Health Spending in Japan: Macro-Fiscal Implications and Reform Options
IMF Working Papers, August 4, 2014
Source details
- Canonical URL
- Health Spending in Japan: Macro-Fiscal Implications and Reform Options
Other formats
Bibliographic details
- Authors: Masahiro Nozaki, Kenichiro Kashiwase, Ikuo Saito
- Published: August 4, 2014
- Series: IMF Working Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781498365277.001
Key findings
- Health spending has risen rapidly in Japan.
- Two-thirds of the spending increase over 1990–2011 resulted from ageing.
- The remainder of the spending increase over 1990–2011 resulted from excess cost growth.
Projections and fiscal implications
- Ageing alone will raise health spending by 3½ percentage points of GDP over 2010–30.
- Excess cost growth at the rate observed over 1990–2011 will lead to an additional increase of 2–3 percentage points of GDP.
- These projected increases will require a sizable increase in government transfers.
Policy analysis and reform options
- Japan can introduce micro- and macro-reforms to contain health spending.
- Financing options should be designed to enhance equity.
- Keywords and subject focus include: Aging; Expenditure; Health; Health care; Health care spending; Population and demographics; long-term care; LTC spending; profile shift; spending data; spending increase; spending ratio.