Problems of Aging Population in Japan - Essay Example

Problems of Aging Population of Japan Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Code: Date of Submission: Introduction In the recent years Japan has been changing from aging to aged country because of the high increasing number of the aging population. From the research that has been conducted, it has been determined that about 7% of the population comprises of the aging population which is about 65 years old and above. This means that the population of Japan is slowly becoming aging population and there are issues which are associated with the increasing aging population (Project 2015). This is because in the last 25 years, the aging population has doubled which is worrying because of the issues which are associated with the aging population. In this effect, this essay will discuss the problems associated with the aging population in Japan. Problems of aging population of Japan High dependence ratio There are various problems which are associated with aging population in Japan. The first problem of the aging population is that there is likely to be high dependence ratio. This is because when there is high aging population growth, the aged people will have to depend on the government for the retirement benefits as well as the family members. This means that the government has to spend a lot with the aim of improving the living standards of the aged individuals. It is the responsibility of the government and non-governmental organizations to ensure that the aging population is taken good care off so that they can also live happily (Project 2015). The aging population is associated with the health systems that have been put in place to ensure that the Japanese people live happily and this helps to improve their lifespan and this has led to increased aging population. In this context, the increased aging population of Japan has led to high dependency ration which increases the government spending as well as the dependants. Decline in Alliance Pension Sustainability Index In addition, the aging population in Japan has influenced the Alliance Pension Sustainability Index. From the preliminary results, it can be determined that the aging population in Japan has influenced the deterioration of the PSI and its subsequent decline. For instance, in the year 20009, Japan was ranked 30th in the PSI but it dropped to 40th position in the year 2011. In the year 2014, Japan is ranked third last and this means that there are serious problems which are associated with the aging population in Japan. This is because the aging population is less productivity and instead there is high dependence ratio which means that there are many resources which are consumed (Project 2015). In addition, the aging population has influenced the productivity of the people and this means that resources are consumed more as compared to the productivity of the aging people. This is because the pension schemes in Japan are not sustainable hence the living standards of the people are affected. In this way, appropriate measure should be taken into account. Decline in the fertility rates Furthermore, the aging population in Japan has influenced the fertility rates. There is high decline in the fertility rates as well as the increasing life expectancies. For instance, the life expectancy rate in Japan stands at 87 years for the women which are four years more than the women in UK. In this way, the aging population in Japan has led to decline in the Japanese population. This means that there are many aging population in Japan as compared to the young and productive population. The most productive population is the young population. This means that the aging population of Japan is likely to increase will affect the productivity of Japan (Naoko & Hiroko 2015). As a result, the government should take appropriate measures to ensure that the aging population is also productive by taking measures such as increasing the retirement age and this will help to reduce the dependence ratio instead improve the productivity of the employees. The systems that should be considered by the government include increasing the pension schemes. Had led to decline in local and national economies The aging population in Japan has also influenced the national and the local economies as well as the pension schemes that include healthcare systems. This is because the population of Japan has increased to aging population which is not working. The non working citizens are not too productive and they hinder the economic expansion and this challenges the pension systems. The older adults in Japan have been given the priority for the government in the last two decades (Akiyama et al 1997). This means that the aging population has increased and the productive population has declined because of the high dependence ratio. For instance, in the year 2010, the population of individuals living with their children or spouse decreased from 87% to 48%. This means that the aging population is increasing and this affects the pension and healthcare systems which affects the economy of the country. From these statistics, it can be determined that the aging population of Japan has affected the productivity of the citizens and this affects the expansion of the economy since most of the resources are consumed by non productive projects (Naoko & Hiroko 2015). In this effect, the government should take appropriate measures to ensure that the aging population is productive and can help to improve the economic stability of Japan. Led to long term care costs and labour shortage The other effect of the aging population in Japan is that it has led to increasing long term care costs. This is because of the high dependence ratio which has led to increased pension and healthcare systems. Furthermore, the aging population has increased the workforce shortages. This is because there is low birth rate as compared to the aging population. The increasing aging population has led to shortage of important skills which are required in various industries (Ouchi & Akiyama 2010). This is because the number of the retirement citizens is high as compared to the young skills required. There are important skills among the aging people which are required and should not be lost. Migration issues In addition, there are migration issues whereby the young people have migrated from Japan to other countries in search for better jobs and this means that the workforce who is left behind is the aging people. For instance, Japan has not been for a long time known to recruit foreign skilled workers especially in the health sector. However, in the recent years, the government of Japan has been forced to change its systems to meet the changing demographics so that it can be able to acquire relevant skills either from the global or domestic labour market (John 2010). Therefore, the government policies have to be taken into account so that the demographic changes can be taken into account to ensure that