520R Journal #4 Ji Min

Summary of 'Globalization in an Aging World'


In 'Globalization in an Aging World', Serdar Sayan, who is the reporter of Korea Herad, reveals that the graying population in developed countries will deeply affect on not only themselves, but also developing countries. UN revealed that the world’s population will grow to 9.3 billion while graying population will grow up to 2 billion and especially the population of over 80 will increase dramatically, account for 19 % of over 60 populations by 2050. Dropping birthrate and long life expectancy are main reasons of the growing aging population. Rich countries are more largely affected by these reasons than poor countries. In developed countries, workers who support pensioners by paying taxes are decreasing promptly. It requires demands welfare systems and causes lack of government money. Developed countries will be in difficulties with insufficient labor, economies and resources allocation, and that situation will affect on developing economies. Migration of the largely growing population of developing countries can help lacks of labor in developed countries. In case of Japan, to maintain enough labor, 10 million immigrants per year will be need until 2050. However, it needs very large scale of immigration. Importing manufactured products from developing countries can help the aging population in developed countries because rich countries have powerful economy to deal with trade with poor countries. The increasing graying population in developed countries will has effects on global capital movement, especially raise the interest rate because the elders in rich countries spend lots of money, but don’t save it. It will restrict the relative abundance of capital available to poorer economies. Combining globalization and aging let underdeveloped economies more dependent upon developed countries.


Reference: http://www.globalpolicy.org/globaliz/econ/2002/0820aging.htm

520R Journal #3 Ji Min

Cell Phone and Our Lives

We spend most of our time with a palm-sized small electronic that we call cell phone. It is always placed very near us to use anytime. We often realize that we get in a panic if we don’t bring our cell phones. Why do we rely on cell phones? Is it good for our lives?
It is true that cell phones make our like convenient. We don’t have to remember others’ phone number because our cell phone remembers all phone numbers instead of me. We cannot wake up by ourselves without a cell phone. It makes us get up every morning with a beautiful melody. If we’re bored, we don’t need to do other things because our cell phone has a lot of entertainment factors.
However, if we think about cell phones for a while, we realize advantages of cell phones can be defined as simply good things. We are addicting to convenience that cell phones give us. We feel nervous and tight when we don’t bring it with us. According to the number of message that we receive in a day, our feelings change. If no one calls up, we feel withdrawal symptoms like an alcoholic who can’t drink. Remembering phone numbers is impossible without cell phones.
Cell phones replace part of ours lives such as memory and friends. Smart cell phones never forget numbers and schedules, and funny cell phones make us entertained. However, we should be aware that although it can be considered useful, it can’t be regarded healthful in our lives. As we depend on a cell phone, we are going to be a dummy.
In conclusion, our lives and our thoughts are under the control of cell phones. It is requiring us to more rely on itself. To be released from control of the cell phone, we should keep away our cell phones from us.