[Explanation] On July 28, Sichuan Panzhihua announced that it will provide a childcare subsidy of RMB 500 per child per month to families registered in Panzhihua who have a second child or more according to the policy, until the child is 3 years old.

As soon as the news came out, it immediately attracted attention on the Internet, and Panzhihua became the first city in China to issue childcare subsidies.

　　[Explanation] According to the implementation rules, the basic requirement for receiving the childcare subsidy is that the household registration and social security of both spouses are in Panzhihua, and the household registration of the second and third children must also be in Panzhihua.

After a series of conditions are met, relevant families who give birth on or after June 12, 2021 can receive the subsidy.

　　[Concurrent] Mother Xiaoqin, Chief of Population Surveillance and Family Development Section, Health Commission of Panzhihua City

　　The purpose of the policy of granting childcare subsidies is to encourage citizens to give birth to children in accordance with the policy.

At the same time, the implementation of a series of policies such as issuing childcare subsidies, promoting the development of childcare services, providing free hospital delivery services, and implementing supporting measures for the national three-child policy, to a certain extent, reduce the people's fertility and parenting costs, increase their willingness to bear Reproductive potential, boost fertility.

　　[Explanation] Liu Lu, a professor at the School of Economics of Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, said that excessive parenting costs are the main contradiction facing the population’s fertility. Cash subsidies can have a direct effect on the promotion of fertility. We will start with all aspects of the problem to solve people’s worries about childbirth.

　　[Concurrent] Liu Lu, Professor, School of Economics, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics

　　The influencing factors of the family’s willingness to bear children are very complicated. There are not only policy-related issues, but also some characteristics similar to the nature of the job position and occupation, as well as disposable income, free time, and the physical condition of the couple. And so on, there are many influencing factors.

This subsidy can increase the disposable income of the family to a certain extent.

Looking at this issue from the local government level, a package of policy tools can be adopted to encourage childbirth. This package of policy tools includes cash subsidies.

It should be said that Panzhihua's policy has begun, and it can be seen that the local area is very positively responding to the birth of multiple children.

In addition to cash-related subsidies, or tax relief, similar to the issuance of consumer vouchers, the issuance of physical objects, etc., these are also options that can be done.

In some places, fiscal revenues are relatively loose, and they have the financial resources to provide subsidies. In some places, fiscal revenues may be slightly lower, and they can adopt other methods. Therefore, we must adopt more flexible methods in accordance with local conditions.

　　[Explanation] Although many people are conservative on whether the payment of childcare subsidies can stimulate childbirth, most people support this policy that can solve children’s "milk powder money" with real money.

　　[Concurrent] Citizen Yang Qiong

　　I am a "two-child family" and I have two children.

I think this policy is very good. If the government has a little subsidy, it can relieve our economic pressure for our entire family.

So I hope that such a policy can be implemented in more cities across the country.

　　[Concurrent] Citizen Yi Qin

　　I am already a mother of two children, and I have not considered the issue of having three children. The main reason is that there is too much financial pressure.

I heard that Panzhihua has introduced a childbirth subsidy policy. I think if the city where I live also implements this policy, I would not consider having three children.

Because of the subsidy of 500 yuan per month, the energy and money we need to invest in giving birth to one more child is far from insignificant, but I support this policy very much.

　　Chen Xuanbin and Li Jingzhe report from Chengdu

Editor in charge: [Zhang Kaixin]