2005 Reports

The Japanese economy: Sustained recovery and growth not yet assured

Patrick, Hugh T.

This paper reviews Japan's recent economic performance through the summer of 2004. It notes the strong cyclical recovery and its slowdown. I note several problems about the economic data, particularly about the GDP deflation's bias which results in an overestimate of real GDP growth by about 1 percent point. I consider inadequate aggregate demand; persisting deflation and monetary policy; unemployment and underemployment, adversely affecting the young particularly; ongoing financial system reform; government economic policy; longer run growth and economic transformation; and changes in corporate governance. The key issue is whether the generally positive economic ending has finally put Japan onto the path of self-sustained growth. I am cautiously skeptical; it depends whether growth in 2005 is close to 3 percent or to 1 percent.