Overview
Japan and its largest trading partner, China, have shared the dual problems of rapid aging and very low birth rates. By analyzing micro data from both nations, this research presents several empirical analyses with the objective of devising possible solutions to these concerns. First, the research reveals the causes of the trend toward delayed marriage, which leads to low birth rates. Second, it explains how population aging affects people's behavior toward consumption, savings, work, family caregiving, and out-of-home care service, and how these factors impact the national economy. We then compare the cases of Japan and China and present implications for social security and fiscal policies by conducting policy simulations based on the results of the above analyses. The novelty of the research is its comparison of the causes and solutions to the aging population and the diminishing number of children in both countries.
September 2, 2014 - August 31, 2016
Major Research Results
2015
RIETI Discussion Papers
- 15-E-095
"Understanding the Health Effects of the Death of Spouses in Modern China: Evidence from the city of Qingdao" (KAWATA Keisuke, WANG Meixin and YIN Ting) - 15-E-073
"Nonprofit/For-profit Facility and Difference of Wage Distribution: Evidence from the Japanese elderly care industry" (ITO Yutaka, KAWATA Keisuke and YIN Ting) - 15-E-062
"The Prodigal Son: Does the younger brother always care for his parents in old age?" (KOMURA Mizuki and OGAWA Hikaru) - 15-J-034
"Full-time Homemaker Households in Poverty: Facts and social determinants" (ZHOU Yanfei) - 15-J-016
"Using Subjective Income Expectations to test the Permanent Income Hypothesis: Evidence from Chinese micro-data" (YIN Ting, KUREISHI Wataru and WAKABAYASHI Midori)