[japan@ihj] Japan, the US and the Challenge of Demographics

  • *This lecture has finished.
  • Lecturer: Gene Epstein (Economics Editor, Barron’s)
  • Moderator: Takita Yoichi (Senior Staff Writer, Nikkei)
  • Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2014, 7:00 pm-
  • Venue: Lecture Hall, International House of Japan
  • Language: English (without Japanese interpretation)
  • Admission: Free (reservations required)

Both the Japanese and U.S. economies face a serious demographic challenge over the next two decades. In each nation, the share of people 65 and over and that of the aged 18 to 64 will become increasingly skewed in favor of the seniors. Result: a plunge in the “dependency ratio”–the number of people of working wage on which each senior depends for support. Mr. Epstein will discuss the unique risks and challenges each economy will face from the plunge in the dependency ratio and the likely ways each will respond to those risks and challenges. Japan’s growth strategy and “Abenomics” will be evaluated from this standpoint.

Gene Epstein

Photo:Gene EpsteinGene Epstein is Economics Editor and writes the column “Economic Beat” at Barron’s magazine. Mr. Epstein earned a BA in history from Brandeis University and an MA in economics from the New School. He has taught economics at the City University of New York and St. John’s University. Before joining Barron’s, he did a 13-year stint at the New York Stock Exchange, mainly as a senior economist. He joined Barron’s in 1992 as commodities Editor. The following year, he became the weekly’s first Economics Editor and the first to write the column “Economic Beat”–his responsibility to this day. He also writes features and cover stories on economic and social trends. Since writing Econospinning: How to Read between the Lines when the Media Manipulate the Numbers (John Wiley and Sons, 2006), he has frequently appeared at conferences and on TV.