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wrap this up. Let's git 'er done.
Posted on 11/30/2014 2:21:35 PM PST by Kaslin
Edited on 11/30/2014 4:12:23 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
In spite of the Yen falling 35% since 2011, Japan once again borders on deflation. Please consider Japan
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.townhall.com ...
This at a time when they need to be launching submarines, frigates and aircraft carriers.
I know for a fact Freepers fav little monster Godzilla took beat on stock market
I think JJ complain also
Abenomics does not work. They need to pull back regulations, let the interest rate fluctuate (and yes, take the huge hit that comes with it), and revive the military.
Without population recovery is difficult (if not impossible); they have an aging population this is disappearing.
Americas future if the geniuses in DC do not wise up. And they won’t.
Well, the countryside is having the bulk of the children - the problem is that Japanese health care doesn’t “cover” childbirth, because not all women can have children. They provide a stipend after the birth that covers most expenses (unless you have a C-section, in which case you go into the red). Also, Japanese post-natal care is really bad. You’re thrown in a room with 6-7 other women surrounded by curtains, and are required to stay there for a WEEK, with short visiting times daily. NO EPIDERMALS. NO COMFY PILLOWS. And a very non-celebratory attitude to the birth. American natal care is QUITE different.
Furthermore, it’s VERY expensive to bring up a child in Japan. If this was changed, and there was an open cultural damnation of the materialism that infests most city-dwellers, things would change. Unfortunately, that would involve some massive soul searching amongst a very reticent people.
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You have hit on the core problem. All the monetary and fiscal stimulus will not produce economic growth
with a declining population. Increased labor force participation by women may help the problem in the short run, but these women may have even fewer children which will make the problem worse.
Japan has two solutions: increase the fertility rate of women or immigration.
This is why a great nation must run it’s financial affairs in a prudent fashion. Japan already has a national debt twice the size of their annual gross national product. They are in no position borrow what they need to counter the threat from China. Of course, they could default on the internationally held debt (much of their national debt is held by Japanese citizens) and impose strict austerity as a pathway to build a defense commensurate with their need. Ugly.
This is why the United States must return to fiscal sanity...for the day we may need the credit-worthiness to finance our response to an existential defense emergency.
Interesting; for some reason I expected their healthcare (and coverage for it) would be better. I thought the government was trying to encourage children; I guess not.
The same materialism has infected many Americans (leading to the trafficking/importing of a “next generation”).
I understand; the US as a nation is at the same crossroads (though a few years behind Japan in the urgency of the situation). Our government has opted for the latter solution; the former apparently produced far more “takers” than “makers”.
Sparta did the same; not enough kids.
You’re absolutely right. Japan is dying. Their birthrate is pitifully low. They need a reasonable immigration policy that creates some growth. If Japan doesn't change it will just disappear.
Cutting taxes and regulations would also help.
They are smart enough to know (unlike us) that such immigration will simply leave a Japan that is 100% Filipino in 50 years. They aren’t smart enough to figure out an alternative solution, though.
Italy is doing a fine job of it as well.
I’m more worried about N.America and Europe than I am about Japan. In thirty years, the Japanese population will level out at early 20th century levels — and the population will still be nearly all ethnic Japanese.
Meanwhile, western nations, where immigration has been used as a panacea for below-replacement-level birth rates, will not be the same nations they were thirty years ago.
As for the productivity issues, and supporting the aging population — Japan can get all the young workers it needs, by opening factories abroad. Robots will be used to provide personal services.
I understand what you’re describing, but the ratio of workers to retirees in Japan is frightening. We are in a similar situation if the gibsmedats are lumped with our retirees, but tightening benefits forces some of them to become “makers”.
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