• International Area Studies Review
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.125-145
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• 2008

Japan is now facing an aging society with fewer children. According to the demographic change in Japan, its economic effect on the economic growth has gained public attention. This paper focuses on the effect of the demographic change on economic growth in Japan, too. The first part illustrates the process of demographic transition in Japan. Thanks to successful Meiji Revitalizing Reform, Japan had experienced demographic transition earlier than the other East Asia countries. The second part of this paper describes relations between demographic factors and economic growth theoretically. In addition, it analyzes demographic effects on economic growth empirically using time series data of Japan from 1952 to 2005. It is the main finding of analyses that there are positive relations between demographic factor, including employment population rate, population rate and TFR, and economic growth. Therefore, in the near future, a decreasing labor force will cause economic stagnation in Japan. To overcome this problems, it is required to make various policies.

• Analyses & Alternatives
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.35-77
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• 2023

This study aims to solve the entangled loop between demographic transition (DT) and economic growth by analyzing cross-country data. We undertake a national-level group analysis to verify the compressed transition of demographic variables over time. Assuming that the LA (latecomer advantage) on DT over time exists, we verify that the DT of the latecomer is compressed by providing a formal proof of LA on DT over income. As a DT has the double-kinked functions of income, we check them in multiple aspects: early maturation, leftward threshold, and steeper descent under a contour map and econometric methods. We find that the developing countries (the latecomer) have speedy DT (CDT, compressed DT) as well as speedy income such that DT of the latecomers starts at lower levels of income, lasts for a shorter period, and finishes at the earlier stage of economic development compared to that of developed countries (the early mover). To check the balance of DT, we classify countries into four groups of DT---balanced, slow, unilateral, and rapid transition countries. We identify that the main causes of rapid transition are due to the strong family planning programs of the government. Finally, we check the effect of latecomer's CDT on economic growth inversely: we undertake the simulation of the CDT effect on economic growth and the aging process for the latecomer. A worrying result is that the CDT of the latecomer shows a sharp upturn of the working-age population, followed by a sharp downturn in a short period. Compared to early-mover countries, the latecomer countries cannot buy more time to accommodate the workable population for the period of demographic bonus and prepare their aging societies for demographic onus. Thus, we conclude that CDT is not necessarily advantageous to developing countries. These outcomes of the latecomer's CDT can be re-interpreted as follows. Developing countries need power sources to pump up economic development, such as the following production factors: labor, physical and financial capital, and economic systems. As for labor, the properties of early maturation and leftward thresholds on DTs of the latecomer mean that demographic movement occurs at an unusually early stage of economic development; this is similar to a plane that leaks fuel before or just before take-off, with the result that it no longer flies higher or farther. What is worse, the property of steeper descent represents the falling speed of a plane so that it cannot be sustained at higher levels, and then plummets to all-time lows.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.25-51
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• 2017

This paper employs an Overlapping Generations Model to quantify the impacts of Korea's demographic transition toward an older population on the total output growth rate. The model incorporates the projected population through 2060 according by Statistics Korea. The effects of the low fertility and increased life expectancy rates are studied. The model is considered suitable for analyzing the effects of demographic changes on the Korean economy. Under the assumption that the TFP growth rate will not slow considerably in the future, remaining at 1.3% per annum, the gross output growth rate of the Korean economy is projected to slow to 1.1% per annum in the 2050s, from 4.0% in the 2000s. The shrinking workforce due to the decline in fertility plays a significant role in the deceleration of the Korean economy. The increased life expectancy rate is expected to mitigate the negative effect, but the magnitude of its effect is found to be limited.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.107-120
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• 2011

This study is focused on the levels of life satisfaction influenced by the socio-demographic characteristics, personal activities, personal support and psychological characteristics. We surveyed 504 future elderly people(age between 50 to 64) and the elderly(over 65). The results are as follows; First, future elderly people are more satisfied with their life than the elderly. Second, life satisfaction of the future elderly is rarely influenced by the social demographic characteristics. Whereas, life satisfaction of the elderly is more influenced by the socio-demographic characteristics rather than the personal activities. Supports from neighbors and psychological characteristics are more satisfying their lives. Thus, we should come up with new programs providing opportunities to attend various social activities to maximize their life satisfaction of the future elderly. For the elderly, we need systems to build social network for supports from neighbors and to provide more job opportunities and educating programs.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.21-54
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• 2015

This paper analyzes how and why household debt distribution by the householder age has changed over the past decade both in Korea and the US. Data shows that the proportion of household debt held by younger households has decreased, while that held by older households has increased. Empirical analysis shows that a change in the demographic distribution of householders is the main driving force that has shifted the household debt distribution. Given that demographic aging is an inevitable trend, the proportion of household debt held by older households is also expected to increase. Therefore, the Korean government must preemptively prepare for the household debt problem, especially for debt held by older households, by strengthening macro-prudential policies, preventing asset price deflation, restructuring household debt contract structures, and reforming labor market inflexibility.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.33-42
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• 2015

