Demographic policy is a set of measures taken by the state in order to ensure the reproduction of the population and the optimal ratio of the number of groups of different ages. These events can take place either in a specific region or nationwide.
The old model of the family, where many children were born, the husband was the head and breadwinner, and the wife was assigned the role of a housewife and educator of children, is irrevocably a thing of the past in many developed countries. Now in Russian families, as in Europe, USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, one or two children are born, and some families do not have children at all.
Infant and child mortality has dropped sharply, while life expectancy has increased. All this led to a noticeable increase in the percentage of elderly people and, accordingly, a decrease in the relative number of young people. And this is fraught with very unpleasant consequences. Therefore, in such countries, the demographic policy is to promote the birth rate in every possible way. This is achieved through the use of a whole range of measures: economic (one-time payments for childbirth, child benefits, paid maternity leave, preferential loans and credits for young families), propaganda (family planning policy, explaining the harm to women's health from abortion, appeal to authority church), administrative and legal (protection of the rights of a working woman-mother, etc.).
In many developing countries, the preservation of the traditional large family model while reducing child mortality has led to exactly the opposite consequences. The population there is growing steadily and rapidly, leading to massive unemployment and, in some cases, famine, which often takes the form of a real disaster. Therefore, in such cases, demographic policy is to stimulate the abandonment of large families, sanitary and hygienic education (many residents in those countries still do not even know about contraception), and sometimes strict prohibitive measures. For example, in China, the rule is still in force: "One family - one child", violation of which is followed by severe sanctions. It was introduced in the early 70s of the last century, when it became clear that with the previous birth rate, China's resources simply would not be enough to feed and employ an ever-growing population. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, for example, residents are allowed to have two children if each of the parents was the only child in their family.
