The Decline of Japan's Economic Prowess
Believe it or not, in 2000, Japan ranked
second among all nations in the world in terms of per capita GDP, while in
2021, it ranked 27th. Over the past 30 years, the average annual income of
Japanese people has remained stagnant, reflecting the failure of macroeconomic
policies to address the deflationary situation. Recently, many Japanese
tourists have been surprised to find that prices outside of Japan are
significantly higher (and vice versa). I believe that the sluggish growth rate
of GDP per capita poses a serious and deep-rooted problem for Japan's long-term
future. Urgent and fundamental reforms are needed to address this issue.