In Japan, corporate leaders are increasingly acting on the belief that peak performance declines after age 45. They are firing workers at age 45, destroying the long-time employment security enjoyed in Japan. Unfortunately, they are also destroying the lives of those fired, which is leading to a big increase of individual and family suicides. Not far behind are new corporate norms in Europe and the U.S. that see peak performance being attained in ages 50-53. The move to the high tech fields is a move to younger workers at the expense of age.
Social cohesion is also in danger in developing countries.
In China, the largest social problem facing the country is the enormous growth of population aged 60 and above. China has no real solution as to what to do with these people. Their ties to family have been weakened and their roles in economic and political life has not been defined. Instead, the government plans a regime of exercise and handicrafts. Kenya typifies the Sub-Saharan African problem of a huge number of youth with no real welcome into employment and community life.