Japan Economics Weekly Could a revamped GPIF lower the pension deficit? Pension provision is a significant drain on Japan's fiscal resources in part because the returns generated by the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) have fallen short of those earned by... 16th June 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly How reliable are Japan’s preliminary GDP estimates? The two preliminary estimates of GDP are among the most widely followed indicators of Japan’s economy. The good news is that neither of these early estimates displays major biases relative to the... 9th June 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Is Japan's fiscal position really that bad? Japan is widely known to have the highest gross government debt level relative to the size of its economy in the developed world but some commentators have argued that the net debt picture is much... 2nd June 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Will the “third arrow” regain momentum? The second version of the government’s “Growth Strategy”, which is due next month, should include a pledge to cut corporate taxes, and perhaps some measures to cut red tape in Special Economic Zones... 26th May 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly What to expect from post-tax hike data If Japan’s past experience is any guide, the next few weeks will deliver a run of downbeat data reflecting a plunge in domestic demand after the consumption tax hike. In fact, many indicators have... 19th May 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Will corporate tax cuts boost investment? The planned shift from corporate to consumption taxes should boost overall economic growth in coming years. However, the benefits from corporate tax cuts alone may be smaller than hoped for, as many... 12th May 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Signs of success in raising female employment Female employment has risen sharply since Prime Minister Abe returned to office. However, most of the newly-created jobs are part-time or temporary, offering lower pay and fewer opportunities for... 2nd May 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Will Japan’s exports pick up again? Japan’s exports have been broadly flat in recent years, reflecting a mix of cyclical headwinds (such as weak global demand) and structural pressures (notably the shift in production capacity abroad)... 28th April 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Can robots help offset adverse demographics? With the working-age population projected to shrink by almost a third by 2050, it has been suggested that robots could be part of the solution to Japan’s demographic challenges and help boost... 21st April 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly How much spare capacity is left? If Japan is to succeed in escaping deflation, growth will have to pick up sufficiently to eliminate the margin of spare capacity - the so-called output gap - that has kept price pressures subdued... 14th April 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Is Kurodanomics working? The Bank of Japan has become much more aggressive since Mr. Kuroda took over a year ago. The central bank’s “shock and awe” approach is a welcome departure from the gradualist ways of previous... 7th April 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Is Japan really investing too much? Japan invests a larger share of its income in machinery and equipment than most other advanced countries, while generating rather tepid returns. Some are suggesting that Japan would be better served... 31st March 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly How much damage are high energy prices doing? Energy prices in Japan are now touching all-time highs, in part because a weaker currency has pushed up the local price of imports. But the threat to Japanese industry is easily overdone. In fact... 24th March 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Rising wages no guarantee of end to deflation The rise in base wages agreed upon in this year’s spring wage negotiations is far less impressive than some of the headlines suggest and is still consistent with real incomes falling. There is a good... 17th March 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly How vulnerable is Japan to geopolitical risks? Events in Ukraine and elsewhere in the emerging world have brought into focus Japan’s exposure to geopolitical risks due to its reliance on imported energy and the yen’s safe-haven role. Barring some... 10th March 2014 · 1 min read
Japan Economics Weekly Competitive gains from weak yen fail to materialise Despite the sharp fall in the yen since 2012, Japanese exporters lost global market share last year. Rising costs and a sluggish world economy have played a part and both factors should fade in... 3rd March 2014 · 1 min read
