Business | ANALYSIS Dec 21, 2019
'Too optimistic': Japan tax hike not enough to boost nation's finances
by Satoshi Iizuka
The nation’s tax revenue is expected to end up lower than the record high figure estimated in the fiscal 2020 draft budget.
Business / Economy Dec 20, 2019
Cabinet approves Japan's record ¥102 trillion draft budget for fiscal 2020
The fiscal 2020 draft budget shows that spending will jump for defense, free education and ballooning medical, pension and other social security costs.
Business Nov 22, 2019
Japan to drop ¥400 billion on school computers and infrastructure projects in wake of tax hike
The government plans to spend around ¥400 billion ($3.7 billion) to supply more computers to public schools as part of an economic stimulus package, government sources said Friday. State and local outlays for the package, which will be formulated early next month, are expected to ...
Editorials Nov 14, 2019
Whenever the nation is hit by a major disaster, infrastructure shortcomings become painfully clear.
Asia Pacific Oct 22, 2019
South Korean leader laments 'grave' economic situation and vows to boost defense spending
South Korea's export-dependent economy is facing a "grave situation" as the U.S.-China trade war and the spread of trade protectionism heap pressure on the global economy, President Moon Jae-in said in a parliament speech Tuesday. Moon's speech comes after the latest South Korean export data ...
World / Social Issues Oct 18, 2019
School's out for 300,000 Chicago students as teachers strike for better support and duty nurses
More than 32,500 teachers and other staff walked off the job Thursday in Chicago, canceling classes for 300,000 students in nation's third-largest school district. At the heart of the dispute is class sizes and resources rather than pay, with teachers saying they want more social ...
Editorials Sep 7, 2019
Japan's fiscal health is in dire straits, but record high budget requests do not show any sense of crisis by the government.
National Aug 31, 2019
Japan's Foreign Ministry seeks to double WTO budget after defeat in Fukushima food ban case
The Foreign Ministry hopes to more than double its budget for activities related to the World Trade Organization in fiscal 2020 after losing a dispute over a South Korean ban on imports of Japanese seafood.
Business Aug 29, 2019
Japan budget requests for fiscal 2020 on way to record-high ¥105 trillion
General-account budget requests from government agencies and ministries for fiscal 2020 are expected to set a new record near ¥105 trillion, it has been learned. The all-time high is ¥102.7 trillion for fiscal 2019, which began in April. The anticipated rise reflects growing debt-serving costs and ...
Editorials Aug 8, 2019
The government must do more to reduce spending and boost revenue to cut the deficit.
Asia Pacific Apr 15, 2019
After months of delay, Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte signs $71 billion national budget
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday signed a 3.7 trillion peso ($71.5 billion) budget for this year, its largest ever, ending months of impasse that forced the Southeast Asian country to cut its growth target. The Philippines last month cut its 2019 growth target to 6-7 ...
Business / Economy Mar 27, 2019
Japan's Diet passes record ¥101 trillion budget with spending hikes for defense and social security
Key to the budget is a ¥2.03 trillion stimulus package that the government hopes will underpin domestic demand after the consumption tax is increased.