Aging and the real interest rate in Japan: A labor market channel

Shigeru Fujita*, Ippei Fujiwara

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    2 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    This paper explores a causal link between aging of the labor force and the declining trend in the real interest rate in Japan. We develop a search and matching model that features heterogeneous workers with respect to their ages and firm-specific skills. Using the model, we examine the long-run implications of the sharp drop in labor force entry in the 1970s. We show that the changes in the demographic structure induce significant low-frequency movements in per capita consumption growth and thus the real interest rate. The model suggests that aging of the labor force caused the real interest rate to decline by 1 percentage point between 1980 and 2010 in Japan.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number101262
    JournalJournal of the Japanese and International Economies
    Volume69
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Sept 2023

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