Advertisement
Published: March 25th 2024
Edit Blog Post
At the end of WW2, Japan had a lower per capita rate of income than Malay. Within 45 years, Japan would have the highest standard of living in the world. The rise was nonetheless meteoric, moving from a ravaged nation in defeat and destruction to one of the most successful economic forces in the world. How did the people and country find the resources and strength to rise from a GNP of $14.2 billion in 1951?
By 1970, Japan had overtaken every economy in Europe, rising to 20% of the US's GNP. By 1975, it was double the GNP of the UK. And in 1980, reached 40% of our GNP. Japan is still the third largest economy in the world, after the US and China. It was an extraordinarily rapid change in daily life, culture, materialism, and redefinition of a people and their country. The American occupation helped pave the way with both demilitarization and democratization.
Significant legal changes occurred, including giving women legal rights equal to her husband in terms of property and divorce. Daughters gained the right to inherit like their brothers. Males and females were allowed to marry at age 16. Yet the biggest challenge now
in Japan is the declining birthrate. For the seventh consecutive year (2022), the birth rate declined to a record low of 1.2565, far below the sustainable rate of 2.07.
As a result, Prime Minister Kishida is spending $25 billion per year on childcare and other measures to support parents. The number of newborns last year was 770,747, while deaths were 9% higher (perhaps due to the pandemic). Interestingly, South Korea has the lowest birthrate in the world at 0.9 per woman.
Several factors are the cause in Japan: a declining marriage rate, children out of wedlock remains taboo, and women are less likely to marry, since it limits their career advancement. Reading elsewhere, the economic burden on families, particularly young couples, is immense. Many marriage partners have multiple jobs. The average age to get married is now 30, a number that continually increases.
The marriage rate continues to decrease.
And the gender pay gap (women are paid roughly 75% as much as men) is not helpful as well. Not long ago, in the 80s and 90s, many babies born out of wedlock were adopted into the United States, mostly by Japanese American couples. Baby "brokers" combed
the country, finding young pregnant students who were willing to give their unborn babies up for adoption. In return for medical expenses, prenatal care, and support, the babies were born in Japan, and soon adopted to the US.
The pressure on young people here is to attend the best universities, find a prestigious job, and marry a suitable spouse. Many resist this expectation and want to escape from a rather rigid system. Up to 42% of Japanese women and 50% of men will not have children in their lifetime.
For young people, having children is a large expense. On average, people in their 20s make only $17,000 to $20,000 per year. A one-bedroom apartment runs about $1100, and a two bedroom about $1600 in Tokyo. Prospective renters are expected to have a savings account with three to seven times the stated monthly rent and pay one- or two-month's rent ahead of time!
In 2021, gross annual child care costs for two children equal nearly half of a couple's earnings with full time work. Japan is a country with a single race, and single culture. Immigration to Japan is a difficult, arduous process. It will be very interesting to see how Japan's leaders will address this problem.
Perhaps immigration might mitigate the problem?
Advertisement
Tot: 0.066s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 17; qc: 33; dbt: 0.0386s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Twag
Thomas H. Wagner
Economy and birth rates
Hi Gerry, I visited Japan (my 2nd visit after 1995) last years and was very much impressed. We in Germany got this year the news, that our economy is now the 3rd largest and Japan's has fallen behind. If this is true, then it is just for s short period, as India is catching up and its population is growing. Concerning birth rates we have the same problem in Europe (especially Germany and Italy) and also China is shrinking nowadays. Maybe we should research in the area of machines giving birth to new children. Personally I don't see immigration as a solution as gradually the existing population would be replaced by the new one. Best regards, Thomas