Japan has the problem of a lower number of births compared to an increase in the number of elderly people. They now have 30 million residents over the age of 60. As a measure to encourage marriage and reduce congestion in the Tokyo megapolis, the Japanese government will reward ¥600,000 (~RM 18,000) to women who get married and then move out. Other additional rewards in the form of cash will also be considered by the cabinet.
This is a move to not only increase the number of births but ensure that the rural areas will have a population. The phenomenon of akiya, which is an empty house left outside the city, is becoming more and more serious, causing it to be sold at a very cheap price. This is still not able to reduce the number of "dead cities" but rather increase the number of overseas migrants who immigrate to buy cheap high-rise houses helped by the declining value of the Yen.
The measures taken by the Japanese government do not seem to be very serious because the rewards given are not high. In Busan, South Korea, the government will reward up to $85,000 (~RM 369,000) as remuneration for married couples. Money is given in stages with $604 given when dating, $1200 when meeting parents, $24,000 when married, $36,000 given to buy a house or $960 a month for five years to pay rent.
Malaysia will soon face the issue of low birth rates. The current birth rate is 1.6 babies per woman which is a sharp decline from 6 babies per woman in 1957 and 2.1 babies per woman in 2010. A birth rate of 2.1 babies per woman is needed to maintain a country's population.