Being part of the UK, Japan's ageing population and looming demographic crisis has been frequently citied in the immigration debate here.
It has always occurred to me is whether there is an alternative to changing demographics apart from the population pyramid of keeping adding to the population through immigration? Most, if not all, industrialised societies in the world have went from one where large families where the norm to one of smaller families and to a growing part, where males are not seeking to start families. The basic reality is there will come to a point where those of working age can't financially support those retired until the age demographics platues to a sustainable one. However, is it possible through technology and other measures to overcome this?
I see that there is a recent article on child care and labour reforms to try and boost birth rates but should attempts to increase future countries populations be the only solution or even if it is something that need to be considered at all?
It's obvious Japan doesn't want to go the route of the US and western countries of immigration but could technology, in particular robotics and A.I. be a solution that could in theory massively increase productivity? I had read about a pilot of Japanese couriers using drone to deliver packages in rural areas. Given the communal spirit of Japanese society, these drones could deliver packages to central areas where they are left for customers to collect without fear of theft. That could work in Japan but would never work elsewhere.
A thing that I had seen about the pandemic was that some restaurants in Japan had installed vending machines where customers could collect the dishes they ordered. Another type of technological solution that would work easily in Japan but not elsewhere.
As well as technology, there are other more innovative changes as well. I had read years ago about a city in Japan that pursued a policy of 'shrinking their city', where they provided financial incentives to elder citizens to move from the peripheries in towards the city centre where the social and support services where revitalised. This not only helped deal with the ageing population of the city but also revitalised the city centre economy that was been hurt by a falling population.
I'm not trying to play down the issue of ageing demographics that is affecting every industrialised country but trying to argue that isn't such a drastic issue that requires drastic solution as seen here in the UK where the population is projected to increase by about 20 million through immigration.
I'm interested to hearing other opinions in light of Japan and whether Japan could provide solutions to the issue.
It has always occurred to me is whether there is an alternative to changing demographics apart from the population pyramid of keeping adding to the population through immigration? Most, if not all, industrialised societies in the world have went from one where large families where the norm to one of smaller families and to a growing part, where males are not seeking to start families. The basic reality is there will come to a point where those of working age can't financially support those retired until the age demographics platues to a sustainable one. However, is it possible through technology and other measures to overcome this?
I see that there is a recent article on child care and labour reforms to try and boost birth rates but should attempts to increase future countries populations be the only solution or even if it is something that need to be considered at all?
It's obvious Japan doesn't want to go the route of the US and western countries of immigration but could technology, in particular robotics and A.I. be a solution that could in theory massively increase productivity? I had read about a pilot of Japanese couriers using drone to deliver packages in rural areas. Given the communal spirit of Japanese society, these drones could deliver packages to central areas where they are left for customers to collect without fear of theft. That could work in Japan but would never work elsewhere.
A thing that I had seen about the pandemic was that some restaurants in Japan had installed vending machines where customers could collect the dishes they ordered. Another type of technological solution that would work easily in Japan but not elsewhere.
As well as technology, there are other more innovative changes as well. I had read years ago about a city in Japan that pursued a policy of 'shrinking their city', where they provided financial incentives to elder citizens to move from the peripheries in towards the city centre where the social and support services where revitalised. This not only helped deal with the ageing population of the city but also revitalised the city centre economy that was been hurt by a falling population.
I'm not trying to play down the issue of ageing demographics that is affecting every industrialised country but trying to argue that isn't such a drastic issue that requires drastic solution as seen here in the UK where the population is projected to increase by about 20 million through immigration.
I'm interested to hearing other opinions in light of Japan and whether Japan could provide solutions to the issue.