Quote
“We Japanese enjoy the small pleasures, not extravagance. I believe a man should have a simple lifestyle -- even if he can afford more.” Massaru Ibuka, founder of the Sony Corporation
News
The Economist this week asks what lessons will be learned from Japan as it is the first major country to face up to a rapidly declining population from natural causes. Its 127 million inhabitants will shrink to 89 million by 2050, as Japan’s birth rate of 1.4 children per woman is far below the replacement rate. As the country ages the number of people in work for every retired person will fall from 4 in 1995 to 2 by 2020, putting huge strains on the social security system.
The Economist this week asks what lessons will be learned from Japan as it is the first major country to face up to a rapidly declining population from natural causes. Its 127 million inhabitants will shrink to 89 million by 2050, as Japan’s birth rate of 1.4 children per woman is far below the replacement rate. As the country ages the number of people in work for every retired person will fall from 4 in 1995 to 2 by 2020, putting huge strains on the social security system.
Normally this is presented as an economic problem, with social implications. We would argue that it’s the other way round: behind the demographic and economic issues are relational ones, particularly those that contribute to the low birth rate.
98% of children are born to married couples in Japan, and the average couple has two children. However, more and more people are not marrying, or marrying late. In part corporate culture is to blame: women are implicitly discouraged from returning to their jobs after having children, which forces them to choose between family and career. Then the greater respect for older people in Japanese culture means that during a period of economic stagnation younger men face higher unemployment and lower incomes – which delay family formation.
Finally, the culture of very long working hours leaves little time for people to build relationships leading to marriage – a problem faced by many other countries pursuing high economic growth rates. Driving this is the strong collective ethos which leads to intense national pride, often focused on economic prowess.
The challenge facing Japan is to reconsider what really constitutes success as a nation. Unless that includes relational wellbeing and social sustainability, alongside economic growth, the sun will start sinking on the Japanese nation.
Read on...
Yesterday, British prime minister David Cameron announced that his government is launching a new national measure for wellbeing, in recognition that GDP alone is an inadequate measure for national success. Read his explanation of why this is important here: www.number10.gov.uk/news/speeches-and-transcripts/2010/11/pm-speech-on-well-being-57569
Walk the talk
The perennial question of work-life balance needs revisiting regularly. It’s not as simple as reducing long working hours, but rather to think of how our present lifestyle and time commitments reflect the importance we attach to various relationships. Is there one thing which you have been thinking you ought to do, but haven’t got round to, that would invest time in one of your most important relationships? Why not resolve to do it now?
The last word
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