How is Japan in such a big pickle with the population shrinking. If an economy is based on a kids being born so they grow and sustain the aging population, how did Japan, a country known for their meticulous approach to everything, got themselves in this situation. For sure they must have seen it coming 20-30 years ago.
What went wrong? If they got it worn, how do we have it right? With the government not providing any kind of meaningful incentives for families to have kids, when will the 24th hour come for the rest of us?
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Firstly, Japan’s population crisis is down to a few factors, such as a rapid increase in elderly people and a decrease in the birth rate, which is only a small part of it. Services like healthcare and pensions get strained as there are fewer workers to pay taxes and more retirees to take care of. And, although Japan is famously efficient and meticulous, it’s not like they did something ‘wrong’ per se – social changes just happened really quickly.
The problem is also compounded by Japan’s strict immigration policies, so the population can’t be easily bolstered with immigration like in some other countries.
Regarding the idea that ‘they must’ve seen it coming’, the thing with demographic changes is, they’re slow and incremental. But once they gain momentum, they can be hard to reverse.
As for if and when other countries might face similar issues – well, there’s no easy answer to that. See, every country’s got a unique combination of social, cultural, and economic factors. But most developed countries are indeed facing similar aging population challenges, just maybe not at the same scale as Japan. So, it’s always a good idea for countries to plan ahead and prepare for tomorrow’s challenges.
As for incentives for families to have children, that’s another complex issue. Some countries do offer various incentives, but it’s not always about money. A lot of it has to do with social norms and work cultures too.
Hope that clears it up a bit for you.
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