Japan vs. US comparison on numerous dimensions

This study compares Japan vs. the US on numerous dimensions including demographics (including health and education), and economics (including monetary and fiscal policies). This is to observe when Japan and the US trends are likely to converge over time.

1. Japan’s Present = US Future?
To figure out where the US is heading in terms of economic & demographic growth,
and Government policies it is informative to look at the contemporary situation in
Japan. At times, the relevant trends do appear to converge with a lag (US lagging
behind Japan).
In other areas such as health and education, the two countries are very divergent.
Gaetan Lion, November 16, 2021

2. Demographic section
2

3. Notice that both countries’
fertility rate has been much
below replacement rate (green
line at 2.1 child per woman) for
several years for the US and
several decades for Japan.
The US fertility rate at 1.71 in
2019 is very close to Japan at
1.72 back in 1986.
Japan’s fertility rate in 2019 is
1.36.
The US fertility rate has dropped
from 2.12 in 2007 to 1.71 in 2019.
If current trend continues, the
U.S. fertility rate could very well
reach Japan’s current level within
a couple of decades.
Source: World Bank
3
US
Japan

4. The US population growth rate in 2020 based
on a 10 year CAGR was 0.8%; the same as
Japan was in 1985.
Japan’s population growth rate, as specified,
was flat starting in 2012 and became negative
in 2016.
The US population growth rate, as specified
was 1.6% in 2001 and 0.8% in 2020.
Source: World Bank
4
US
Japan

5. Old Age Dependency Ratio (> 64/15-64)
5
Japan’s society has aged very rapidly since the early 1980s. The US appears to be on a similar aging path around
2010. And, the US aging trend as defined by this Old Age Dependency Ratio is accelerating. By mid-or late-
century, the US Old Age Dependency Ratio may well approach Japan’s current levels.
Japan
US
Gray areas denote US recessions

6. Age Dependency Ratio ( < 15 + > 64)/(15 –64)
6
The current Age Dependency Ratio (< 15 + > 64)/(15 –64) is around 55% for the US and 70% for Japan. The US mentioned
ratio is expected to reach Japan’s current level by 2070, according to the United Nations –Population Division.
US
Japan

7. 7
Population by Age Group
Looking at population by age group over time, the US population age group mix in 2020 is similar to Japan’s in mid 90s (red
vertical dashed line) . Japan’s population aging after the mid 90s accelerated (mixture of rising life span, declining fertility
rate). We can expect the US population to continue aging, but not as rapidly as Japan because of declining US health trends
(rising BMI, etc.) and the US higher net immigration rate.
US Japan

8. Life Expectancy
8
Japan
US
In 1965, both countries had a life expectancy of 70 years. By 2019, Japan’s life expectancy had risen to 84.35
years and the US to 78.78 years (same as Japan in 1989).
Gray areas denote US recessions

9. Population growth projections
9
JapanUS
Population projections reflect the impact of ongoing population aging, lower fertility rates, and differential in net migration
rates. In 2020, Japan’s population has already peaked and is starting to decline. Notice the already very rapid decline in
Japan’s youth population (< 15, and < 5). For the US, the slow down in population growth is not that pronounced. Out to
2100, the US population is still expecting to continue rising, albeit at a much lower speed. Notice the rather flat trend inUS
youth population growth.

10. Net migration
10
Japan
US
The main reason the US population growth is not slowing down as rapidly as Japan’s is the US far higher net migration. Net
migration to the US amounts to around 5 million individuals coming into the country every year vs only 500,000 for Japan.
This corresponds to a boost in yearly population growth of about 1.5% for the US vs. only 0.4% for Japan.
Gray areas denote US recessions

11. 11
Population growth is result of fertility rate
and net migration rate
Combining a fertility rate of 1.4 with a net positive migration
per annum of 0.5%, assuming a generation has a length of 30
years, results in a yearly change in population of –0.8%. That
is pretty much where Japan is heading (red cell). The US
situation is associated with a fertility rate of 1.7 with a net
positive migration of 1.5% resulting in a yearly change in
population of + 0.8%.
If we assume the generation length to be 25 years. The
mentioned yearly change in population decreases to –1.1%
for Japan and + 0.6% for the US.
This framework pretty much explains the respective
population projections shown earlier.

