China's pro-natal push falters as parents reject second child

Beijing's campaign to encourage larger families faces resistance from parents deterred by the high costs and burdens of childbirth and early parenting. The article highlights a disconnect between state policy and individual economic realities, suggesting that pronatalist measures are not overcoming structural disincentives. This matters because sustained low fertility in China has long-term implications for economic growth, labor supply, and geopolitical weight.