New York Times (November 12)
Only 36.3% of U.S. voters even bothered to vote in last week’s election. “The abysmally low turnout in last week’s midterm elections — the lowest in more than seven decades — was bad for Democrats, but it was even worse for democracy. In 43 states, less than half the eligible population bothered to vote, and no state broke 60 percent.”
New York Times (November 12)
Only 36.3% of U.S. voters even bothered to vote in last week’s election. “The abysmally low turnout in last week’s midterm elections — the lowest in more than seven decades — was bad for Democrats, but it was even worse for democracy. In 43 states, less than half the eligible population bothered to vote, and no state broke 60 percent.”
Chosun Ilbo (August 29)
“Korea’s birthrate hit a record low last year due to a declining population of women of childbearing age and as a growing number of women married later in life.” Japan may be lamenting its own ultra-low birthrate of about 1.4%, but things are even worse in South Korea where the birthrate is just 1.187%. Unless the rate increases, South Koreans will die out by 2750. Based on similar projections, the Japanese are expected to last an additional 261 years before disappearing in 3011.
Tags: Birthrate, Childbearing, Japan, Marriage, Population, Projections, South Korea
The Economist (April 26)
With the population of those aged 65 and over nearly set to double in the next two decades, many economies seem poised for stagnation. In actuality, there are new possibilities for older workers to continue contributing to the economy. Skilled workers are already doing this, but “politicians need to convince less-skilled older voters that it is in their interests to go on working. Doing so will not be easy. But the alternative—economic stagnation and even greater inequality—is worse.”
Tags: Economy, Inequality, Older workers, Politicians, Population, Skilled, Stagnation, Voters
Wall Street Journal (April 15)
“Japan still firmly leads the world in aging.” Over a quarter (25.1%) of Japan’s population is now over 65. The next grayest countries are Germany and Italy with roughly 21% over 65.
Los Angeles Times (March 28)
“California ought to learn from the experience of Australia, the driest continent on Earth, with a broadly similar economy.” California has been reeling from perpetual water shortages: the result of a flawed water policy. California “uses enough water in an average year to support, in theory, 318 million Californians (and their lawns and dishwashers), more than eight times the actual population of 38 million.”
Tags: Australia, California, Dishwashers, Dry, Economy, Lawns, Policy, Population, Shortages, Water
Wall Street Journal (March 11)
Japan may be at the leading edge, but population graying is a truly global phenomenon requiring new approaches. “As the over-60 population grows much faster than the younger working-age cohorts, while life expectancy increases, the 20th-century model of work and retirement becomes increasingly unsuitable for economic growth. The key will be finding new solutions to engage older Americans in the workforce.”
Tags: Economic growth, Engage, Graying, Japan, Life expectancy, Over-60, Population, Retirement, Solutions, U.S., Unsuitable, Work, Workforce, Working-age
New York Times (January 23, 2014)
“It is hard to imagine a country more miserable than the Central African Republic.” Though potentially rich, the country has been repeatedly looted by previous leaders. Ongoing conflict has displaced a quarter of the population and claimed 1,000 lives since December. “So, to the degree to which they can offer any hope for this broken-down state, the announcement of a new interim president, a decision by the European Union to send a peacekeeping force and a pledge of half-a-billion dollars in humanitarian aid are all good news.”
Tags: Central African Republic, Conflict, EU, Humanitarian aid, Leaders, Looted, Peacekeeping force, Population, President, Rich
Financial Times (January 14, 2014)
“One trend that is prompting parts of Japan Inc to shop abroad is the ageing population. Japanese banks and insurers, for example, are increasingly looking to the younger demographics of southeast Asia to build up their next generation of depositors and policy holders.” And while this was part of the rationale behind Suntory’s acquisition of Beam, a new overseas M&A boom is unlikely given the weak yen, especially as many “companies remain unwilling to borrow for expansion after years of cutting costs and hoarding cash.”
Tags: Acquisition, Ageing, Banks, Beam, Cutting costs, Demographics, Depositors, Expansion, Hoarding cash, Insurers, Japan, M&A boom, Overseas, Policy holders, Population, Southeast Asia, Suntory, Yen
Wall Street Journal (December 23, 2013)
To avoid the stagnation that has afflicted Japan, the U.S. should embrace immigration reform. Reform could lead to a younger population, innovation and entrepreneurship. “If Japan, a rapidly aging country with famously prohibitive immigration laws, teaches us anything, it is this: If you want to avoid a “lost decade,” open your doors to immigrants.”
Tags: Aging, Entrepreneurship, Immigrants, Immigration, Innovation, Japan, Laws, Lost decade, Population, Reform, Stagnation, U.S.
