[AmirS2]

> There was hope that the Japanese would figure out something. 25 years later, they haven't. They've built up their safety net and put money into infrastructure projects, so that fewer people are suffering. That's the best they could come up with.

Improved safety net and infrastructure projects so fewer people are suffering? Sounds terrible. Please don't sign me up. /sarc

Seriously, what is wrong with improving the safety net and infrastructure projects? It's far better than the solutions being tried in the west, i.e. high unemployment and the gutting of social safety nets in the name of austerity. Once we can at least match Japan, then we can consider better still models of dealing with a lack of demand for labour, e.g. Basic Incomes or Job Guarantees (or whatever else).

[jasonwocky]

I don't think he's saying that there's anything "wrong" with it. Just that it's not enough to really kickstart the faltering economic engine back into its top gear.

[rayiner]

Japan's population isn't growing--why do they need more than tepid economic growth?

[jasonwocky]

The population of Japan may not need it, but some capitalists may need to be convinced of their preferred system's inherent immortality.