February 8, 2016, is the commencement of the Year of the Monkey. In
particular, it is the year of the fire monkey, symbolized by the colour red.
A Hong Kong news outlet reported that some couples in China have delayed
the birth of their child to coincide with the Year of the Monkey, as monkey
children are said to be crafty, clever, and charming (The Bulletin, January 20, 2016).
Consequently, reservations for maternity beds in one of Beijing’s 72-bed hospitals
has increased by 30% compared with this time last year. Wards are being
renovated, extra beds are being added, and more medical staff are being hired.
The purchase of fertility drugs and medications increased late last year too. Suppliers
of baby milk formula, diapers, and related medications will directly benefit
from a higher birth rate as well.
The Year of the Monkey is not the most favourable of the 12 Chinese zodiac
years, but it’s ‘sandwiched between the Year of the Sheep and the 2017 Year of
the Rooster (or Chicken).’ The Year of the Dragon is most fortuitous, but that
won’t occur until 2024. The previous Year of the Dragon in 2012, symbolic of
power and wealth, sparked a 2% increase in births across China.
However, birth years don’t always have a corresponding effect on fertility.
In the previous monkey year in 2004 the number of births in China decreased by
0.37% due to the SARS epidemic that killed more than 600 people in mainland
China. Even though the Year of the Goat last year was not favourable, the birth
rate was not severely impacted.
With the announcement of the government’s two-child policy (instead of the
one-child policy) in China, which commenced on January 1, 2016, couples are
taking advantage of the coming year. This policy change could result in 3-6
million additional babies each year, starting in 2017, estimated Credit Suisse
Group. However, the increasing cost of raising children in China may result in
the number of couples having a second child to higher income earners.
MARTINA NICOLLS is the author of:-
The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends
(2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan
Curse (2009).
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