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Global Business: Japan Gone Grey

16/06/2012

Japan Gone Grey

BBC World Service - Global Business, Japan Gone Grey

Peter Day reports from Japan on the effects of their ageing population.

This week Global Business is in Japan, a country that is growing old fast.  In addition it’s population is shrinking too.  Peter Day reports on Japan’s plans for dealing with the problem.

This year Japan’s baby boomers all reach retirement age, 65.  Not a problem in the past when the young were able to take their place.  But now young people aren’t having babies due to lack of employment and the elderly are living at least 20 years beyond retirement but most Japanese people live for at least another 20 years.  Peter Day reports from Tokyo and Shikoku Island on how the Japanese are managing a problem that will soon be a problem for us all.

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