Japan’s Geriatric Future (How will a shrinking economic power handle a rapidly aging population?

National Review ^ | 04/29/2010 | Duncan Currie

[Slyfox]

Here are some worldwide abortion stats:

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004397.html

[SeekAndFind]

BAsed on the information (via the link ) you provided, abortion has actually been DECREASING by a LARGE margin since the 1980’s in Japan.

I think abortion is less of a factor in the demographic decrease of population compared to everyone marrying later and having less and less chidlren.

[Slyfox]

Abortion has a ripple effect on the population wherever it is employed. In America today, the aborted, if they had not been aborted, would be the ones filling the cities that are now in decline, to the point that there would be no need to have an influx of workers from outside the country.

In Japan, no matter how small the amount of babies aborted, they they are still missing brothers and sisters which make for a more solid society. Who knows, a couple of those aborted may have been economic genius's who would have been helping them out right now.

Birth dearth is a global problem. Schwinn and Gerber would be much larger companies right now, however millions of little kids have not been using their products for the last nearly 40 years.

[GATOR NAVY]

Maybe the Singaporean system would be a good model for Japan to consider.

What would that be (re:immigration)?

[GATOR NAVY]

Do what I did. Marry a Japanese woman, and get her pregnant a lot.

I'm right with you brother...except we brought the kids to the States so that doesn't do much for repopulating Japan.

[SeekAndFind]

What would that be (re:immigration)?

The Singaporeans make very good sense of their immigration policy. 1) They only accept competent people and/or well-off immigrants who will not be a drain on their wallets; 2) They accept people of all races with the proviso that you are a law-abiding citizen and are willing to assimilate into their culture and way of life; 3) They are not hesitant on DEPORTING illegals; 4) They encourage families to have more than one children; 5) They encourage successful entrepreneurs to become Singaporean residents.

[GATOR NAVY]

Those would be good policies for any country, including us.

[SeekAndFind]

I would also add that Singapore has a very well controlled domestic help program, where people from poorer countries in Southeast Asia ( e.g. Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines ) can come and work as Domestic help to make money and send home to families.

However, these workers have to apply the LEGAL way and are NOT CANDIDATES for immigration.

Thousands of LEGAL domestic helpers come to Singapore to work every year. Many go home and then come back by the usual legal route when they need more work and when there is a demand for their service.

I thought we in the USA had a program similar to this called Bracerros. How did that come to and end ??

[okie01]

I thought we in the USA had a program similar to this called Bracerros. How did that come to and end ??

During the Johnson administration. LBJ cancelled the bracero program as a pay-off to Cesar Chavez -- who wanted those farm jobs reserved for his National Farmers Union (largely resident Hispanics).

It's ironic to see so many illegals (and people who support illegals) invoking Cesar Chavez' name. He actively worked to keep them where they belong -- in Mexico.

Chavez was a real scum-bag -- though I speak as somebody his organization illegally picketed. And, for good measure, I was shot at, as well.