Commentary / Japan Mar 4, 2020
The financial fight against COVID-19
by Koichi Hamada
Fiscal, not monetary measures, should be when disasters and epidemics strike.
Business / Economy Nov 26, 2018
Government outlines fiscal stimulus to ease impact of Japan's next consumption tax hike
The government has unveiled an outline of fiscal measures it hopes will bolster the economy after next year's consumption tax increase. The measures, which include tax cuts for car owners and rebates on some cashless purchases, will account for roughly ¥2 trillion of next year's ...
Business / Economy Jul 27, 2017
With the economy growing above its potential rate, the nation needs structural reforms rather than a big dose of government spending, according to Susumu Takahashi, a member of the government's economic and fiscal policy council. Strong exports and resilient domestic demand have set the economy ...
Business Jun 29, 2017
Bank of Japan policymaker Yutaka Harada praises Hitler's economic policies
A Bank of Japan policymaker praised Adolf Hitler's economic policies on Thursday, but said they enabled the Nazi dictator to do "horrible" things to the world. Yutaka Harada, a member of the board of Japan's central bank, said Western policymakers helped bring Hitler to power ...
Business / Economy Nov 15, 2016
Abe ponders whether to follow Trump's lead on fiscal stimulus
While Donald Trump is set to inject a dose of fiscal medicine into the world's biggest economy, any move by Shinzo Abe to further strengthen Japan's fiscal stimulus program faces the challenge of disappointing tax receipts and a record debt burden. The government already plans ...
Business / Economy Oct 11, 2016
The Diet has approved a ¥4.11 trillion supplementary budget to stimulate an economy dampened by sluggish growth amid weak consumer demand and business investment. The second supplementary budget for the fiscal year through March was approved Tuesday by the Upper House after clearing the Lower ...
Business / Economy | CABINET INTERVIEW Aug 31, 2016
New regional revitalization minister defends Abenomics, denies policy mix has plateaued
by Reiji Yoshida
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's newly appointed regional revitalization minister, Kozo Yamamoto, has argued that the leader's Abenomics economic policy mix has not plateaued but is merely returning to its original form, one that combines financial and fiscal measures. Last month, Abe compiled an economic stimulus ...
Business / Economy Jul 25, 2016
Overwhelming majority of analysts predict more stimulus from Kuroda this week
Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda hasn't faced such intense expectations for more monetary stimulus anytime since his first meeting as Bank of Japan governor in 2013. Thirty-two of 41 analysts forecast that Kuroda and the BOJ board will expand their record program at the ...
Business / Economy Jul 18, 2016
Government has no plans to issue deficit bonds to fund planned stimulus package: Suga
by Isabel Reynolds and Maiko Takahashi
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga rules out the issuance of deficit bonds to fund an economic stimulus package planned for the autumn, but hints at the use of construction bonds.
Commentary / World May 16, 2016
Manna from helicopters can boost recoveries
by Michael Biggs
In the current economic climate, if a liquidity trap looms, helicopter money could be one of the cheapest and most effective tools for stimulating the economy.
Business / Economy Feb 18, 2016
Economic council calls for new stimulus steps to address global risks
Private-sector members of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy on Thursday called for potential stimulus measures to be studied to address downside risks to the global economy. The government "needs to flexibly respond if judged necessary" after Japan's gross domestic product turned "weak" in ...
Business / Economy Sep 30, 2015
Japan's industrial output unexpectedly fell in August, raising concern that the economy may have fallen back into its second recession since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took government. The slump in production is likely to intensify debate on the need for Abe's administration to increase spending ...