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Article: Japan: Population Aging and the Fiscal Challenge.(Statistical Data Included)
- Article from:
- Finance & Development
- Article date:
- March 1, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 International Monetary Fund. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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With Japan facing a demographic crisis, government finances--stretched to the limit to keep the economy afloat--have to cope with the rising strain on public pension and health systems. This article looks at the economic and fiscal costs of aging in Japan.
THE POPULATIONS of all industrial countries are aging. As prosperity has increased, birth rates have declined, and, with the baby-boom generation about to enter retirement, public pension schemes have come under pressure to raise contribution levels or cut the size of benefits. Japan, whose population enjoys the greatest longevity worldwide, will be particularly affected. The share of elderly people as a ...