Peter Kirkman, manager of the JPM Global Consumer Trends fund, explores what Japan's ageing population and the rapid emergence of Asia's middle class means for investors.
Over the last 50 to 60 years, China has been one of the most successful countries in reaping the ‘demographic dividend’. China, and other countries like it, have taken advantage of a youthful, growing population and a favourable working age-to-dependant ratio to drive economic transformation. This has lifted millions of rural poor out of a subsistence existence and allowed them to reach rising levels of affluence. However, as in the case of Japan, demographics can also be a headwind. Failure by Japan to supplement this age-related dividend with greater labour participation of women and a...
To continue reading this article...
Join Investment Week for free
Signup and gain exclusive members-only insights - all free of charge!
- Unlimited access to real-time news, analysis and opinion from the investment industry, including the Sustainable Hub covering fund news from the ESG space
- Get ahead of regulatory and technological changes affecting fund management
- Important and breaking news stories selected by the editors delivered straight to your inbox each day
- Weekly members-only newsletter with exclusive opinion pieces from leading industry experts
- Be the first to hear about our extensive events schedule and awards programmes
