How Chinese fell out of love with marriage

Evergrande experts say many young people see wedlock as a financial padlock

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As the Chinese economy has grown, the country’s marriage rate has declined.  © Reuters

REN ZEPING, LI XIAOTONG and HUA YANXUE

Marriage is the foundation of the Chinese family. For individuals, tying the knot means an emotional connection, a sense of belonging to a family. Furthermore, a long-term harmonious marriage contributes to the stability of society. However, in recent years, the country's divorce rate has been rising.

There has been a change of mindset: Young people are now pursuing independence and see wedlock as a padlock. At the same time, it is more difficult for them to start their own families due to the high costs of getting married and raising children. Some young people don't want to get married, let alone bring a child into this world. China's declining marriage and birth rates, along with an aging population, are reinforcing each other.

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