Centuries ago there were periods when people took it upon themselves to explore the world. They engaged in great adventures, travelling to the far corners of the Earth. In those days the explorer was the exception, or it was exceptional circumstances like War and colonisation that took people to other parts of the world. Today its tourism, inter-racial marriages and employment. If these changes are significant, then they are about to get even more so. There are several big changes under way:
1. Employment exchange: Global companies are able to employ foreigners with ease. Certain professions also allow you to migrate with ease, such as doctors, nurses, seamen, programmers, teachers and financiers. But this shift is destined to grow and to be two-way as countries become more satisfied by global exchange. Most of these arrangements are bilateral relationships between friends and neighbours, but these relationships will grow.
2. Marital relationships: Increasingly there is a willingness by people to explore inter-racial relationships. When I married my Japanese girlfriend years ago it was unusual for a foreigner to have a legitimate relationship with an Asian girl. By no means was I the first, but I'd never known anyone, whereas its far more common now. Different cultures are now something to be explored, even if one goes not fully commit. Sometimes this can result in people living in foreign lands. Dual citizenship rules are being adopted in a number of countries, but we might expect these rules to become even more relaxed. Some countries like the Philippines have seen the benefit of relaxing their rules. You can stay in the Philippines for up to 18 months as a tourist without even leaving the country.
3. Retirement: Just 30 years ago it would have been inconceivable that people would retire abroad. This is likely to become a popular scheme in some countries. Already individuals are doing just that. A number of Westerners are retiring in places such as Spain, Thailand, the Philippines, Ecuador, Fiji and New Zealand. Increasingly we are going to see government-sponsored efforts like a Japan-Thailand program, and a Japan-Philippine program. These decisions are already been taken by individuals for financial reasons. At some point governments are going to pick up on this trend. A great many under-funded retirees in Western countries are going to struggle to live in the West. I am expecting governments to actually pay off these people to retire abroad. Japan is likely to be the first. Japan is facing a huge dilemma with respect to its under-funded pension scheme. Japan has one of the oldest populations in the world, and its Postal Savings scheme is investing in Japanese government bonds (to support the local economy) paying just 1% interest. At some point the government is going to need relief. The only way the government can address this issue is through massive reform measures, that would prove politically unpalitable. It makes more sense to get rid of the problem, and its 'very Japanese'. Young mothers today are less inclined to look after their husband's parents, and sometimes not even their own. The Japanese way is to pay off retirees and foreign governments to accommodate their old people. For the Philippines it makes sense as the Philippines takes Japanese retirees and Japan takes skilled Filipino workers. All those bar and factory workers in Japan can become carers in Philippine nursing homes for Japanese retirees since learnt Japanese dancing in Japan. There is no reason why other countries cannot do the same, but a lot of this retirement will be a personal decision, but core projects will be required by government or large private companies to kickstart these efforts for retirees wanting a familiar lifestyle. Resort locations make a lot of sense, particularly those near international airports. The best market is the Philippines. The question of how is the subject of this blog. This of course makes sense too for Japanese young people who might want to follow their aged parents to the Philippines after they die. This is not a solution for everyone. It will be a voluntary program, or one for those willing to accept a payoff. The Philippines is not so unfamiliar to the Japanese. There are many Filipinos living in Japan, and some years ago the Japanese government was actually encouraging Japanese farmers to find Filipino wives. Such a program will however require Japanese government support. At some point it will prove inevitable. Koreans and Taiwanese will not be so far behind them. Its interesting because we are likely to see certain countries dominating in certain regions. For instance, there is a lot of Chinese investment focused on the NW coast of Luzon, which are serviced by Subic/Clark and Laoag International airports. There seems to be an effort by the Japanese government to create a presence around Legaspi City in Bicol after the Koreans upstaged them in Cebu. I would expect an international airport in Cagayan in North Luzon in around 20 years as well.
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Andrew Sheldon http://www.blogger.com/www.sheldonthinks.com
1. Employment exchange: Global companies are able to employ foreigners with ease. Certain professions also allow you to migrate with ease, such as doctors, nurses, seamen, programmers, teachers and financiers. But this shift is destined to grow and to be two-way as countries become more satisfied by global exchange. Most of these arrangements are bilateral relationships between friends and neighbours, but these relationships will grow.
2. Marital relationships: Increasingly there is a willingness by people to explore inter-racial relationships. When I married my Japanese girlfriend years ago it was unusual for a foreigner to have a legitimate relationship with an Asian girl. By no means was I the first, but I'd never known anyone, whereas its far more common now. Different cultures are now something to be explored, even if one goes not fully commit. Sometimes this can result in people living in foreign lands. Dual citizenship rules are being adopted in a number of countries, but we might expect these rules to become even more relaxed. Some countries like the Philippines have seen the benefit of relaxing their rules. You can stay in the Philippines for up to 18 months as a tourist without even leaving the country.
