Discussion Paper Series 2012-E-3

Economic Consequences of Population Aging in Japan: Effects through Changes in Demand Structure

Mitsuru Katagiri

In this paper I investigate the effects of changes in demand structure caused by population aging on the Japanese economy using a multi-sector new Keynesian model with job creation/destruction. I consider upward revisions in forecast for the speed of Japanese population aging as unexpected shocks to its demand structure. I find that the shocks caused around 0.3 percent point deflationary pressure on year-to-year inflation, 0.3 to 0.4 percent point increase in unemployment rates, and 1.8 percent point decrease in real GDP from the early 1990s to the 2000s in Japan. I also find that the repetition of such upward revisions made those effects look more persistent.

Keywords: Population Aging; Matching; Productivity; Deflation


Views expressed in the paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Bank of Japan or Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies.

Copyright © 2012 Bank of Japan All Rights Reserved.

Home Japanese Home