Abstract
This study explores global demographic change and aging by analyzing Japan as a case study among G20 countries. It compares Japan’s demographic trends and policy responses with those of the United States, China, and India. Japan faces severe population decline and aging due to low fertility and limited immigration, creating economic and social challenges. In contrast, the U.S. benefits from immigration, while China and India face emerging risks. The contribution of this study is that it reveals diverse social response patterns in the process of global demographic transition by comparing the population dynamics and policy choices of different countries horizontally. Further, it emphasizes the importance of the interaction between demographic variables and national economic and social policies, echoing sociology's continued attention to topics such as structural change, welfare state transition, and global migration governance. The paper suggests that, in the face of future widespread and profound demographic changes around the world, sociology needs to pay more attention to the systemic impacts of demographic dynamics on social organizations, labor markets, intergenerational relations, and social security systems, so as to provide theoretical support and policy insights for related fields. By focusing on Japan, it offers a comparative perspective on aging, fertility decline, and labor shortages to inform global sociological discussions.
Recommended Citation
Zhu, Yunhan (Cecilia)
(2025)
"Analogical Thinking: An International Case,"
Silicon Valley Sociological Review: Vol. 23, Article 11.
Available at:
https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/svsr/vol23/iss1/11