Curaçao in the Japanese Mirror

Curaçao in the Japanese Mirror presents a comprehensive and forward-looking analysis of one of the most pressing challenges facing the island today: the intersection of rapid population aging, structural economic vulnerability, and limited institutional capacity. By using Japan—the world's most advanced aging society—as a comparative lens, the book uncovers deep parallels and provides valuable insights into Curaçao's demographic and economic trajectory. The publication examines how an aging population affects national savings, productivity, public finances, and the viability of key sectors such as tourism, real estate, and financial services. It identifies the systemic tensions that arise when a shrinking labor force meets a consumption-driven, low-productivity economic model. And it shows why diversification, human capital development, and institutional modernization must become national priorities.