Commentary / World Jul 18, 2020
You want the truth? You can't handle total lockdown
by Daniel Moss
While measures to keep people apart can help curb the spread of COVID-19, they may also be decimating economies.
Commentary / Japan Jun 11, 2020
Don't bet against post-pandemic Japan
by Jesper Koll
Japanese corporations are in an excellent position to use the global economic crisis as an opportunity.
Business / Economy Jun 9, 2020
World Bank forecasts worst recession in eight decades as virus persists
According to a semi-annual report per-capita output will contract in more than 90 percent of countries, the largest percentage since 1870.
Commentary / Japan May 24, 2020
It's time to face the real risks posed by COVID-19
by Lully Miura
The economic and social damage caused by anti-infection measures is far more harmful than the virus.
Commentary / World Apr 15, 2020
Some companies are too connected to fail
by Peter R. Orszag
Policymakers must act now to lower the risk of cascading bankruptcies.
National / Politics Apr 15, 2020
Abe administration faces flak over hesitancy to compensate virus-hit businesses
by Satoshi Sugiyama
Regional governors have rebuked the government over its hesitance to take bold financial measures, leaving many business owners no choice but to stay open amid the pandemic.
Business / Economy Apr 2, 2020
Financial stimulus in rich countries could worsen fates of poorer economies
A massive exodus of capital from emerging economies has left many in a Catch-22 position, where adopting the kinds of monetary and fiscal stimulus measures the rich world is deploying could perversely make things worse. Interest-rate cuts can help households and companies, but in an ...
Business Mar 13, 2020
Japan's economic policymakers now factoring in Olympics cancellation, sources say
by Leika Kihara
Even as Japan has stressed that the Olympics will proceed as planned, government and central bank officials are more seriously weighing the risk of cancellation when making projections for this year's economic outlook, sources said. The Bank of Japan is expected to loosen monetary policy ...
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 Dec 19, 2019
Japan ekes out progress in a turbulent year of politicized trade
by Satoshi Sugiyama
World trade continued to plunge into chaos this year, as U.S. President Donald Trump continued to petrify trading partners around the world with his unpredictable presidency. Even though the U.S. and China appear to have taken a respite from their trade war following a partial ...
Business / Economy Dec 9, 2019
'Japanification' — The scourge threatening to go global in 2020
by John Ainger, Vivien Lou Chen and Ruth Carson
First it was Japan. Then Europe. Now investors are scanning the world for the next outbreak of stagnant inflation and tumbling yields. The malaise of "Japanification" burst into the mainstream this year, leaving in its wake a record amount of negative-yielding debt. Quantitative easing and ...
Business / Economy Dec 7, 2019
Economists agree on one thing about Abe's stimulus package: It helps the Bank of Japan
Economists are divided over how much good Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's new stimulus package will do in terms of sparking extra growth, but there's one thing they do seem to agree on: The Bank of Japan is off the hook for now. The package announced ...