Sustainable Energy and Economics in an Aging Population: Lessons from Japan

by Kozo Torasan Mayumi

Overview

This book discusses current challenges in Japan, focusing on the nation’s rapidly aging population and low birth rate, along with persistent public bond issues with heavy interest payments, the potential collapse of social security systems, and income inequality, as well as the global picture.

In turn, it examines the accessibility of global fossil fuels and feasibility of large-scale solar energy use. A new theory of money, interest, and capital is put forward, together with a proposal for an alternative system of international monetary cooperation, to promote a more sustainable and equitable world. Specific topics discussed include

• the inverted population pyramid, due to the dramatic change in human life spans and declining birth rates;
• the rapidly shrinking workforce, aging population, and declining GDP share sourced from industry;
• disproportionate debt expansion due to public bond issues and coping with a persistent budget deficit;
• the potential collapse of social security systems combined with income inequality; and
• how to mitigate these bio-economic predicaments.

Global Energy Sources offers an essential guide for policymakers, economists, researchers, and all those concerned with establishing a sustainable and equitable society from both energy and monetary perspectives. Further, it will be of interest to readers around the world, as the lessons learned from Japan are crucial to other developed societies that may eventually face the same types of challenge.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783030432249
Publisher:	Springer International Publishing
Publication date:	04/02/2020
Series:	Lecture Notes in Energy , #76
Edition description:	1st ed. 2020
Pages:	220
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Kozo Mayumi graduated from the Graduate School of Engineering at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Physics of Kyoto University. Between 1984 and 1988 he studied bioeconomics at Department of Economics of Vanderbilt University under Prof. Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen’s supervision. Since then, Mayumi has been working in the field of energy analysis, ecological economics and sustainability issues. Mayumi is a full professor at Tokushima University, Japan, and currently editorial board members of Ecological Economics, International Journal of Ecological Economics and Statistics, Journal of Economic Structures, and Ecosystem Services. Together with Dr. Mario Giampietro and other three researchers Mayumi started a biennial international workshop (Advances in Energy Studies) in 1998 where many distinguished scholars in the field of energy analysis took part. Mayumi is the first recipient of Georgescu-Roegen Awards (Unconventional Thinking Category) at the 13th DelhiSustainable Development Summit in 2013.

Table of Contents

Introduction.- Promethean Technology and Fossil Fuels.- Solar Energy and Its Scope for the Future: an Assessment of Bio-Ethanol and PV Systems.- Credit, the Origin of Positive Money Interest and the Dual Nature of Money.- Real Capital, Debt Expansion and International Monetary Cooperation for More Sustainable and Equitable World.- The Inverted Population Pyramid, Time Allocation, and Empty Houses.- Working Population, Age Structure and GDP share in Primary Industry.- General Account Budget, Special Account Budget, and Redemption of Real Capital and National Bonds.- Collapsing Social Security Systems.- Conclusion: Possible Alternative Vision for Japan and the World.