12. Economics section
12

13. The explanatory commentary for this slide is very
similar to the one on the previous slide.
The main difference is that the US economic growth
is still quite a bit faster than Japan’s. And, this is due
to the US population growth rate being higher than
Japan’s because of the the US much higher positive
net immigration.
As the US population growth rate keeps on
declining, its economic growth rate will also decline.
However, it may always lag behind the steeper
decline in Japan’s economic growth rate.
13
Source: World Bank, OECD
Japan
US

14. 14
US
Japan

15. Investment/GDP
15
The two measures are not entirely comparable. And, the data for Japan was unavailable after 2010. Over the reviewed
years, accepting the data caveats it appears that Japan’s investment to GDP was much higher than in the US. I
understand that in more recent years, this gap has narrowed materially.
US
Japan
Gray areas denote US recessions

16. 16
US
Japan

17. 17
US
Japan
Growth rate of real
GDP per employed
person is again
different between the
two countries. Over
the reviewed period,
the Japanese measure
is far more volatile.
It is not unlikely that in
the near future, the
two countries will
converge somewhat
on such measures.

18. Labor Productivity
18
Japan
US
The two countries’ respective changes in labor productivity are different. At times, the two time series seem
negatively correlated. Nevertheless, notice how during US recessions (gray areas), Japan’s labor productivity drops a
lot more than the US. This is especially the case during the three most recent recessions.
Gray areas denote US recessions

19. 19
US
Japan

20. Source: World Bank, OECD
Both countries have experienced a long term decline in
constant GDP per capita growth rate.
Japan’s decline has been more pronounced because in
the early years, Japan was still in a post WWII catch-up
economic boom mode, which phased out over time.
Additionally, Japan experienced the pop of the Japan’s
Bubble (stock market and real estate) in the late 1980s
to early 1990s which further accelerated the decline in
constant GDP per capita growth rate.
As shown, the current respective growth rates of both
countries have already converged much after the Great
Recession. The US mentioned growth rate is only
marginally higher than Japan’s.
20
US
Japan

21. 21
Source: International Federation of Robotics
Japan is one of the World leaders in robotization. Notice
that its number of robots installed per 10,000 employees is
close to 60% greater than in the US.
Between 217 and 2019, Japan has increased its robot
installation by 18% compared to 14% for the US.
Robotization is a viable way for Japan to partly overcome its
prospective decline in labor force over the next several
decades. And, it may contribute to Japan’s GDP per capita
growth.

22. RGDP & RGDP p.c. CAGR forecasts over 2020 –2060
22
US GDP is anticipated to grow much faster than
Japan because of much faster population
growth due to its higher net migration rate that
compensates for a fertility rate much below
replacement rate.
When scaling economic growth on a per capita
basis, Japan is expected to grow faster than the
US. This is due to Japan’s decreasing population
(lowering the denominator) and potentially its
higher level of robotization.

23. Monetary policy section
23

24. 24
The Federal Reserve Bank Quantitative Easing (QE)
activity whereby the Fed buys a huge amount of
securities (Treasuries, MBS) to inject liquidity in the
financial system, lower long term interest rates, and
stimulate the economy is a very recent phenomenon.
Between 1970 and the early 2000s, the Fed had
managed the economy without any QE activity. And,
the Fed’s balance sheet remained steadily between
5% to 7% of GDP (upper chart). Over this period, the
US economy had experienced numerous severe
downturns associated with several oil shocks,
stagflation, Y2K, etc. (see lower chart gray areas).
Starting with the Great Recession in late 2007, the
Fed implemented massive QE activity on an
unprecedented scale. During the Great Recession,
the mentioned QE activities caused the Fed’s balance
sheet to nearly triple from just above 5% to over 15%
of GDP. During the COVID Recession, the Fed
abruptly increased its balance sheet (through QE
activities) from 20% to over 35% of GDP.
Gray areas denote US recessions

