Examples of incentives

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 527.

Japan's Ageing Population

Case study Aging Population – Japan

Too few under 15 Solutions

· A pro-nalalist policy to increase birth rates.

· Subsidised childcare and education to encourage more families to have more children

Japan has an ageing population because the birth rates have fallen and it has one of the world's highest life expectancy's. In fact the islands of Okinawa off Japan's south coast have the highest life expectancy and the greatest percentage of centenarians.

Japan has the highest proportion of old dependents (about 23%) and the lowest proportion of young dependents (about 13%) in the world. It has a total fertility rate of only 1.25. This is well below the replacement rate of 2.1.

Even though the Japanese are working longer, it may have to look outside its borders to prevent future population decline and economic decline. Japan is traditionally a very insular (closed) country so allowing large scale immigration would involve huge social and cultural changes.

Pro-natalist Policy:A policy that encourages couples to have more children. You can not force people to have more children so you have to offer incentives instead e.g. free childcare or even money

· Cash payments

· Free or subsidised healthcare

· Free or subsidised education

· Free nurseries or subsidised childcare.

· Reduced tax rates

· Child benefits e.g. weekly or monthly payments

· Free equipment e.g. pushchairs, cots or even washing machines

· Poster and advertising campaigns