NEARLY 30% of Japan's population are aged over 65. The birth rate is so low that by 2065, on current trends, the population will have fallen from 125 million to 88 million.
Not surprisingly, the Japanese government are trying various measures to change this. But critics of the government's policies say they do not address the core problems of
"the cost of compulsory and higher education, the rising cost of living and, poorly paid and unstable jobs for non-regular workers, and punishingly long working hours that make a healthy family life practically impossible."
There are also cultural issues. Consecutive Japanese governments have refused to allow more immigrant workers into the country. It also seems that having a traditional family is not attractive to many Japanese women. As a university student, Nao Imai, said:
"When you have a child in Japan, the husband keeps working but the mother is expected to quit her job and look after the children. I just feel that it’s hard to raise children, financially, mentally and physically."
There could be huge economic problems created by the demographic problems.of having a smaller and older population. As you read the article below, consider the following questions:
(1) what will happen to the number of workers and therefore Japan's productive capacity?
(2) what will happen to tax revenue?
(3) what will happen to government spending?
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