25. QE Activity. Japan vs. US
25
Source: FRED, Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) was a pioneer in
mounting huge QE activities. The BOJ assets
level already represented over 15% of GDP
back in 1998. The US Federal Reserve will
only reach that level in early 2009 during the
Great Recession.
Within the US, the recent bump up to 35% of
GDP during the COVID Recession seemed like
a giant leap. However, this QE effort is
dwarfed by the ongoing BOJ QE activities
mounted since the Great Recession. BOJ
assets currently represent a staggering 132%
of GDP vs. 34% for the US Fed.
Japan
US

26. Central Bank Policy Rate
26
Japan
US
The BOJ was also a pioneer in setting policy interest rates close to 0%. They have been at that level since 1995. The Fed only
implemented such low rates in 2009 during the Great Recession.
Gray areas denote US recessions

27. Monetary policy considerations
27
The Federal Reserve QE interventions have reached ever rising and unprecedented scale since the Great
Recession. Yet, their respective scale appears diminutive vs. Japan.
Nevertheless, the Japan ongoing very large QE efforts have not contributed to inflation. The most recent
figures indicate that Japan’s inflation has remained pretty much flat over the past 12 months at + 0.2%.
Meanwhile, in the US inflation has surged by 6.2% over the same period (Source: The Economist issue of
November 13
th
–19
th
, 2021).

28. Fiscal policy section
28

29. US Budget Deficit as % of GDP
29
Gray areas denote US recessions
Since the aftermath of the Dot.com Bubble recession in the early 2000s, the following recessions have steadily resulted
in massive increase in fiscal stimulus associated with ever larger Budget Deficits (as a % of GDP).

30. Budget Deficit comparison: Japan vs. US
30
Japan
US
Gray areas denote US recessions
Even though the Japanese data is incomplete, it again denotes that Japanese fiscal stimulus undertaking have often been far
larger than the US.

31. Central Government Debt/GDP
31
US
Japan
Source: IMF
The two countries had the same level
of Central Government Debt/GDP in
the early 1990s. Since then, Japan’s
ratio has more than tripled to 200%.
Meanwhile, the US more than
doubled from just above 40% before
the Great Recession to over 90% in
2019. My understanding is that most
recent US data would indicate that
this ratio is now much above 100%.

32. 32
General Government Debt/GDP
Japan
US
Source: IMF
Directionally, same comment as
on the previous slide.
Notice that the most recent data
disclosed by the IMF is as of
2019. If updated to 2021, both
ratios would be substantially
higher.

33. Fiscal policy considerations
33
Since the Great Recession, the US Government has embarked on an ever rapidly increasing debt
leveraging with increasing Budget Deficits even during economic expansions (relative to earlier
expansions), resulting in ever increasing Public Debt/GDP.
Given current legislation passed regarding ongoing fiscal stimuli in the $trillions, both ongoing Budget
Deficits and Public Debt/GDP ratios are likely to continue rising rapidly over the next few years.
However, when we compare the US public debt leveraging with Japan, the former is dwarfed by the
latter.
Nevertheless, the Japan ongoing very large fiscal stimulus and debt leveraging has not contributed to
inflation. The most recent figures indicate that Japan’s inflation has remained pretty much flat over
the past 12 months at + 0.2%. Meanwhile, in the US inflation has surged by 6.2% over the same
period (Source: The Economist issue of November 13
th
–19
th
, 2021).

34. Health section
34

35. 35
Source: OECD
US
$10,900 per year
Japan
$4,700 per year

36. 36
Source: OECD
Japan
11% of GDP
US
16.8% of GDP

37. 37
Source: OECD
Japan
$810
US
$1,380

38. 38
BMI = > 25
Japan 27.5%
US 73%
Source: OECD

39. 39
Obesity rate among adults:
Japan 3.7%
US 38.2%

40. 40
Source: OECD
Japan
16 days at hospital
US
5.5 days at hospital

41. 41

42. 42
The US costs are inflated
because they include cost
of hospital, administrative,
physician, and diagnostic
procedure.
Meanwhile for the other
countries, the costs only
include the cost of the
procedure.
But, even if we multiplied
Japan’s costs as specified
by 4 times, in most cases,
they still would be a lot
lower than the US ones.

43. 43
Source: Fropky.com
US consumption of soft drink p.c. = 10 x Japan’s!

