The one child policy in China has caused a social catastrophe.

This policy first introduced in 1978 has had unforeseen consequences. There are so many more men than women. At the most recent count it is thought that there will be in the region of 30 million unmarried men by 2020. There is now panic in the highest reaches of the Communist Party that this could cause social unrest. They have since last year reversed the policy, so families can have two children. However this change of policy has not seen a change in behaviour. Most want one child and that child is a boy. Across China each year there a some 13 million legal abortions performed mainly to women under the age of 25. Nevertheless there is also a brisk trade in illegal abortions done by corrupt doctors, illicit clinics and illegal sex-testing agencies. In addition many if they have the money go over to Hong Kong to have the female foetus aborted. This is an example of how a policy that was thought up by some state bureaucratic has had such a terrible impact and cost for the whole of society.