in the long run the fortunes of nations are determined by population trends. Japan is not only the world's fastest-aging major economy (already every fourth person is older than 65, and by 2050 that share will be nearly 40 percent), its population is also declining. Today's 127 million will shrink to 97 million by 2050, and forecasts show shortages of the young labor force needed in construction and health care. Who will maintain Japan's extensive and admirably efficient transportation infrastructures? Who will take care of millions of old people? By 2050 people above the age of 80 will outnumber the children.
Who will take care of millions of old people? Robots!
(Score: 3, Insightful) by tibman on Thursday August 27 2015, @02:53PM
Sounds good for pay though.
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(Score: 3, Insightful) by ikanreed on Thursday August 27 2015, @04:00PM
If you don't take the inflationary component into account.
Things become more expensive as more people need them. Wages inflate, because everyone needs employees to provide services, but at the same time, those wages need to compete with increasingly stretched retirement accounts. The system will find a balance, but it's by no means certain to be a good one for workers.