In the modern age, the globe continues to witness a significant population decrease, with certain nations recording high statistics and anticipating a lesser population in future years. For instance, a report by the United Nations predicts that nations such as Germany, Spain, South Korea, and Russia are anticipated to witness a population decrease by 2030. Such forecasts have forced some nations to implement population policies to maintain or increase their population. Japan, for instance, has for over a decade imposed policies that entail financial assistance to persons who give birth to a child. This paper profoundly discusses the Japanese population policy, elucidates the issues that prompted the policy and potential alternatives, and provides justified recommendations.
Problem Statement
Japan has the highest percentage of elderly individuals of any nation globally. In 2014, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication assessments indicated that around 38% of the nation’s populace was over 60 years of age, with 25.9% over 65 years, with this statistic increasing to 29.1% in 2022. This elderly population, branded by high life expectancy and sub-replacement rates of the facility, is also anticipated to continue. The forecast indicated that citizens over 65 would constitute a third of the population by 2050 (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication).
Previously, the nation experienced a significant increase in baby birth between 1947 and 1949, which subsequently decreased. This Asian country’s primary population concern began in 2011. Presently, Japan’s population is 125 million (The World Bank), a statistic that is anticipated to drop by 2040 to 16% (107 million) and by 2050 to 24% (97 million) if the existing demographic trend persists (Johnston). People aged 65 years and above in Japan have more than tripled in the past four decades and now makeup over 26% of the nation’s population. On the other hand, those aged 14 and below had decreased from 24.3% in 1975 to 12.8% in 2014 (Yoshida). Surprisingly, persons that are aged surpassed younger ones in 1997, evidenced by the increased sales of adult diapers to baby diapers in 2014 (Yoshida). This significant transformation in the age demographics in the nation has happened in a lesser period than in other nations.
Dynamics, including improved medical and pharmacological technologies, enhanced nutrition, and enhanced living conditions, have been pivotal in augmenting the longer-than-average life expectancy. Since World War II, the nation has also had noteworthy peace and affluence that significantly improved its economy, subsequently increasing life expectancy. This country has also massively invested in health care, where elderly personnel continuously visit hospitals, improving their overall health and population longevity.
On the other hand, the decrease in population since the late 20th century can is highly credited to economic and cultural aspects, including higher education, poor work-life balance, decreased salaries, decreased marriages, urbanization, diminished spaces of living, increase in the number of females in the workforce, and high costs of child-raising (Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan, 5; Kato, 17). In the country, several persons are challenged by insecurity due to the unavailability of continuous employment. It is estimated that more than 40% of the nation’s young population does not have a full-time job (Kato, 21). Even though the majority of married people have two or more children, an increased number of young people are rejecting marriage. For instance, a report by (Writer Staff) uncovered that young men stated financial issues as the primary concern of avoiding marriage. In contrast, young women stated their lack of desire to change their surname as the reason for avoiding marriage.
Policy Background
The Japanese Child Benefic Act was enacted in 1972. Initially, this policy was an entirely income-tested benefit primarily aimed at groups that attained low incomes in the nation. During its introduction, citizens received 3000 yen as a contribution from the local government (Japanese Law Translation). Afterward, the Japanese authority reassessed the goals of this policy based on a philosophy of personal independence and rigid family ties. It is worth noting that these reaffirmations were during the mid-1970s oil crisis. The government’s target shifted to children who needed the benefit through enhancing the cash reward. It is important to note that the primary policy goals of the Child Benefit Act include providing children with financial security and supporting the health and growth of young ones. ‘
Then again, before 1990, the cash reward was only provided to children’s families until the age of three. The parents were given 5000 yen for their first two children every month (Japanese Law Translation). The improved eligibility benchmark has also resulted in an improved cash reward. Only Japanese average-earning families have been eligible for this act since 2005, with families given amounts adding up to $2,448 for giving birth to children (Japanese Law Translation). Furthermore, certain Japanese employers also provide job bonuses to their workers for giving birth to a child.
To attain the Child benefit act, certain requirements ought to be met. For instance, according to the Income Law, the income limit threshold for parents and guardians with partners or dependents eligible for deductions from taxes for the elderly is often increased from the numbers listed on the left by 60,000 yen per eligible partner or dependent annually. By providing allowance funds to the guardians and parents of young ones, the Child Allowance System seeks to support stable households, invest in worthwhile enhancements, and foster the correct upbringing of children who will eventually create future generations.
Alternative Policies in Japan
Gender-Based Labor Division law
In Japan, the family is typically in charge of providing for both the young and the elderly. Due to the labor split in this norm, work-family conflicts have arisen. Individuals raising children require access to the wages and benefits of their employers. Japanese Family Policy revised its stance in response to the growing percentage of female workers, the low reproduction rate, and the conflict between work and family life. By providing maternity leave, part-time employment, and the option to work from home, the program seeks to relieve mothers who work of the stress and worry of raising children and to promote fertility.
