One of the major problems facing Japan is said to be its declining population. All sorts of scary statistics are used to paint an almost-doomsday scenario where, at some point, few young people are left and the economy collapses. This view is based on 19th-century assumptions that a major component of a nation's economic growth is driven by an ever-increasing population.
However, in the 21st century, humans will not be the main drivers of productivity. A smaller, healthier population will be good for Japan and the planet. The effects of overpopulation are arguably worse than of underpopulation.
As people live longer and healthier lives, their productivity will be extended and they will no longer wish to retire at 65 and "go fishing" for 20 years. Moreover, it will not be too long before we see factories staffed by only a handful of staff, as robots are used for medical and nursing care, transport, etc. In a world facing food and water shortages, wouldn't a declining population improve food security for the nation?
Japan, therefore, should encourage family-friendly policies, such as workplace childcare, as well as additional financial support for families to stabilize the population through natural growth and position the nation strongly for the future. The answer is not knee-jerk actions such as mass immigration programs, as these can cause more problems than they solve.
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