Narrow Results

This paper examines the population trends in Singapore over the next 50 years. The component method is employed in the projection calculations. The aging of Singapore's resident population is well-known. The projections show that the Singaporean population will reach a maximum of about 3.63 million in the year 2025 before steadily declining to reach 3.32 million by the year 2050. The population projections were also done in terms of gender and ethnic groups. Dependency ratios, weighted and unweighted were also calculated assuming different retirement ages. Remarks on some policy implications of these projections are provided.

This study examines the extent to which changing the composition of college majors among working-age population may affect the supply of human capital or effective labor supply. We use the South Korean setting, in which the population is rapidly aging, but where, despite their high educational attainment, women and young adults are still weakly attached to the labor market. We find that engineering majors have an advantage in various outcomes such as likelihood of being in the labor force, being employed, obtaining long-term position, and earnings, while Humanities and Arts/Athletics majors show the worst outcomes. We then conduct a back-of-the-envelope calculation of the impact of the recently proposed policy change to increase the share of engineering majors by 10% starting in 2017. Our calculation suggests that the policy change may have a positive but small impact on labor market outcomes.

With the acceleration of population aging in China, the number of pure beneficiaries in the economy is higher than that of pure contributors, which seriously affects fiscal sustainability. This paper probes into the influence path and mechanism of population aging to fiscal sustainability in China, and numerically simulates the extent of such influence using a generational accounting method. Aging reduces the tax base and enlarges fiscal expenditure by reducing the quantity of labor and labor productivity, changing the resident’s consumption level and structure, cutting down the saving rate, and widening the gap between social security revenue and expenditure, all of which challenge the balance of the fiscal system. The empirical results show that the problem of inequality in terms of the fiscal burden across generations is extremely prominent and the per capita tax burden under different birth rate assumptions is obviously different. Under the pressure of aging, in order to maintain the fiscal balance, the future per capita tax burden will be increased by a maximum of 55.9%. Although increasing productivity and reducing interest rates can help reduce that gap, their roles are far less important than the role of fertility. In order to cope with aging, the fiscal system should see an increase in income, a reduction in expenditure, and a redeployment of structure. That is, while at the same time perfecting the tax system and widening the tax base, the expenditure structure should also be optimized.

This paper estimates the impact of population aging on bilateral pork trade between 32 Asian countries (regions) by using a gravity model that incorporates old-age dependency ratio variables. The Poisson pseudo-maximum-likelihood regression performs better than the ordinary least-squares method in the estimations. An aging labor force stimulates pork exports because it reduces pork production costs by supplying the pork industry with low-wage older laborers. An aging consumer-based economy increases pork imports because older consumers usually have higher incomes. Population aging has both a time characteristic and a country characteristic on pork trade in Asia. Increasing birth rates and reforming the pork industry from the supply side are two feasible policy recommendations for aging Asian countries (regions).

Since the 1970s, due to the combination of the declining birthrate and rising longevity, the speed of population aging in Japan has been more dramatic than in any other developed country. Consequently, the growth of the working population, which had been faster than the growth of the total population, has gradually become slower in recent years than the latter in Japan. Moreover, similar rapid demographic changes are taking place at various speeds in all prefectures. By introducing demographic variables into empirical models of regional economic growth, which is based on prefecture-level panel data for the period 1980–2010, this paper shows that the recent demographic changes in Japan have had significant effects on its regional economic growth: the contribution of the growth rate difference between the working population and the total population to per capita Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth rate, i.e., the demographic bonus, has disappeared. In addition, the growth rate of the aged population (65 years old and over) has had a very significant negative effect on per capita GRDP growth rate, while the growth rate of the young population aged 0–14 has had a significant positive effect. The findings of this study imply that Japan’s population aging and other ongoing demographic changes will continue to depress economic growth in all prefectures. Given the low probability of a significant rise in the birth rate and the rapid increase in the local labor supply, it is important for all prefectures in Japan to raise the quality of their labor-force and improve productivity. Meanwhile, effectively attracting young skilled workers to migrate from other regions/countries should be a key policy issue for both local and central governments in Japan.

This study explores potential organizational outcomes associated with The Purpose Prize™, a prize designed to recognize the accomplishments of older adult social entrepreneurs. While previous studies have established relationships between social innovation prizes and public attention to different issues, research that has explored the impact of prizes on organizational outcomes is sparse. We present analyses based on surveys of 200 Purpose Prize™ applicants, fellows, and winners. Results suggest that the Purpose Prize™ was related to organizational-level variables, as measured by factors such as changes in budgets and media mentions. Those effects varied by number of issues addressed, whether the organization had a research component, and affiliation with the Purpose Prize™ Network. We discuss the limitations of this exploratory study, and consider the implications and the sustainable impact of prize awards on the organizations that receive them. Finally, we discuss the significance of the Prize's™ focus on older social entrepreneurs.

The clinical application of stem cells in hematopoietic disease.

Use of pluripotent stem cells and their differentiated products in pharmacological drug discovery and safety testing.

Messages from the nucleus: Insights into Aging.

inStem: The Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine.

Yak genome provides new insights into high altitude adaptation.

Gentris and Shanghai Institutes of Preventative Medicine expand collaboration.

Chinese researchers identify rice gene enhancing quality, productivity.

Quintiles opens new Center of Excellence in Dalian to support innovative drug development.

BGI demonstrated genomic data transfer at nearly 10 gigabits per second between US and China.

Quintiles deepens investment in China - New Quintiles China Headquarters and local lab testing solution announced.

Beike earns AABB Accreditation for cord blood and cord tissue banking.

Epigenomic differences between newborns and centenarians provide insight to the understanding of aging.

Biotechnology unveils secrets of Chinese medicine.

Climate change a mixed blessing for wheat, say experts.

NTOU identified germ cells and somatic cells in coral bodies for the first time in the world.

Researchers tabulate disturbing changes and disappearance in biodiversity in Southern Taiwan coral reefs over last 26 years.

NCKU research team discovers new complex in treating cancer.

Chinese scientists successfully crack the genome of diploid cotton.

Taiwan's healthcare market boosted by aging population.

Researchers develop mouse model of common motor neuron disease pinpointing TDP-43 protein as likely cause.

INDIA – Oral chlorea vaccine ‘offers protection for five years’.

JAPAN – Gene discovery leads way to more rice.

MALAYSIA – Top international hospitals to hold summit in Asia to address efficiency, patient safety issues.

SINGAPORE – Study led by NUS scientists provides new insights into cause of human neurodegenerative disease.

SINGAPORE – Recycled plastic proves effective in killing drug-resistant fungi.

SINGAPORE – Singapore scientists engineer human stem cells and move closer to mastering regenerative medicine.

SINGAPORE – A*STAR scientists discover novel hormone essential for heart development.

SINGAPORE – New discovery on how skin cells form “bridges” paves the way for advances in wound healing and tissue engineering.

AUSTRALIA – Pathogen study explores blocking effect of E. coli protein on immune system.

CANADA – Alzheimer's risk gene may begin to affect brains as early as childhood.

EUROPE – Simple blood test detects 85% of colorectal cancers and over 50% of polyps.

JERUSALEM – New compound for slowing the aging process can lead to novel treatments for brain diseases.

US – Older mice fed wolfberries show reduced risk for flu virus with vaccine diseases.

US – Molecular sensor detects early signs of multiple sclerosis, Gladstone study finds.

US – Scripps Research Institute scientists achieve detailed picture of key part of Hepatitis C virus.

US – Researchers discover promising new treatment to help people with spine injuries walk better.

US – Personalized vaccine for most lethal type of brain tumor shows promise.

Is Aging a Risk Factor for Cancer?

Adverse Effects of Substance Abuse on Aging: Implication of Brain Cell Injury

Diabetes and the Elderly

The Necessity for Early Therapeutic Interventions in Dementia: The Role of Neurosteroids

Indian Pharma Industry: Trends, Predictions and Challenges.

RFID Smart Sensing.

Rational Design for the Next Generation of Vaccines.

Is Aging a Risk Factor for Cancer?

China's Synthetic Biology Research.

Ethical Responsibility to Manage Incidental Findings in Brain Imaging Research.

Translating Research at SingHealth: Cardiometabollic Diseases.

Universities: A Treasure Trove of Technologies.

The Increasing Need for Bioinformatics in Life Science and Biotechnology Research.

Site Mapping the Innovative Way.

New Antifungals or Old?

SINGAPORE – VIVA Foundation and NUS Launches $10 Million Cancer Research Centre for Childhood Leukaemia.

SINGAPORE – Discovery Paves the Way for Potential Genetics-Guided Precision Medicine for Paediatric Leukaemia Patients.

SINGAPORE – Partnership between Sony and Alder Hey Children's Hospital Drives Innovation in Children's Healthcare.

UNITED STATES – UGA Researchers Make Link between Genetics and Aging.

UNITED STATES – Latin Dancing may Have Health Benefits for Older Adults.

UNITED STATES – Interferon Not Beneficial for Most Stage III Melanoma.

UNITED STATES – Dissecting the Animal Diet, Past and Present.

UNITED STATES – Water Conservation Important to Many; Only Some Take Action.

UNITED KINGDOM – Innova Biosciences Introduces New LATEX One-Step Conjugation Kits.

UNITED KINGDOM – New Understanding of the Mechanism of Neurodegeneration Leads to a Novel Approach to Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease.

TAIWAN – Breakthrough in Homogeneous Antibody Development and a New Generation of Glycoarray Technology.

TAIWAN – Increasing Protein Synthesis by Leucine Ameliorates Synaptopathy Caused by Dementia, ALS and Autism.

Current and Emerging Diagnostic and Therapeutic Developments in Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

International Collaborative Research Program focusing on Aging.

Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA).

Clinical Trials in our Real World.

Ophthalmology Workforce Planning and Projection – A New Integrated Approach.

Genetic mechanism behind aging rate uncovered.

China launches survey of endangered porpoises in Yangtze River.

Academic institutes and companies join forces to boost precision nutrition research.

Gigantic DNA database to be built in Nanjing.

Home test kit for cervical screening developed by BGI.

Chinese HPV vaccine gets permission for clinical testing.

Ineffective baby vaccines by two companies recalled.

Robot scores high result on national doctor qualification test.

Head transplant ‘never’ to be allowed.

China ranks second in Global Science Innovation.

Veolia to support Danone Nutricia Wuxi plant in China.

Chinese drug delivery devices market to reach USD638.4 million by 2023.

Brain aging in ASEAN.

What value-based healthcare means for Asia.

Improve healthcare access to tackle Asia’s healthcare challenge.

Is Japan’s aging and, more recently, declining population hampering its growth and reflation efforts? Exploiting the demographic and economic variation in the prefectural data between 1990 and 2007, we find that aging of the working age population has had a significant negative impact on the total factor productivity (TFP). Moreover, prefectures that aged at a faster pace experienced lower overall inflation, while prefectures with higher population growth experienced higher inflation. The results give strong support to the notion that demographic headwinds can have a non-trivial impact on the TFP and deflationary pressures.