The Labor Law
By outlawing discrimination in wages and mandating equitable treatment, this law sought to lessen gender discrimination by fining violating firms. The statute gave women the right to twelve weeks of paid maternity leave at 60% of their usual pay. The Japanese medical framework is responsible for funding this program. Nevertheless, since the rule forbade women from undertaking potentially dangerous or nocturnal positions and severely restricted the number of hours they were permitted to work extra, it ultimately resulted in businesses hiring fewer women.
Parental Leave/ Child Care Leave Law
This law has been modified partly to make it illegal for employers to fire, demote, or lay off workers requesting this childcare leave. Parental leave is permitted for a maximum of one year in Japan. There are maternal and paternal breaks a few weeks before and after childbirth. Parents are permitted to take childcare leave up until their child turns one year old following the conclusion of paternity or maternity leave. With this policy, the Japanese government seeks to encourage parents to give birth to children without the stress of potentially losing their jobs.
Recommendations/Alternatives
The primary ways Japan can rescue its plummeting population are based on improving its economy. An increased economy would typically result in financial security for most young persons who would be encouraged to marry and give birth to children. While a policy such as increased female employment rates is effective, it is only a medium-term solution. The nation will ultimately be mandated to use other methods to curb its declining population. Similarly, increasing the rates of employment for the elderly is also a temporary solution. Therefore, the recommendations in this paper mainly revolve around improving immigration regulations so the country can augment its economy.
To begin with, Japan should allow more foreign workers to find employment in the country. There appears to be agreement among the different foreign worker regulations to move toward allowing more highly trained foreign professionals. According to Lowell and Allan (19), meeting individuals from various social and cultural backgrounds fosters the development of fresh ideas, which results in a development in areas where innovation is essential. Implementing such policies will significantly improve the economy of the nation, which might subsequently result in increased rates of births. Furthermore, with an improved economy, policies such as the Child Benefit Act may be revised, and the cash benefit improved to encourage more Japanese to have children.
Secondly, Japan should also accept more unskilled foreign workers. While there will be justified fear that foreign employees may take work belonging to Japanese citizens, several industrialized economies have implemented “labor market testing,” which stipulates that a surge in the inflow of foreign employees must not harm the job prospects of local laborers (Devadas). Further, the decrease in population also indicates a labor shortage, justifying the need for more unskilled immigrant workers. Additionally, allowing more unskilled immigrants into the country should allow domestic workers who gained advantages from Japan’s sophisticated educational system to pursue more high-value-added jobs, creating a beneficial financial effect from immigration overall. This would also foster more people giving birth to children because they have financial security.
Lastly, the nation should include its youth in shaping its immigration policy. Bordering nations, including South Korea, have changed their immigration laws and are now more welcoming of international employees and supporting children of immigrants. Through such reformations, the nation has witnessed a noteworthy financial increase. Allowing Japan’s youth, who have a much greater stake in these issues than the typically strong elder generations, to choose immigration policy may be the wisest course of action. The economic state would increase through youth inclusion and supporting immigrant children, which translates to more marriages and childbirth rates.
In conclusion, this paper has deeply discussed the Japanese population policy, elucidating the issues that prompted the policy and potential alternatives and providing recommendations. Japan faces a continuous decrease in population primarily credited to financial insecurities among the youths. While policies such as the Child Benefit Act have been implemented to promote population increase, the emerging statistics indicate their ineffectiveness. This paper recommended that Japan focuses on improving immigration policies which would result in an economic increase leading to more marriages and childbirths. Overall, Japan must reform its policies to rescue its ever-declining population and improve its economic state.
Work Cited
United Nations (2015). Population 2030 Demographic challenges and opportunities for sustainable development planning https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/trends/Population2030.pdf
Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Statistics Bureau Home Page/Japan Statistical Yearbook 2019 – Chapter 2 Population and Households, https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/nenkan/68nenkan/1431-02.html.
The World Bank (2022) Total Population-Japan.https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=JP
Johnston, Eric. “Is Japan Becoming Extinct?” The Japan Times, 16 May 2015, https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/05/16/national/social-issues/japan-becoming-extinct/.
Yoshida, Reiji. “Abe Convenes Panel to Tackle Low Birthrate, Aging Population.” The Japan Times, 30 Oct. 2015, https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/10/29/national/politics-diplomacy/abe-convenes-panel-tackle-low-birthrate-aging-population/.
Kato, Akihiko. “The Japanese Family System: Change, Continuity, and Regionality over the Twentieth Century.” Mar. 2013, https://doi.org/10.4054/mpidr-wp-2013-004.
Writer, Staff. “One in Four 30-Somethings Unwilling to Marry in Japan: Survey.” Nikkei Asia, Nikkei Asia, 14 June 2022, https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Society/One-in-four-30-somethings-unwilling-to-marry-in-Japan-survey.
Child Welfare Act – English – Japanese Law Translation, https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/11/en.
Lowell, Briant Lindsay, and Allan M. Findlay. Migration of Highly Skilled Persons from Developing Countries: Impact and Policy Responses: Synthesis Report. ILO, 2002.
Devadas, Sharmila. “Threat or Help?: The Effects of Unskilled Immigrant Workers on National Productivity Growth.” SSRN, 17 Sept. 2018, https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3249557.
write