The Ideal Industrial Promotion in a (Super-aged) High-Death-Rate Society

Japan has long been a super-aging society, but it is now moving to the next stage (Note 1). The advent of the first "high-death-rate society" in the history of mankind, in which long and slow death occurs more often than sudden death, has arrived. In 2018, the number of deaths in Japan was 1.36 million (the number of births was 920,000). Looking at the number of deaths by age, 90% of those who die are elderly. It is predicted that this rate will reach 95% in 30 years. In Japan, people are unaware of this increase in the death rate, as death is considered a taboo topic in society. However, its societal effects are gradually beginning to appear.

The importance of end-of-life care, such as nursing care, is increasing with the advent of a high-death-rate society. However, the value of end-of-life care in the market remains low, as death is considered a taboo topic in postwar Japan. Although the source of growth in developed economies is the advent of new goods and services (innovations) that draw out potential demand, innovation is easier said than done. However, if society's perception of death changes, end-of-life care may become one of Japan's growing industries as we move forward.

To read the full text
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/columns/s20_0013.html

"Cross-border data transfers under new regulations: Findings from a survey of Japanese firms"
by TOMIURA Eiichi (Faculty Fellow, RIETI) / ITO Banri (Research Associate, RIETI) / Byeongwoo KANG (Associate Professor, Institute of Innovation Research, Hitotsubashi University)
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/columns/v01_0135.html

"Outside directors, firm behaviour, and performance: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in Japan"
by MORIKAWA Masayuki (Vice President, RIETI)
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/columns/v01_0134.html

"Activist Shareholders and Companies: Improving the Effectiveness of Management Reform"
by MIYAJIMA Hideaki (Faculty Fellow, RIETI) / SUZUKI Kazunori (Professor, Waseda University)
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/papers/contribution/miyajima/09.html

"Policy-Making for a Better Society"
by KONDO Keisuke (Fellow, RIETI)
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/columns/s20_0009.html

"Will the 2020 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Be Met?"
by ISHIZAKI Takashi (Senior fellow, RIETI)
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/columns/s20_0011.html

"Sudden Rise in Crude Oil Price Could Become Japanese Economy's Achilles Heel"
by FUJI Kazuhiko (Senior fellow, RIETI)
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/columns/s20_0003.html

"Can China Reform State-Owned Enterprises without Privatization?
—Creation of a Fair and Competitive Market Environment as the Second-Best Option"
by Chi Hung KWAN (Consulting Fellow, RIETI)
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/china/19041101.html

"Development of Private Enterprises in China Entering a Difficult Phase
—Urgent Need to Create a Fair and Competitive Environment"
by Chi Hung KWAN (Consulting Fellow, RIETI)
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/china/18122801.html

"Business Feasibility Evaluation and Risk of Natural Disaster: Establishment of the Small and Medium Enterprise Strengthening Act and Expectations for Regional Financial Institutions"
by YAMORI Nobuyoshi (Faculty Fellow, RIETI)
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/columns/s20_0005.html

"Making 2020 a Turning Point for Reform - Toward Integrated Social Security and Tax Reform Version 2.0 -"
by OGURO Kazumasa (Consulting Fellow, RIETI)
https://www.rieti.go.jp/en/columns/s20_0007.html