In Luliang, China, a new trend is emerging as local authorities offer incentives to encourage couples to get married. Zhang Gang and Weng Linbin recently registered their marriage and received a 1,500-yuan ($205) reward as part of the government’s efforts to boost the country’s population, which has been declining for the past few years.
The cash incentive is just one part of a larger package of benefits aimed at supporting couples who decide to tie the knot. In addition to the monetary reward, Luliang is offering subsidies and medical insurance contributions for registering newborns. Couples receive 2,000 yuan for their first child, 5,000 for their second, and 8,000 for their third.
Despite these incentives, there is still a reluctance among young people to get married and start families. The high costs of education and childcare, along with a challenging job market, are cited as factors that discourage would-be parents. Last year, marriage rates dropped by a fifth compared to the previous year, reflecting a broader trend of declining birth rates in the region.
At a marriage registry office in Luliang, couples are taking advantage of the incentives, with over 400 couples receiving marriage certificates since the program began on January 1. However, some couples are rushing to get married earlier than planned in order to qualify for the benefits.
Matchmaker Feng Yuping, who has seen an increase in female clients seeking partners, remains skeptical about the impact of the incentives on marriage rates. She notes that societal attitudes towards marriage, particularly among men, remain a significant barrier to increasing the population.
The decline in population in Luliang has led to the closure of kindergartens due to lack of demand, highlighting the urgency of the government’s efforts to reverse this trend. Similar incentives are being implemented in other regions across China in response to the country’s ageing population.
While the incentives may encourage some couples to marry, ultimately, the decision to get married is a personal one based on factors beyond financial benefits. As Zhang Gang, one of the newlyweds in Luliang, puts it, “as long as young people are in love, they will inevitably walk down the aisle together.”
