Podcast: Aging, AI, and Automation

How will automation, AI, and demographic change shape long-term economic growth? Host and Waseda University student Kanon Kurabayashi explores this question with Professor Akihiko Kaneko of the Faculty of Political Science and Economics. They discuss how technological advances interact with intergenerational transfers such as inheritance, and why the motives behind bequests can have significant implications for economic growth. Focusing on Japan’s aging population and shrinking workforce, Professor Kaneko considers how automation can support productivity while highlighting the importance of education and targeted retraining to address inequalities between workers. He also introduces English-based degree programs at Waseda, where students can explore global economic issues in a diverse, multilingual academic environment and build connections with peers from around the world.

All podcast episodes are available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube.

Episode Release Schedule

■Episode 3（Release date: 2026/10/14）：

Assistant Professor Shahida Pervin (Faculty of Political Science and Economics)—

“Migration, Labor Shortages, and Japan’s Economic Future”

■Episode 4（Release date: 2026/11/04）：

Professor Shinji Hasegawa (Faculty of Social Sciences)—

“Global Goals, Local Realities: Rethinking Sustainable Business”

■Episode 5（Release date: 2026/11/25）：

Professor Naoko Nemoto (Faculty of Commerce, Waseda Business School)—

“Can Doing Good Make Good Business?”