Shinzo Abe to Resign
Abe, age 65, will resign because of an intestinal condition. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party controls a majority in Parliament, which elects the prime minister so there will not be an election.
Who’s On Deck?
The WSJ discusses the choices for Japan.
Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who has criticized Mr. Abe for what he said were policies that favored wealthy people in cities, has ranked at the top of public-opinion polls about an Abe successor. Mr. Ishiba lost to Mr. Abe in 2012 and 2018 for leadership of the LDP.
However, Mr. Ishiba’s support is weaker among party heavyweights, who may prefer an Abe loyalist such as Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga. Mr. Suga has worked by Mr. Abe’s side during his entire second stint as prime minister and would be likely to continue his policies. Defense Minister Taro Kono, a fluent English speaker, and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida are also among the dozen or so names mentioned locally as contenders.
Abenomics
Abe had a two-pronged approach to the economy, provide stimulus while raising taxes.
Raising taxes is counter-stimulative and each time Japan did its economy slid back in recession.
Japanese Real GDP
Japan announced a Tax hike in the 4th quarter of 2019 even though growth was flat in the third quarter.
Japan’s national sales tax rose in 2014 to 8% from 5% and then to 10% on Oct. 1, 2019. After each tax hike, consumer spending took a beating.
Japan was in two quarters of recession before Covid hit.
Japan’s Three Pronged Problem
- Ave wants more inflation even though consumers surely don’t.
- Japan has the highest debt to GDP ratio in the developed world, 230% at the end of 2019.
- Abe raised taxes twice to bring down the debt but each time recession hit.
Stimulus plus tax hikes is a proven failure. Heck, stimulus alone is a proven failure even without the tax hikes.
All Japan has to show for it is a mountain of debt with stagnant growth.
It remains to be seen what Japan’s successor will do but I suspect tax hikes will not be part of the picture.
Mish
Interesting time to retire. I think Abe Shinzo knows EXACTLY what’s going to happen after November 3rd.
The one benefit developed countries have of slow growth is it slows population growth. Eventually educated people figure out that it isnt in their best interest to keep having more kids.
Nothing says life in a Progressive dystopia, quite like attempting to pass off going outright extinct, as a necessity for being considered “educated…….” Of course, the exact same dunces, can be counted on to feel smug for “believing” in “evolution” and, like, “science” and, like, stuff!
Western economies are all becoming japanese.
Do you really think so? link to youtube.com
They wish.
For all it’s at-peak spectacularity, the Japanese bubble was comparatively tiny, both in time and extension to the broad economy. The effect on most of Japan was not even remotely as severe as the half century+ undifferentiated theft bubble in The West.
Japanese companies, small as well as large, are still ran, and staffed, largely by literate people. Not by completely brain dead dilettantes put there by The Fed solely as reward for being flat out stupid enough to believe financialization differs, in any way at all, from simple burglary.
The West is turning Argentinian: No productive activity. Noone in charge of any organization; public nor private; even remotely competent at anything at all, aside from childish, clueless, obviously-to-anyone-literate straight up retarded self promotion (Trump really is the most competent leader of any organization in America by now….). Nothing but decades upon decades of burning of what was once quite an impressive stockpile of both human and physical capital.
Yes. I expect them to pivot to sound money practices.
I expect rate hikes to 6% and a transition to gold backing of currency.
/s
“Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who has criticized Mr. Abe for what he said were policies that favored wealthy people in cities,
However, Mr. Ishiba’s support is weaker among party heavyweights, who may prefer an Abe loyalist such as Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.”
…
Gee, can’t imagine which will win …
Anyone have the odds for Suga? I’m ready to back up the truck.
Ponzai !
“will this time be different?”
…
Doubtful. When your sole mission is to protect the top 5% (their assets) no matter the costs to rest of population, this path will be labeled the best of bad alternatives.
“All Japan has to show for it is a mountain of debt with stagnant growth.”
…
Well, that and its zombie corporations on life support.
If they had allowed the losses to be taken rather than protect the elites, Japan would be in much better place now.
Funny how Larry Summers (as Clinton’s assistant Sec of Treas) publicly mocked their banking system for not writing off losses … and how the world envied the US bank system. My my, how times have changed. What say you Larry Summers (friend of Jeff Epstein) and your advocacy for TARP??