[Toddsterpatriot]

Why SINCE 1989?

You said:
Pragmatic (not ideological) national policy combining market and well calibrated government intervention usually worked very well.

So, how well has it worked in Japan since 1989? Or would that ruin your point that government intervention usually works?

[A. Pole]

So, how well has it worked in Japan since 1989?

Since 1989 it worked quite well as it prevented Indonesia or Weimar republic style collapse. BEFORE 1989 it worked EXTREMELY well as it made Japan a prosperous industrialised country.

But you would like to see Japan to be like Indonesia without the natural resources. It must be because you are not Japanese.

Or would that ruin your point that government intervention usually works?

Compare Indonesia with Malaysia at the time of Asian crisis - the first followed the free market Western advice the second decided to use state intervention. Compare Russia of 1990's which following the advice of Chicago/Harvard boys transfered the national wealth into hands of mafia with China which used state planning in national interest.