[csa]

Hmmmm.... you make a prima facie good argument, but I'm not really convinced.

While Japan may not presently be gutted in terms of GDP, I wonder if we are witnessing the slow rotting from inside right now.

The older generations are demanding to be supported by the younger generation in a number of ways, but they are not giving the younger folks the means to do so via decent-paying jobs and jobs that are stable enough to encourage the start of a family (i.e., future generations).

Right now Japan is printing money hand over fist to try to make something -- anything -- happen economically. I don't see that it's working, and I wonder how long they can keep doing this before they take a hit on the economic side (GDP or otherwise).

If Japan can make it 25-30 years with something like their current GDP, then they will be fine -- their population will have shrunk, and there will be no big bubble on the top of their population by age pyramid. That said, think their economy will take a huge hit a some point in that timeframe.

Do you see much positive hope on the economic side moving forward?