Saturday, September 09, 2006

Japan's welfare state

You don't read much about the Japanese welfare state. But this article describes the problem they are running into with low fertility - 1.32 - and high longevity. They don't want immigration given the islands are already densely populated but they don't want to give up their welfare state which is very much geared to care and provision for the elderly. Something has to give and it looks like they are going to accept "temporary" losers. Workers will have to live with less job security and fewer benefits.

No comments: