[A. Pole]

In Japan today, as in the US then, monetary policy has been so effective in maintaining the currency's domestic purchasing power that the economy's rapid productivity improvements translate into a steadily falling price level. This is hardly a recipe for large profit margins. The result is a feel-bad feeling in corporate Japan. Similarly, as described by the historian Walter LaFeber, the productivity-induced deflation experienced in the US in the 25-year period to 1897 was "economic hell." But it was thanks to US industry's market-glutting productivity improvements in this period that the US succeeded Britain as the world's greatest economy.

Poor CEOs. Japansese economy is not performing as it should.

[afraidfortherepublic]

I just know that China offers turn-arounds for prototypes on ONE DAY. I have a friend who is in the "point of purchase" business and he sends sketches to China, and the completed product is in his office in one or two days.

[Jerr]

Poor over-paid Japanese CEOs (just like the American CEOs, but the American managers did not have all of the Japanese management voodoo). I guess the management theories only work so long, or is it the fact that they never really worked, but the anticipation of the expected results kept the bubble growing until they ran out of excuses!!!!!!

Who do they have next to blame for the fact that they can't really manage (and most don't try too hard). Schmoozing and joint back-slapikng only gets you so far for so long!!