3. Retirement: Just 30 years ago it would have been inconceivable that people would retire abroad. This is likely to become a popular scheme in some countries. Already individuals are doing just that. A number of Westerners are retiring in places such as Spain, Thailand, the Philippines, Ecuador, Fiji and New Zealand. Increasingly we are going to see government-sponsored efforts like a Japan-Thailand program, and a Japan-Philippine program. These decisions are already been taken by individuals for financial reasons. At some point governments are going to pick up on this trend. A great many under-funded retirees in Western countries are going to struggle to live in the West. I am expecting governments to actually pay off these people to retire abroad. Japan is likely to be the first. Japan is facing a huge dilemma with respect to its under-funded pension scheme. Japan has one of the oldest populations in the world, and its Postal Savings scheme is investing in Japanese government bonds (to support the local economy) paying just 1% interest. At some point the government is going to need relief. The only way the government can address this issue is through massive reform measures, that would prove politically unpalitable. It makes more sense to get rid of the problem, and its 'very Japanese'. Young mothers today are less inclined to look after their husband's parents, and sometimes not even their own. The Japanese way is to pay off retirees and foreign governments to accommodate their old people. For the Philippines it makes sense as the Philippines takes Japanese retirees and Japan takes skilled Filipino workers. All those bar and factory workers in Japan can become carers in Philippine nursing homes for Japanese retirees since learnt Japanese dancing in Japan. There is no reason why other countries cannot do the same, but a lot of this retirement will be a personal decision, but core projects will be required by government or large private companies to kickstart these efforts for retirees wanting a familiar lifestyle. Resort locations make a lot of sense, particularly those near international airports. The best market is the Philippines. The question of how is the subject of this blog. This of course makes sense too for Japanese young people who might want to follow their aged parents to the Philippines after they die. This is not a solution for everyone. It will be a voluntary program, or one for those willing to accept a payoff. The Philippines is not so unfamiliar to the Japanese. There are many Filipinos living in Japan, and some years ago the Japanese government was actually encouraging Japanese farmers to find Filipino wives. Such a program will however require Japanese government support. At some point it will prove inevitable. Koreans and Taiwanese will not be so far behind them. Its interesting because we are likely to see certain countries dominating in certain regions. For instance, there is a lot of Chinese investment focused on the NW coast of Luzon, which are serviced by Subic/Clark and Laoag International airports. There seems to be an effort by the Japanese government to create a presence around Legaspi City in Bicol after the Koreans upstaged them in Cebu. I would expect an international airport in Cagayan in North Luzon in around 20 years as well.
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Andrew Sheldon http://www.blogger.com/www.sheldonthinks.com
3 comments:
I believe if anything the wave of retirees from at least korea is already well in evidence here in Luzon, Andrew. My son and I spent a week at Subic recently and it is difficult to spot a restaurant or bar without a Korean sign. Several hotels have recently gone unfer Korean ownership and the success of Hanjin's shipyards will certainly fuel more migration, I believe.
I'm a 'real' retiree, in that I am fully supported by my US-based annuties and came to the Philippines mainly becuase I "married into it" but having been here two years now I doubt I would be in any hurry to leave regardless of my personal situation. Even with all the often glaring negative factors the positve factors win as far as I am concerned.
My son, in his 30's and unmarried surprised me by getting seriously interested in buying a condo property or some other basis for possible retirement here in the future ... although he did comment that rather than potentially studying Tagalog as an enhancement to his retirement he was more inclined to learn Korean ;-)
In Angeles City, long an enclave of American (and Aussie for that matter) older, often unattached men there is a lot of ranting in the English-speaking expat community regarding the Koreans 'taking over'. Possibly because the Americans arrive to live as cheaply as possible on a minimal pension while the Koreans come with investment cash and financial acumen and buy whatever looks to be a good deal ... you can hardly expect the local government _not_ to gravitate toward free spending investors rather than chronically unhappy pennypinchers.
I agree Dave. I was recently up the coast in Ilocos Sur & Norte, and its apparent that the Chinese are keen on that area. The international airport is now catering to Chinese flights, with Korean flight links coming. Its also likely that Japanese developers will also find their precinct. I suspect in the Bicol area, say Legaspi City.
It has amazed me how many British people have moved to live in Spain for their retirement. Personally I have be considering moving to India as I have enjoyed many holidays there over the years. My husband and I are currently seeing what property for sale India has to offer. We are thinking about buying a nice apartment in Delhi but we haven't fully decided yet. It seems that the trend is growing more and more for moving abroad.
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