JAPAN CASE STUDY

Demography and culture

• 3rd largest economy in the world - gross national product income $48000 per person

• Moved towards post-industrial economy with more women in the workforce

• Birth rate 8.3/1000 and fertility rate 1.4

• Average life expectancy 83 (one of the highest in the world)

• 65 year olds made 24% of the population in 2013

• Dependency ratio of 60

• Natural decrease (9.9/1000 death rate) with population only stableising because of migration

• Stage 5 of the DTM - population will decline by 30% by 2050

• Demographic time bomb - where there will not be enough young to support the elderly population

Reasons for the ageing population

• excellent healthcare, sanitation, and high living standards

• Low fat diets - fewer obesity and heart problems

• Cleaner air, relying more on nuclear and HEP

• Price of schooling has increased, meaning often only one child is affordable to send to school

• Contraception is accepted and widely used

• Women receive good education so are more career-focused, having less children

Influence of physical environment

• 70% mountainous land, making urban areas very densely populated

• Relatively small amounts of fossil fuel and mineral deposits

• Frequent hazards demo volcanoes and earthquakes, providing fertile soil, and intensive agricultural production

Positives of the ageing population

• increasing demand for leisure and tourism among the elderly

• New both tech to assist the elderly, worth US$1billion to the economy

• Manufacturing industry is still very successful due to globalisation

• Growth in the number of privatised hospitals specialising in elderly healthcare

Socio-economic implications

• rising number of dementia cases

• Increasing number of elderly in poor quality housing or ending up in prison

• More pressure on care services, requiring more medical and care workers

• 40% of all govt public spending is on the elderly

• Shrinking working population, negative impact on domestic economic growth - impacting both production and consumption