Is Japan a Silver Democracy? Demographics, Politics, and Policy Choices for the 21st Century

Will demographics shape Japan’s future, and if so, in what ways? A rapidly aging society and a sharp drop in population have long been anticipated in Japan, but their impact on the political process and public policy in the 21^st century are hotly debated. Some see a silver democracy at work as elderly citizens constitute an ever larger share of the electorate and electoral institutions magnify their political voice. Others, however, dispute the notion that senior citizens are a major driving force in Japanese politics, skewing a whole gamut of economic and social policies in their favor.

On December 3, the Center for East Asia Policy Studies hosted a seminar on the implications of demographic change for Japanese politics and future public policy decision making. Expert panelists from the United States, Canada, and Japan offered insights and analyses on a range of issues, including the voting power and political mobilization of different age groups in Japan, the impact of demographics on Japan’s growth strategy, and the competing social policies and fiscal allocations benefiting young and elderly citizens.

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