A Wake-Up Call for Japanese Policymakers.

Japan Economist, Japan Macro Advisors

Takuji Okubo

Japan Economist

Concise and Insightful Analysis on Japan Economy

Japan Macro Advisors

Our mission is to provide a concise and timely analysis on the Japanese economy for the benefit of global audiences. Communication, especially in foreign languages, has always been a weakness for the Japanese, which was fine when Japan's economic might attracted foreign media and various other institutions to study and report on Japan - such days are long gone. In the last two decades, we saw foreign institutions reallocating their resources from Japan to other more exciting parts of the world. As a result, when we read reporting on Japan in foreign media, we sense a subtle but noticeable decline in the depth of understanding what is actually happening in Japan.

Macroeconomics

<p>Until recently, foreign workers were not of macroeconomic concern as the number was too small. As foreign workers now account for 2% of the total workforce and the number is growing nearly 20% per year, it could soon start to have a meaningful economic impact on Japan's labor market, consumption and most importantly, on the longer-term growth outlook for Japan. <br><br>The official stance of the Japanese government, especially that of the current Prime Minister Abe, is that Japan is not open to…</p>

Until recently, foreign workers were not of macroeconomic concern as the number was too small. As foreign workers now account for 2% of the total workforce and the number is growing nearly 20% per year, it could soon start to have a meaningful economic impact on Japan's labor market, consumption and most importantly, on the longer-term growth outlook for Japan.   The official stance of the Japanese government, especially that of the current Prime Minister Abe, is that Japan is not open to…

The Rise of Foreign Workers in Japan