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April 19, 2024
 

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Kaushik Basu
For Kaushik Basu's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan's law-abiding pedestrian culture and norms may help explain its economic performance.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 3, 2024
The economic consequences of legal behavior
There is a complex relationship between cultural norms, legal systems and economic development.
Anti-capitalist protesters with Occupy San Francisco take part in a demonstration on the streets of the Californian city in October 2011.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 10, 2024
The economic future of our overworked grandchildren
While John Maynard Keynes predicted a future of leisure and abundance, the world has seen an increase in wealth disparity and a culture of overwork.
Many obstacles stand in the way of effectively combating corruption globally. Reaching an agreement on international regulations would be a good starting point.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 6, 2023
A world engulfed in corruption and cronyism
In today’s interconnected world, the consequences of cronyism and corruption often extend beyond national borders.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 19, 2023
NATO’s Ukraine tightrope
NATO's cautious approach to Ukraine membership could reassure ordinary Russians that President Vladimir Putin's downfall would not mean their own.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 15, 2023
Governing the unknown
Major advances in AI are raising a raft of concerns about education, work, warfare and other risks that could destabilize human civilization long before climate change does.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 28, 2023
Can the global economy avoid a lost decade?
The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are now predicting a prolonged period of sluggish growth and declining investment.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 7, 2023
International law and halting the authoritarian drift
In a globalized world, the task of containing rising authoritarianism cannot be left to individual countries, because one rogue leader’s malfeasance can affect everyone.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 8, 2023
How Singapore continues to impress year after year
There are many reasons for Singapore’s rapid growth over the past six decades, but its authoritarian regime is not necessarily one of them.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 17, 2023
The Group of 20 could use a 'G Minor' grouping to represent emerging economies
While the G20 represents the world's largest economies, it's time to think of a group that could represent the needs of emerging and developing countries.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 30, 2022
When elections become more like sporting events
Elections are like sporting events: Many voters, like fans, seem to view victory over the other side as an end in itself
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 14, 2022
Putin and all the king’s games
In an era of democratic erosion, we must study the tactics that enable authoritarians like Vladimir Putin to stay in power.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 27, 2022
Why Sri Lanka imploded
Sri Lanka's ruling Rajapaksa family's ill-advised economic handouts and unsustainable policies eventually ran into a wall.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 24, 2022
Global shortages demand global solutions
Policymakers must try to establish minimal global conventions and agreements to deal with shortages of food and other essential commodities.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 4, 2022
The new art of economic warfare
The severe sanctions that the West has imposed on Russia may be justified to defeat Putin, but they have escalated economic warfare to an unprecedented level.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 2, 2022
There is a big economic and political cost to closed minds
One of the main reasons for the uneven COVID-19 recovery has more to do with politics than economics as support for aggressive nationalistic trade barriers has grown sharply in recent years.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 24, 2021
An existential threat to humanity: Democracy’s decline
Increased outsourcing of production has contributed to hypernationalism, which in turn is fueling the rise of anti-democratic leaders who exploit people's desperation.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 1, 2021
The inflation conundrum
Unlike prior inflation episodes, what is remarkable this time is how different the cross-country experiences have been as governments' diverse responses have led to varied economic outcomes.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 31, 2021
Climate talks: Glasgow, Greta and good intentions
If we want to leave a livable planet to future generations, we must understand why there may be a disjuncture between promises and what is actually delivered to fix climate change.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 11, 2021
Is World Bank’s Doing Business report really dead?
The bank announced it would discontinue the report after an investigation revealed efforts to manipulate data in order to improve China and Saudi Arabia's DB rankings.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 3, 2021
Can economics keep up with technology and a changing world?
The average layperson cannot easily tell the difference between good and bad economics, owing not least to the discipline's broad range of content and methodologies.
No link to Nankai Trough quake seen after temblor in Shikoku
Satoshi Harada from the Meteorological Agency explains about the magnitude 6.6 earthquake during a news conference early Thursday.
Thousands evacuated as Indonesia volcano erupts
Indonesia's Mount Ruang spews hot lava and smoke as seen from Sitaro, North Sulawesi, on Wednesday.
Why hasn't Japan moved to prop up the weak yen?
Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Snake on a train: Discovery of serpent delays Tokyo-Nagoya shinkansen
A Tokaido shinkansen. It is unclear whether the snake was venomous or how it ended up on the train, and there was no injury or panic among passengers.
Sex differences could be key to the successful treatment of long COVID
A new study has found that women with long COVID had significantly lower levels of testosterone compared to those who had recovered from their infection.
'House of the Owl' brings Hollywood values to Japanese TV
In the new Disney+ series “House of the Owl,” Min Tanaka (left) plays a powerful political fixer, or “kuromaku,” who has a troubled relationship with his adult children, particularly his idealistic son, played by Mackenyu.
Benefits and risks: AUKUS looks to take gamble on Japan
U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British leader Rishi Sunak deliver remarks on the AUKUS partnership, after a trilateral meeting, at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego in March last year.
Kyoto’s demon night parade lives to haunt another day
In a Kyoto long past, the "hyakki yagyō" (100 demon night parade) haunted a sleepy corner of Kyoto. Now, one enterprising monster enthusiast has won a small batttle to keep the march alive.
U.S. deploys midrange missile system in Indo-Pacific for first time
A U.S. Army Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Launcher arrives as part of the capability’s first deployment into theater on Northern Luzon, Philippines, April 8.
Unpacking the chaotic by-election in a scandal-hit Tokyo district
People listen to a campaign speech in Tokyo's Koto Ward on Tuesday.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.
For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on
By Lance Henderstein

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Vol. 34: Tokyo, a vanguard city for sustainability
Vol. 34: Tokyo, a vanguard city for sustainability

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