Intergenerational Politics in an Aging Society

Japan’s population is aging faster than any other nation’s, producing many more older voters, and raising an important question related to intergenerational equity. Do voters prioritize their short-term self-interest at the expense of generations? I find that in Japan are surprisingly less self-interested—even similarly aged advanced economies—in maximizing benefits as service consumers detriment younger voters. This behavior enigma. To stimulate dialogue about equitable sustainable welfare system, consider a set structural institutional factors may, individually or collectively, help explain apparently self-interested preferences Japan.