Japan
TOE Alert: Wyden-Hatch Cosponsor TPA without Any Increase in Congress' Ability to Withdraw all or Parts of It
written by Richard Katz on April 16, 2015
In this report, Richard explains why Wyden-Hatch deal on TPA increases the likelihood that TPA can pass the House.
April Could be “Do or Die” For TPP, Part 2
written by Richard Katz on April 10, 2015
In this second part of the report, Richard explains why there might not be a TPP deal reached at the summit between Abe and Obama in late April.
April Could be “Do or Die" for TPP, Part 1
written by Richard Katz on April 09, 2015
April may be the “do or die” month for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement (FTA). Two hurdles come in April, and failure to clear either one could doom TPP to become another Doha Round, i.e., trade negotiations that turn into a gabfest that goes on forever but is never concluded.
GDP Risks Contraction in Jan.-March, Part 1
written by Richard Katz on April 02, 2015
Richard analyzes the reason behind Japan's GDP may contract in Jan-March based on the February data.
Toyota the Exception On Wage Hikes, Part 2
written by Richard Katz on March 24, 2015
In this part 2 of the report, Richard argues that rather than rush to judgment about the impact of this spring’s wage negotiations on nominal and real wage growth based on the headlines from a few big firms like Toyota, we should wait until we get the actual numbers on wages for April and a few months thereafter.
Toyota the Exception On Wage Hikes, Part 1
written by Richard Katz on March 23, 2015
There is a lot of crowing in the Japanese press about wages rising in Japan because Toyota Motor Co. and some other big firms offered the biggest wage hikes in years, partly due to pressure from the Abe administration.
I Shot My Arrow in the Air
written by Richard Katz on March 09, 2015
This is the March issue of Richard's the Oriental Economist Report covering a range of political and economic issues in Japan.
TOE Alert: GPIF Sses Pensioners' Money to Boost Stock Prices
written by Richard Katz on March 05, 2015
The stock monitor in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s office is just one of the indicators of the degree to which he sees rising stock prices as pivotal to approval ratings. In the past, he has used “jawboning” to try to raise stock prices. Now, he is using the money of Japan’s retirees and soon-to-be retirees.
TOE Alert: Real Wages Fall Again in January
written by Richard Katz on March 05, 2015
In January, real wages in Japan were down 1.5% from a year earlier, whereas in the middle of 2014, they had been down as much as 3.5%
TOE Alert: January Figures Show Income and Consumption Continue to Lag
written by Richard Katz on March 03, 2015
Richard analyzes how the the post-tax hike decline in income and spending continued through January.
