Demographic Consequences of the Great Leap Forward in China's Provinces

This article examines the demographic consequences of Chinas Great Leap Forward--the massive and ultimately unsuccessful drive during 1958-62 to leap ahead in production by mobilizing society and reorganizing the peasantry into large-scale communes. Severe excess mortality and massive fertility shortfalls are documented but with wide variations among provinces and between rural and urban areas. The demographic crisis was caused in the first instance by nationwide food shortages. However these are attributable to declines in grain production entitlement failure and changes in consumption patterns all of which are ultimately traceable to political and economic policies connected with the Great Leap. (SUMMARY IN FRE AND SPA) (EXCERPT)