there is no shortage in skills. But for now, it can be determined that the aging population in Japan has led to shortage in skills. Affected the rebuilding of the community Furthermore, the aging population in Japan has also affected rebuilding the community and the participation of the old age. This is because the old age employees are not energetic to work in the community projects and this affects the economic development of the community projects (Naoko & Hiroko 2015). The issues of old age participation and community rebuilding can be traced back to the end of Second World War. At the end of the world war, new systems were developed including the political, social and economic systems. Geographic mobility of the labour is low in Japan and this is and this means that the aging population is increasing meaning that the population of Japan is slowly becoming aged. However, there has been rural urban migration and this means that the aging population is increasing and important skills are becoming extinct (Tsukada 2010). In this effect, the community rebuilding is slow because of the rural urban migration and increased aged population. This has affected the economic development of the communities in Japan as well as the economic development of Japan due to shortage of important skills required to run important industries. Isolation of the aging people The isolation of the aging people in Japan has also been experienced in the recent years. There is social isolation because the young and aged people are isolated and belong to different social groups. From the research that has been conducted, it has been determined that the social isolation in Japan has intensified as compared to the counterparts of Japan like France and Germany. From the economic point of view, it can be determined that the economic development projects can be less motivated and initiated because of the less productive workforce (Traphagan 2003). This is because the aging people have limited skills which might not be applicable in today’s competitive world. Has increased the poverty levels In addition, the aging population in Japan has influenced the poverty levels in Japan. Initially, the women were not considered to be competitive workforce. However, in the later years, the majority of women have taken important positions at workplaces. This means that the women have spent most of their time working and given birth to fewer children as compared to their predecessors. This implies that the population of Japan is declining meaning that there is possibility of labour shortage and this will affect the economic development of Japan (McCurry 2007). Therefore, the labour force has changed and is less productive since the aging population is retiring with few young employees to take up various positions. Has led to formulating flexible government policies It is also important to note that due to aging population in Japan has influenced the government of Japan to take appropriate measures to ensure that the aged population engages in productive activities. This is because failing to include the aging population in Japan in productive activities, the young population will not ensure economic development of the country without the support if the aging population (Paul 2002). By engaging the aging population in the productive activities, it will be possible to ensure that dependence ratio has been reduced. This will help to improve the supply of the workforce so that the Japanese economy does not run out of workforce supply. This helps to improve the supply of labour skills and ensure economic development. Criticism On the contrary, it is also argued that the aging population in Japan has influenced the economic development on the positive way. This is because the aging workforce has helped to train and develop the skills of the young employees which they turn put into practice. This means that the experience of the young people is leant from the aging people who take the responsibility of orienting the young people to senior positions in the various companies. In this way, the aging population also contributes to the success of the economic development (Hashimoto 2001). In addition, the aging population is increasing and this ensures that the pension schemes are done on the long term basis since the aging population will receive their dues when they cannot sustain their lifestyles. This means that the aging workforce also helps to conserve important skills which are required by the young employees in managing the development of the economy. The skills of the aging workforce are therefore important in improving the economic development of Japan. Conclusion The aging workforce in Japan is increasing every year. This has led to various problems in the development of the economy of Japan. In the first place, the aging population in Japan has led to increased dependency ratio because they cannot sustain themselves. Furthermore, the aging population in Japan has led to increased shortage of the labour skills because of the aging population and young population is small. In addition, there is increased government expenditure because of the high aging population and this affects the economic development of Japan. In addition, there is social isolation of the aging population from the growing population and this affects the transfer of the skills. References Akiyama H, Antonucci TC & Campbell, R 1997, Exchange and reciprocity among two generations of Japanese and American women. In: Sokolovsky J, editor. The cultural context of aging: Worldwide perspectives. 2nd ed. Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey. Hashimoto, R 2001, General Principles Concerning Measures for the Aging Society. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. John, L 2010, Multiethnic Japan (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. McCurry, J 2007, "Japan's age-old problem". The Guardian (UK) (London). Naoko, M & Hiroko, 2015, Japan:Super-Aging preparing for the future, retrieved on 12th August 2015 from http://gerontologist.oxfordjournals.org/content/51/4/425.full Ouchi, Y & Akiyama, H 2010, editors. Gerontology: Overview and perspectives, 3rd Ed. (Shin Ronen-gaku, Dai 3-han). Tokyo, Japan: University of Tokyo Press. Paul S. H 2002, "Depopulation and Ageing in Europe and Japan: The Hazardous Transition to a Labor Shortage Economy". International Politics and Society. Project, M 2015, Japan’s grave problem with aging, retrieved on 12th August 2015 from http://projectm-online.com/global-agenda/demographics/japans-grave-problem-with- aging Traphagan, J., W 2003, Demographic Change and the Family in Japan's Aging Society. Suny Series in Japan in Transition, SUNY Series in Aging and Culture, Suny Series in Japan in Transition and Suny Series in Aging and Culture. SUNY Press. Tsukada, N 2010, Foreign workers in long-term care: How is long-term care changing in Japan? (Kaigo Gemba-no Gaikokujin Rodosha: Nihon-no Care Gemba-wa Dou Kawarunoka). Tokyo, Japan: Akashi Shoten. Read More

