Where next for Japan?

[DimPrawn]

Japan should join the EU.

Lots of free handouts, funded by the UK. Sorted.

[WTFH]

So, actual economics in a country doesn't match the picture painted by some here, then again according to many, the Yen is in freefall. Except the last 10, 5 or 2 years worth of data doesn't back that up...
XE.com - GBP/JPY Chart

[sasguru]

So, actual economics in a country doesn't match the picture painted by some here then again according to many, the Yen is in freefall. Except the last 10, 5 or 2 years worth of data doesn't back that up...
XE.com - GBP/JPY Chart

So you've decided on the basis of a short visit to Japan that all the statistics about its massive debt must be wrong because people are shopping and going to restaurants?

http://fortune.com/2015/02/26/japan-economic-time-bomb/

[OwlHoot]

.. the cost of servicing Japan's public debt uses up half of the state's tax revenues[/B]"

Ahhh, freedom - That's exactly as it should be, and the more debt the merrier!

The deeper and deeper governments dig themselves into a debt hole, the less ability the busibodies have to try and impose their will on their citizens.

Despite all that plebby whining about needing ever more money for "schools 'n hospitals", a government with ample cash is a tyranny, or one in the making. ..

[WTFH]

So you've decided on the basis of a short visit to Japan that all the statistics about its massive debt must be wrong because people are shopping and going to restaurants?

Forget Greece, Japan is the world's real economic time bomb - Fortune

No, I've decided, based on first hand experience, the idea that the people of Japan have stopped spending is wrong and that many reports (or the highlights picked from them) have been done in such a way to attract attention to the report, rather than to the facts.
When someone says that this crisis has been going on for a long time and that the Yen is in freefall, I question that by looking at long term data. They have been saying that for at least 3 years, but it hasn't happened. The data backs it up.


Your response is to say that I don't know what I'm talking about. OK, your call.

[sasguru]

No, I've decided, based on first hand experience, the idea that the people of Japan have stopped spending is wrong and that many reports (or the highlights picked from them) have been done in such a way to attract attention to the report, rather than to the facts.
When someone says that this crisis has been going on for a long time and that the Yen is in freefall, I question that by looking at long term data. They have been saying that for at least 3 years, but it hasn't happened. The data backs it up.


Your response is to say that I don't know what I'm talking about. OK, your call.

Japans crisis dates from 1989. The yen fell drastically against the dollar then and remained roughly at that low level as you can see here:

Japanese Yen | 1972-2016 | Data | Chart | Calendar | Forecast | News (select historical tab and look at the max years so you see data from the 70s)

Since then debt has risen to astronomical levels.

These are undisputable facts.

If you're arguing that this debt doesn't matter that's another issue.

But saying people spending is a sign of health in the economy is naive, bordering on silly.

After all restaurants in London were just as packed at the height of the deepest recession since the war

[BlasterBates]

So you've decided on the basis of a short visit to Japan that all the statistics about its massive debt must be wrong because people are shopping and going to restaurants?

Forget Greece, Japan is the world's real economic time bomb - Fortune

Interesting, their aversion to immigration will drive them all into poverty.

[BrilloPad]

Doesn't alter the fact that Japan has serious macroeconomic problems:

- highest debt to GDP ratio in the G7 (> 200%)
- an ageing population

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_public_debt

"Notwithstanding the stability of the market for Japanese government debt, the cost of servicing Japan's public debt uses up half of the state's tax revenues"

Most Samurais are held by elderly Japanese who are very loyal.

[sasguru]

Most Samurais are held by elderly Japanese who are very loyal.

Unto death.

[BrilloPad]

Interesting, their aversion to immigration will drive them all into poverty.

So the only solution is an ever increasing population? Using up ever more resources?

At some point we all have to learn to live within our means. Either we can do it ourselves or it is forced upon us.