Less than one-third of Beijing parents eligible to have a second child are willing to do so, according to a new social study.

Under the regulations, couples comprising of two people from single-child families can legally boost their brood if the mother is aged over 28 and their first child is at least 4 years old.

However, research conducted in Dongcheng, Haidian and Changping districts by the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences shows most people are put off by family and financial pressures.

Of the 2,000 interviewees aged 20 to 34 who took part in the survey for the Social Development Blue Book, just 26.13 percent of those living in urban areas said they plan to have a second child. The figure was only slightly higher among rural residents, with 36.33 percent expressing a desire to expand their families.

The majority of eligible parents who pass up the chance are unwilling to jeopardize their careers, while many cited the fact they already shoulder the burden of caring for their own parents, said Ma Xiaohong, an associate professor at Beijing Administrative College and co-author of the report.

"On the other hand, people who want to have more than one child believe its conducive to a happier family environment and aids a child's development," he added.

Liu Yingying, 30, a human resources specialist at a State-owned company, gave birth to her first son two years ago and said the idea of having a second has never crossed her mind. "I already spend about 4,000 yuan on his kindergarten, clothes and toys, which is almost my entire monthly salary," she told METRO. "If I'd married a rich husband who could give me a comfortable life, I'll definitely have a second baby."

The blue book also suggests that the traditional desire to have a male heir over a girl has been significantly reduced in the capital. Roughly 64 percent of urban interviewees said they feel parents no longer have a preference, while 73 percent in the countryside agreed.

China Daily

(China Daily 04/26/2011 page25)