The decline in the fertility rates

Furthermore, the aging population in Japan has influenced fertility rates. There is a high decline in fertility rates as well as increasing life expectancies. For instance, the life expectancy rate in Japan stands at 87 years for women which is four years more than the women in the UK. In this way, the aging population in Japan has led to declining in the Japanese population. This means that there are many aging populations in Japan as compared to the young and productive population. The most productive population is the young population. This means that the aging population of Japan is likely to increase will affect the productivity of Japan (Naoko & Hiroko 2015). As a result, the government should take appropriate measures to ensure that the aging population is also productive by taking measures such as increasing the retirement age and this will help to reduce the dependence ratio instead improve the productivity of the employees. The systems that should be considered by the government include increasing the pension schemes.

Had led to a decline in local and national economies

The aging population in Japan has also influenced the national and the local economies as well as the pension schemes that include healthcare systems. This is because the population of Japan has increased to an aging population that is not working. The nonworking citizens are not too productive and they hinder the economic expansion and this challenges the pension systems. Older adults in Japan have been given priority for the government in the last two decades (Akiyama et al 1997). This means that the aging population has increased and the productive population has declined because of the high dependence ratio. For instance, in the year 2010, the population of individuals living with their children or spouse decreased from 87% to 48%. This means that the aging population is increasing and this affects the pension and healthcare systems which affects the economy of the country. From these statistics, it can be determined that the aging population of Japan has affected the productivity of the citizens and this affects the expansion of the economy since most of the resources are consumed by nonproductive projects (Naoko & Hiroko 2015). In this effect, the government should take appropriate measures to ensure that the aging population is productive and can help to improve the economic stability of Japan.

Led too long term care costs and labor shortage

The other effect of the aging population in Japan is that it hфas led to increasing long-term care costs. This is because of the high dependence ratio which has led to increased pension and healthcare systems. Furthermore, the aging population has increased workforce shortages. This is because there is a low birth rate as compared to the aging population. The increasing aging population has led to a shortage of important skills that are required in various industries (Ouchi & Akiyama 2010). This is because the number of retirement citizens is high as compared to the young skills required. There are important skills among aging people which are required and should not be lost.

Migration issues

In addition, there are migration issues whereby the young people have migrated from Japan to other countries in search of better jobs and this means that the workforce who is left behind is the aging people. For instance, Japan has not been for a long time known to recruit foreign skilled workers, especially in the health sector. However, in recent years, the government of Japan has been forced to change its systems to meet the changing demographics so that it can be able to acquire relevant skills either from the global or domestic labor market (John 2010). Therefore, the government policies have to be taken into account so that the demographic changes can be taken into account to ensure that there is no shortage in skills. But for now, it can be determined that the aging population in Japan has led to a shortage in skills.

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