BEIJING • When China restricted families in 1979 to having just one child to curb overpopulation and lift living standards, it chose to controversially enforce fines, sterilisation and even abortion to ensure couples comply.

Forty years on, it has dropped the stick and is instead dangling carrots in a desperate bid to create a baby boom to stave off gloomy predictions of serious socioeconomic problems. Some provinces have offered free delivery for second-time mums, while others are handing out bonuses and subsidies. But not many couples are biting.