure. People don’t feel prepared
television series when her husband in terms of income pressure, hous-
“ ing, and competitive education,” he

My friends who explains.

have children envy Cameron also points out that it is
difficult for women to balance ca-
me now. They think reer and family which is also the
reason for the decline in fertility.
having no children

is a smart decision, “There are a lot of women out of
the labor force right now because
as sometimes chil- they are taking care of children,”
Cameron says.
dren are trouble- He adds the government can in-

some. crease the retirement age, improve

” education to increase labor pro-
ductivity, and provide better infra-
structure for the elderly.

exercises next to her. They cook To boost the Chinese birth rate,
together and hug each other when Cameron says it is important to
watching movies. reduce the cost of education and
reduce the pressure for women to
“We can go out for a walk or go on re-enter the labor market.
a trip when we want to. That is my
ideal way of life,” she says. “Some people will respond by hav-