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Robert Samuelson
For Robert Samuelson's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 7, 2019
Why more U.S. tax cuts is a monstrously bad idea
What we have here is a glaring example of a political bribe masquerading as a plan.
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 23, 2019
Younger Americans will contend with higher taxes or benefit cuts
There needs to be a better balancing of burden and benefits among America's generations.
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 10, 2019
Political pressures could once again roll back globalization
The U.S.-China trade war will have major consequences.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 18, 2019
The fate of Japan, and everyone else
The world's third largest economy is slowly going out of business; its population is shrinking and it resists immigration.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 17, 2019
Bernie Sanders: A refugee from the 1930s
His goals are worthy — and utopian.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 20, 2019
America moves from baby boom to the great baby bust
Could a wide-sweeping decline in religious beliefs be one of the underlying causes?
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 3, 2019
No, robots are not coming for your jobs
Cheer up, innovation also creates employment.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 16, 2019
What really caused the global financial crisis?
A new book offers some answers and sensible suggestions to reduce the odds of a future crisis.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 28, 2019
Has the next bubble arrived?
A new article warns that the economy might be on the edge of a giant 'wealth bubble' that will collapse with possibly dire consequences.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 25, 2019
Has America gone socialist?
Americans now broadly support government programs that would be considered socialism in other countries.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 15, 2019
Trump's fantasy budget
The budget proposal is riddled with gimmicks and unrealistic assumptions.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 11, 2019
Why the U.S. trade deficit is good news
The U.S. president argues that a rising deficit destroys jobs — but then boasts about low unemployment under his watch.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 19, 2019
'The Affluent Society' revisited
John Kenneth Galbraith expected more prosperity than was delivered.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 18, 2019
What the fall of Sears and GE teaches us about capitalism
We pay a high price for economic flexibility, but benefit enormously from the rising living standards it produces.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 14, 2019
Why China clings to state capitalism
For Beijing to abandon its policies would mean scrapping its whole economic model, and politically, this would be hard to swallow.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 10, 2018
More data exposing the U.S. income stagnation myth
Debate over wage growth must reflect solid realities, not politically convenient sound bites.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 27, 2018
Was the Great Recession worse than the Great Depression?
Taking a look at more than just the jobless rate, it may have been, according to one economist.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 5, 2018
Midterm campaigns skirted the hard issues
Politicians want to win, which makes it extremely hard for them to peddle long-term solutions.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 15, 2018
Solving global warming is mission impossible
Leaders have a hard time inflicting political pain now for possible future societal gains.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 25, 2018
The hard work of constructing a Liberalism 3.0
A look back by The Economist shows that the problem is not the past, it's the future.

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