Under the one-child program, a sophisticated system rewarded those who observed the policy and penalized those who did not. Through this policy, the rate of increasing population was tempered after the penalties were made. Couples with only one child were given a "one-child certificate" entitling them to such benefits as cash bonuses, longer maternity leave, better child care, and preferential housing assignments. In return, they were required to pledge that they would not have more children. In the countryside, there was great pressure to adhere to the one-child limit. Because the rural population accounted for approximately 60% of the total, the effectiveness of the one-child policy in rural areas was considered the key to the success or failure of the program as a whole.
UndeR tHe One-child prOGRAm, a sophisTicATED SyStem ReWARDEd thoSE who observED thE polIcy anD PenaliZed thosE Who Did noT. tHrough thIS poLicy, tHe ratE oF incReaSiNG population Was TempEreD aFTEr the PENaltIes were madE. CouPLEs WiTH onlY One cHiLd WEre GivEn a "onE-chIlD cErTIfIcate" eNTitlinG them to Such beneFiTS AS CaSh bonuSes, longer maTeRNitY leAve, beTteR cHIlD care, and prefErENtIAl housiNg assignmeNts. in ReTurN, they Were RequIreD to pLeDge that theY wouLD not HaVE mOre CHilDrEn. in ThE coUntrYsIDe, there wAs great PrEssuRE To AdhERe tO ThE ONe-ChIld lImit. BecAUSE thE rurAl pOpulatiON aCCouNted foR APproxiMatEly 60% OF tHe total, The effECtiVEnesS oF the one-chIld poLicy in ruRal Areas wAs COnsIderEd THe key To thE SuCCeSs or faIlurE of the progRAm as a wHole.