Japan
The Real Cost of Japan's Farm Protectionism - Part 3
This report continues to detail the costs to the Japanese economy of the continued protection of inefficient farm sectors, this time focusing on the Local Allocation Grants from the national budget that are given out to prefectural and local governments. These grants amount to upwards of 3.5% of GDP and quarter of the national budget.
June Spending, Income Drops Again, Worse than 1997
Income and Spending Down Again in June in Japan
Real Exports in June Down 2% From Last Year
Plurality of Voters Disapprove of Abenomics; Exports down in June 2% from Last Year
Abe's Approval Down Another Notch, Disapproval at Record 40%
Abe’s Approval Ratings Fell Another Big Notch in a Late July Sankei Poll
Another Setback for TPP, Republicans Say No TPP Without TPA First
Republicans Say Won't Vote for TPP Without TPA First; That Means No Pact This Year
Shiga Governor Election Loss A Setback for Abe
LDP Loses Governor Election in Shiga Prefecture Due to Backlash Over Collective Self-Defense
What does China Want re: Senkakus, South China Sea, Part 1
Experts Unclear about Beijing’s Motivations/Ambitions in South China Sea, Worried About Crudeness of Xi’s Tactics
Abe Lures Back Foreign Stock Investors
Foreign Investors Return to Japan in June, But on Much Smaller Scale than in 2013
Post-Tax Hike Consumer Spending Tracking 1997 Path
April-May Post-Tax Hike Spending Tracks Fairly Closely the Pattern in 1997
Nikkei Index Loses Third of Its Initial Gains Under Abe
Foreign Investors Losing Faith in Abenomics