China’s rapidly aging population presents a huge challenge for the country as it needs to find new ways to pay for rising healthcare and social welfare benefits.
And that’s where Africa may be able to help.
Home to one of the youngest populations on the planet, young African workers might be able to help resolve the problem of China’s shrinking labor pool.
Dr. Lauren Johnston joins Eric & Cobus to discuss how China’s rapidly aging population will benefit Africa. Dr. Johnston just finished a three-year research project at the University of Melbourne and is now a consultant for the World Bank in Beijing. She explains how China’s growing legion of senior citizens is forcing the government to re-orient the entire economy by investing abroad, particularly in developing countries, while building sophisticated technologies at home to help offset the country’s declining birthrate.
Show Notes:
- University of Melbourne Pursuit Podcast: China in Africa: Who Benefits? Aid, trade and investment in a fast-evolving Sino-Africa partnership by Peter Clarke and Dr. Lauren Johnston
- South China Morning Post: Is China going down the same path as Japan with its aging population? by Sidney Leng
- Australian Financial Review: China’s failed baby boom: Why Beijing can’t shake the one-child policy by Michael Smith
Dr. Lauren Johnston’s research focuses on China’s economy and the China-Africa economic nexus. Lauren holds a PhD in Economics (Peking), an MSc Development Economics (London (SOAS)) and a B.Com/B.A (Melbourne). Prior to completing a PhD, Lauren was an ODI Fellow in Sierra Leone and Guyana, a World Economic Forum Global Leadership Fellow based in Geneva, and a consultant at the World Bank in Washington.
