6 ms·

>older societies where each person working has to support multiple other people are sclerotic societies. I don't hear any horror stories out of Japan about how

• scarmig 6y ago
  Scleroticism doesn't imply horror stories. What I'd expect for it to do is drive out-migration and a lowered quality of life. And, looking at hard numbers, more Japanese people are emigrating and more young Japanese are committing suicide, in a country that already has high suicide rates. I'd be curious about the relation between aged societies and those numbers across the OECD. The subjective stories I read don't suggest a particularly bright experience for most younger Japanese, though I'd be the first to point out that those are often more interested in painting a narrative for gullible Westerners than offering any real analysis. I agree that Japan is a useful canary, and policymakers should watch its experience closely to evaluate how serious the problem is and potential solutions.