China population: ‘self-aware’ DINK couples, with no kids, could prolong demographic crisis
- Many young couples in China are shunning government handouts and incentives to live a life unburdened by children, and the falling birth rate has economic implications
- Population researcher also points to declining marriage rate as evidence ‘China will very likely see its low fertility rate remain low in the coming decades’
When Zhang Chengying first told her parents that she and her husband would not be having children, the reaction was one of shock as they asked Zhang if there was something wrong with her.
Nothing, the 32-year-old explained. They just want to be a DINK couple – double income, no kids. They are momentarily two incomes shy of that goal, but that is expected to change soon – and they are enjoying the downtime by hitting the open road.
“My mother said she was already over 60 and would be ridiculed for not having grandchildren,” Zhang said. “But would I change my life just to avoid her being laughed at by others? No.”
Zhang, who recently graduated from a medical university in Shandong province with a doctor of pharmacy, is biding her time, waiting for a scientific research position to open up at a hospital later this year. Her husband will start work at a public institution in two weeks. For now, they enjoy staying up late, sleeping in, and not worrying about kids.
On Thursday, the couple set off on a 5,499km (3,417-mile) road trip – carefully mapped out to 59 hours and three minutes – that will take them through three other Chinese provinces.
