Reforming China's One-Child Policy?

NBC reports that a Chinese government "think tank" has suggested phasing out China's one-child policy by 2020. The article states:

The official Xinhua News Agency said the foundation was recommending a two-child policy in some provinces from this year and a nationwide two-child policy by 2015. It also proposed all birth limits be dropped by 2020.

"China has paid a huge political and social cost for the policy, as it has resulted in social conflict, high administrative costs and led indirectly to a long-term gender imbalance at birth," Xinhua said, citing the report.

The article also goes on to note possible opposition to changes within the government. It relates that while the policy has been unpopular among the common people, some credit it for China's current prosperity.

China's current prosperity is primarily a result of its people's work ethic and ability to provide cheap labor, neither of which depended on the one-child policy. However, any changes to the policy now, while welcome, will probably be a case of too little, too late. As it is now, even if given the option of having children, more and more Chinese will voluntarily opt to have one (or none), just like most other countries around the world.