The Shanghai municipal government is encouraging eligible couples to have a second child in order to alleviate the impact of the city’s aging population, state media reported. Family planning officials and volunteers will visit homes and distribute leaflets to encourage couples to have a second child if both were born as only children. "We advocate eligible couples to have two kids because it can help reduce the proportion of the aging people and alleviate a workforce shortage in the future," said Xie Lingli, director of the Shanghai Population and Family Planning Commission Shanghai. Nearly 22% of Shanghai’s population is over 60 years old, and the ratio is expected to rise to 34% by 2020. The problem is of national scope, and some demographers – and insurance companies – have voiced fears that China may become the first developing country to "become old before it becomes rich".
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