Japan
The Cost of Farm Protectionism - Part 2
written by Richard Katz on September 18, 2014
Richard Katz continues to detail the costs to the Japanese economy of the continued protection of inefficient farm sectors, not only the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks but via all sorts of domestic measures.
Aren't We Friends Anymore? - Part 1
written by Richard Katz on July 30, 2014
Congressional Republicans taking tougher line on Japan vis-à-vis trade/TPP than does Obama.
Aren't We Friends Anymore? - Part 2
written by Richard Katz on July 31, 2014
In the next installments of this series, Richard Katz will lay out a scenario of what would be required to get TPP through Congress and a discussion of whether those conditions are being met.
Aren't We Friends Anymore? - Part 3
written by Richard Katz on August 01, 2014
In thinking through a path by which the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) could be ratified by Congress, here is the only scenario we—or others we have consulted—can come up with.
Aren't We Friends Anymore - Part 4
written by Richard Katz on August 01, 2014
Republicans say Obama has failed to show leadership in conducting private negotiations and lobbying with Republicans and Democrats on the content of TPA, thereby making it harder to get a TPA done in time.
GOP Gets Tough on TPP
written by Richard Katz on August 06, 2014
Many in Japan were shocked when Republicans on Capitol Hill began castigating President Barack Obama for being too soft on Japan regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations.
2nd Quarter GDP, Consumption Worse than 1997
written by Richard Katz on August 13, 2014
The fallbacks in consumption and GDP were both markedly worse this April-June than after the analogous tax hike in 1997.
Japan GDP Plunge Worse than 1997
written by Richard Katz on September 05, 2014
The larger-than-expected plunge in April-June GDP and the disappointing initial economic indicators for July have shown that the underpinnings of Japan’s economic recovery are far weaker and more fragile than the Abe administration, and most economists, had presumed.
Japan GDP Revisions Called "Horrendous"
written by Richard Katz on September 11, 2014
Consensus forecasts for japan GDP for FY2014 downgraded to 0.4% from 1%.
The Cost of Japan's Farm Protectionism - Part 1
written by Richard Katz on September 17, 2014
How much is it costing the Japanese people each year for Abe administration to protect the farm vote and the farmers’ lobby known as JA-Zenchu (JA being short for Japan Agriculture)? While we cannot pretend to give a precise estimate, we can give a sense of the some of the magnitudes involved, and they add up to several ties the entire output of the farm sectors.