44. 44
Source: Fropky.com
US TV watching is more than 2 x Japan’s.

45. 45
Source: Fropky.com, daitips.com
School year: 210 daysSchool year: 180 days
* World Data sources: the intelligence quotients by countries are taken from the studies conducted by Richard Lynn and Tatu Vanhanen
(2002), Heiner Rindermann (2007), Khaleefa and Lynn (2008), Ahmad, Khanum and Riaz (2008), Lynn, Abdalla and Al-Shahomee (2008),Lynn
and Meisenberg (2010), as well as the PISA tests in 2003, 2006, and 2009. More recent results were weighted higher.

46. 46
Obesity Rate
Japan 3.7%
US 38.2%
Life Expectancy
Japan 84.4
US 78.8
Health Care Cost
Japan 11% of GDP
US 16.8% of GDP
An intriguing Causal Model
Causal
variable
Causal
variable
School Year
Japan 210 days
US 180 days
Causal variable
RGDP p.c. forecast
Japan 1.8%
US 1.4%

47. Health considerations
47
It is unclear how the US could ever bridge the vast difference in lifestyle, nutrition,
overall health status, and life expectancy with Japan. In combination those factors
contribute directly to much higher health care costs for the US relative to Japan.
Additionally, health care costs in the US are further boosted by malpractice
liabilities, for profit industry structure, and ill conceived regulations (i.e. US
Medicare not allowed to negotiate lower drug prices).

48. Education section
48

49. 49
Program for International Student
Assessment (PISA)
(15 years old)
Japan
US
JapanJapan
USUS
Over time, reading scores between Japan and
the US are not so far apart. Japan’s are just a
lot more volatile.
On the other hand, in both math and science,
Japan performs well above the US and the
OECD average. Meanwhile, the US is below
the OECD average in math, and just about at
the OECD average in science.
Regarding those PISA country scores, one
could advance the respective average IQ of
the countries plays a role. As we will see in
the following slides, the standard deviation of
IQ may be an underlying confounding variable
that is also influential on the shown
outcomes.

50. 50
Source: American Institute of Physics, National Science Board
Japan
US
These figures should be
adjusted for respective
countries’ population size.
Nevertheless, we can see that
over the reviewed period, the
US is experiencing a reasonably
rapid upward trend from 500K
to around 750K degrees.
Meanwhile, Japan’s trend is
actually slightly downward.
Adjusted for population size,
Japan’s figures would still be
higher than the US. But, if
current trends continue, it
would not be the case for long.

51. 51
Source: American Institute of Physics, National Science Board
US total
US temporary visa
US citizens and permanent residents
Japan
Even if we adjusted the
figures for population size,
the US (during most recent
years) would be faring better
than Japan on this one
count.

52. 52
Source: American Institute of Physics, National Science Board
On this count to, the US is
faring well relative to Japan.
Remember the consideration
between average IQ and its
standard deviation. It seems
to be playing out here.

53. 53
Source: The Center for World
University Ranking (CWUR),
2021-2022 edition
Among the top 20
universities in the
World:
US 16
Japan 1

54. 54
Source: The Center for World University Ranking (CWUR), 2021-2022 edition
Among top 10 universities in Japan, only 2 are in the top 50 in the World.
Top 10 universities in Japan

55. 55
The top 10 universities in US all rank among the top 12 in the World.
Source: The Center for World University Ranking (CWUR), 2021-2022 edition
Top 10 universities in US

56. Education considerations
56
Japan’s primary education performance is far superior to the US, and is likely to remain
so. The US primary school system is unlikely to ever bridge the gap in school year-days
(180 in US vs. 210 in Japan). Also, qualitative factors we have not explored like rigor in
math and science curricula are likely to remain a differentiating factor between the two
countries.
At the university level, it appears the roles are reversed with top US universities being far
superior to Japanese ones. And, the US comparing favorably in the number of university
degrees conferred in science and engineering, and in the number of publications within
those same fields.
It seems like an ideal education path would be for one to grow up in Japan to get a world
class primary education. And, then to emigrate to the US to go to university. Apparently,
many top Asian students (Japan, China, India) follow a similar path. And, they contribute
to the number of science and engineering degrees and published articles in the US.