Population Change, Labor Markets and Sustainable Growth, Volume 281: Towards a New Economic Paradigm (Contributions to Economic Analysis) (Contributions to Economic Analysis)

Birth rates are dropping to ever-lower levels around the world. Populations are growing more slowly and, in some cases, beginning to decline. Rapid population aging has begun in the West and parts of Asia and is just over the horizon elsewhere. The demographic changes, their economic implications, and possible policy responses are the subject matter of this volume. What will be the effects on economic performance? How can couples be encouraged to marry and have children? Can educational reform lead to a more productive young labor force helping to offset their meager numbers? Can labor market reform extend the work life of older workers without damaging the interests of others? How should the social safety net that supports the elderly evolve in ways that are both fair and sustainable? The papers in this volume draw on international experience to address these issues, but emphasize the experience of Japan the country with the world's oldest population. It includes contributors such as: Noriko Aoki, Akira Kawaguchi, Allen Kelley, Wei Huang, Robert Hutchens, Tomoko Kinugasa, Andrew Mason, Naoki Mitani, Takashi Oshio, Robert Schmidt, and Mitoshi Yamaguchi. How can couples be encouraged to marry and have children? Can educational reform lead to a more productive young labor force helping to offset their meagre numbers? How should the social safety net that supports the elderly evolve in ways that are both fair and sustainable? This title addresses these issues. Birth rates are dropping to ever-lower levels around the world. Populations are growing more slowly and, in some cases, beginning to decline. Rapid population aging has begun in the West and parts of Asia and is just over the horizon elsewhere. The demographic changes, their economic implications, and possible policy responses are the subject matter of this volume. What will be the effects on economic performance? How can couples be encouraged to marry and have children? Can educational reform lead to a more productive young labor force helping to offset their meagre numbers? Can labor market reform extend the work life of older workers without damaging the interests of others? How should the social safety net that supports the elderly evolve in ways that are both fair and sustainable? The papers in this volume draw on international experience to address these issues, but emphasize the experience of Japan the country with the world's oldest population. It includes contributors such as: Noriko Aoki, Akira Kawaguchi, Allen Kelley, Wei Huang, Robert Hutchens, Tomoko Kinugasa, Andrew Mason, Naoki Mitani, Takashi Oshio, Robert Schmidt, and Mitoshi Yamaguchi Content: Contents Page v Introduction Review Article Pages 1-4 Andrew Mason, Mitoshi Yamaguchi Evolution of Recent Economic-Demographic Modeling: A Synthesis Review Article Pages 5-37 Allen C. Kelley, Robert M. Schmidt A Century of Demographic Change and Economic Growth: The Asian Experience in Regional and Temporal Perspective Review Article Pages 39-74 Allen C. Kelley, Robert M. Schmidt Demographic Dividends: The Past, the Present, and the Future Review Article Pages 75-98 Andrew Mason Demographic Change and Regional Economic Growth: A Comparative Analysis of Japan and China Review Article Pages 99-131 Tomoko Kinugasa, Wei Huang, Mitoshi Yamaguchi Job Opportunities for Older Workers: When Are Jobs Filled with External Hires? Review Article Pages 133-159 Robert Hutchens Skills, Wages, and the Employment of Older Workers Review Article Pages 161-188 Naoki Mitani Work-Life Balance Measures and Gender Division of Labor Review Article Pages 189-209 Akira Kawaguchi Optimal Education Policies Under an Equity–Efficiency Trade-Off Review Article Pages 211-242 Takashi Oshio Why Are Japanese Refusing to Pay the National Pension Tax? A Simultaneous Equation Analysis Review Article Pages 243-264 Mitoshi Yamaguchi, Noriko Aoki Author Index Pages 265-267 Subject Index Pages 269-272 Papers presented at the 4th International Conference of the Japan Economic Policy Association, co-sponsored by the Kobe University Center of Excellence and held at the Awaji Yumebutai Conference Center, Awaji, Hyogo, Japan, December 17-18, 2005 Edited By Andrew Mason, Mitoshi Yamaguchi. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes.