Institutional arrangement, economic growth and cultural conflict: an investigation on the policy of ‘family planning’ in China

Abstract

This paper attempts to describe a phenomenon of cultural conflict arising from new institutional arrangements that are devised to obtain a better economic growth by investigating the effects of China’s policy of ‘family planning’. We find that the policy of ‘family planning’ as an institutional arrangement conflicts with China’s fertility culture. Although many draconian measures have been used to limit births under the policy of ‘family planning’, the influences of China’s fertility culture still remain. It can help to understand the relationship among institutional arrangement, economic growth and cultural conflict.