Shortage of cheap labour looms in China as demographics take over

[Cowperson]

The world's most populous nation, which has built its economic strength on seemingly endless supplies of cheap labor, China may soon face manpower shortages.

An aging population also poses difficult political issues for the Communist government, which first encouraged a population explosion in the 1950's and then reversed course and introduced the so-called one-child policy a few years after the death of Mao in 1976.

That measure has spared the country an estimated 390 million births but may ultimately prove to be another monumental demographic mistake.

With China's breathtaking rise toward affluence, most people live longer and have fewer children, mirroring trends seen around the world.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/30/wo...rtner=homepage

Cowperson

[Mr.Coffee]

Yeah but if China DIDN'T institute the one child policy in 1976 their would be another 390 million people to take care of...

When your population is roughly 20% of the world... your bound to run into problems I think.

[Tron_fdc]

Well, if China runs out of cheap labour there's always India!!

[DementedReality]

i just got back from China .... while there i read a report that the average cost of labour in China is about 1.35/hour, compared with 1.15 in India and almost 27.00 for Canada.

food for thought

[Vulcan]

With new technology aren't parents aborting females in India and China causing a huge imbalance the future generations are going to experience.