Case Studies Paper 2

Question 1

Japan

Answer 1

• one of oldest populations in world
• total pop in 2014 was 127.9 million

Archipelago

• 4 main islands
• 70% land is mountainous
• urban areas v densely populated
• fertile soils due to with warm climate = intensive agricultural production

Question 2

Japan’s demography ?

Answer 2

Distinctive culture which is traditional and paternalistic

• expects loyalty from hard working individuals
• gdp 48,000
• traditionally mainly men bringing home the bacon but now women post industrialisation important in workforce impacted fertility rates
• death rate higher than birth rate = natural decrease
• stage 5 DTM and only stable due to migration
• dependency ratio is 60
• life expectancy too high
• population expected to decline by 30% in 2050

Question 3

Reasons for ageing population in Japan ?

Answer 3

Great healthcare

Low fat diets few obesity and heart problems

Cleaner energy = less respiration problems

Emancipation of women

Question 4

Socio economic implications of Japan’s ageing population?

Answer 4

• 25 % government budget spent on pensions
• 40% all government spending on elderly
• more families having to look after their elderly
• pressure of care services
• increasing pressure on NGOs
• hasn’t a gRnnies going to jail as can’t afford care
• 3.8 million Japanese elderly live along with no family support
• more elderly returning to work

Question 5

Government responses ?

Answer 5

Japanese government has duty to tackle issues

Raise taxes

Raising retirement age

Pro-natal policies tax reduction with children
(Financial incentives to pregnant)

Encouraging robot technology revolution

Encouraging immigration of skilled workers but Japanese is hard to learn and japs are very nationalist

Will need net immigration of over 340,000 a year by 2050