Since the one-child policy was first enacted over thirty years ago, birthrates across China have remained low. Now, almost a full-year into the new two-child policy, the rate in many areas has seen little to no increase. The Health and Family Planning Commission of Yichang, a large city in central China’s Hubei province, recently called upon local government leaders and members of the Communist Youth League to provide assistance. In other words, push them to have another kid.

The commission issued a public letter on Sunday urging young comrades to lead by example in birthing a second child. For those who are older, the letter asked that they act as vocal advocates and encourage the youth. 

The city’s birth rate in 2015 was 9.2 births per 1,000 people, well below the national average of 12.1. “Each woman is averaging less than one child since 2000,” the letter explained.

A low birth rate runs the risk of an aging population, where a shortage of youth cannot sustain the welfare of a surplus of elderly. This type of city also fails to attract migration, slowing down or even reversing urbanization. Both issues can be insidious for an economy of any size. Larger cities such as Shanghai have proposed extending maternity leave by 30-90 days in an attempt to incentivize woman to have a second child.