Japan’s declining population and demographic challenges

摘要

Japan is sitting on a demographic time bomb. The declining birth rate because of changing societal and economic factors impacting on priorities in human lives, and accentuated by a rapidly growing population poses a new challenge to policy makers. The governmental responses have been inadequate and need to be seriously addressed in the interests of the future of the country. Other Asian countries in the path of modernisation and fast economic growth are also falling into such trap. Like in the economic development Japan was the leader that led to the faster growth in other Asian countries, Japan ought to emerge as the new leader in addressing this demographic challenge so that other Asian countries could emulate Japan’s example.