With an average age of 45 years old and a population where one third of people is over the age of 65, Japan has one of the oldest populations on earth. This is due to two factors: one of the...Show moreWith an average age of 45 years old and a population where one third of people is over the age of 65, Japan has one of the oldest populations on earth. This is due to two factors: one of the highest life-expectancies on earth, and one of the lowest birth-rates on earth. As a result of this Japan's demographic pyramid has been flipped on its head, figuratively and literally. A demographic imbalance like this comes with many challenges, such as disappearing towns, pressure on health and pension funds, and the closure of schools across the country. There are many challenges to overcome, but arguably the key one's are two questions: how to increase the birth-rate, and how to take care of the elderly population. In this thesis we will look at how Japan has tried to tackle these two challenges, see what has been effective, and see what we can learn from it for a future where more and more developed countries are faced with aging populations and low birth ratesShow less