Objectives: It has been found that health promotion interventions are effective to decrease morbidity among older people. The acceptability of interventions are, however, still troublesome for achievement of efficacy of health promotion interventions. The current study examines the effects of age identity and attitude toward aging on the use of health promotion programs among older people. Methods: Data from the Survey of Living Conditions of Korean Older Persons were used. Logistic regression models were tested using a nationally representative sample of 9,461 community-dwelling older individuals who are 65 years old and over. Results: Older individuals who have younger age identity and more negative attitude toward aging were less likely to use health promotion programs, after adjusting the effects of other predisposing, enabling, and need factors such as demographic characteristics and personal health characteristics. Conclusions: Strategies for mitigating the possible effects of age identity and attitude toward aging on the acceptability of health promotion programs are also discussed.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.55-65
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze basic data on socio - demographic characteristics, occupational careers, and desire for employment of job seekers in their Fifties and Sixties using a portal site. Methods: For this research, secondary data were collected by the researcher from 704 job seekers and were statistically analyzed using the SPSS package. Results: The results of the analysis are as follows: Most job seekers want a job that suits their competence and career trajectory, but the reality is that as their age increases, jobs suitable for those in their fifties and sixties are hard to find; thus these job seekers accept simple labor or functional jobs. Conclusions: Differences were found in work conditions such as occupation level, job position, total career years, desired employment type, and expected salary depending on socio - demographic variables. Consequently, improvements should be made for various job searching paths for older adults as well as increasing the accessibility of job searching information.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.203-224
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• 2011

This study explored the tendencies of public perception and countermeasures on an aging society by the content analysis of Korea's four major daily newspapers since 2000. Results showed distinguishing growth of the public interest on an aging society. Articles were categorized into five domains - demographic structure, family and individual domain, health domain, economic and financial domain, and social domain. Economic and financial aspects occupied the highest frequency in the total number of articles. The analysis of public perception revealed both negative and positive perspectives on an aging society. In addition, the analysis of the newspaper articles identified particular phenomenon of Korean aging society as distinct rapid aging population, declining fertility rates caused by higher educational expenses, national security problems. Consequently, when we prepare for the alternatives of the aging society, we should pay attention to more various aspects of society based on the understanding of practical problems and needs. Furthermore, researches and discussions focusing on a particular phenomenon of Korea would be required.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.164-171
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• 2023

Objectives: Sarcopenia has emerged as a significant aging-related disease that affects many facets of societal-level and patient-level public health. This study analysed knowledge of sarcopenia and associated socio-demographic factors among the general public of Malaysia in order to effectively improve its prevention and countermeasures. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Selangor, Malaysia, using Google Forms among 202 Malaysian adults from January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge scores. The continuous variables were evaluated using the independent t-test, Mann-Whitney test, and one-way analysis of variance test. The Spearman correlation coefficient was employed to determine the correlation between socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge score levels. Results: The final analysis included 202 participants. The mean±standard deviation age was 49.03±12.65. Only 6.9% of participants had good knowledge of sarcopenia and were aware of sarcopenia's characteristics, consequences, and treatments. Post-hoc comparisons using the Dunnett T3 test showed statistical significance in mean knowledge score and age group (p=0.011) and education level (p≤0.001). The Mann-Whitney test revealed that gender (p=0.026) and current smoking status (p=0.023) significantly influenced knowledge scores. Conclusions: The general public's knowledge of sarcopenia was found to be poor to moderate and associated with age and education status. Therefore, education and interventions by policymakers and healthcare professionals to improve public knowledge of sarcopenia in Malaysia are needed.

• 한국노년학
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.1225-1237
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• 2010

This study aims to analyze the factors affecting consumption inequality in the 10 years following the financial crisis, applying the cohort method on the data for the first to the eleventh wave of the Korean Labor and Income Study produced by the Korean Labor Institute. The study found that consumption inequality increased rapidly immediately following the financial crisis, and then decreased gradually until increasing again from 2005 onward. Analyzed in terms of age-time-cohort effects, there was a significant change in consumption inequality around the age of mid-forties, and the decrease in consumption inequality was smaller in the younger generations than in the older ones. This suggests that as the current younger generations age over time, consumption inequality may become greater. Also, when the factors in population-cohort-age effects from 1998 onward are analyzed, the age effect in consumption inequality becomes smaller, whereas the role of the rising average age due to demographic shifts seems to be increasing. This means that consumption inequality may become a serious problem in the rapidly aging society. Therefore, there is a need to consider ways to bolster social security and to provide further public assistance in the low-income retiree.