Bending adversity japan and the art of survival pdf

He sets out to correct mistaken perceptions by providing a more balanced overview. Japan performed poorly in terms of nominal growth over the past decade compared to other developed nations. After adjusting for deflation and demographics, however, it marginally outperformed them.

Non-financial performance indicators too suggest Japanese live longer and healthier. Still, Japan has significant problems resulting from slow growth and a shrinking, aging population. With insufficient tax revenues, living standards are maintained only by building up huge public debt and through aggressive monetary policy.

The main culprit is the pension and healthcare systems, never designed to cope with an aging society. While most of the national debt is owed to the Japanese people themselves, the nation cannot live off accumulated past wealth indefinitely.

Filled with angst about uncertain economic times, Japanese youth find themselves working at insecure and second-rate jobs. She had applied, but top firms had cut back on their recruiting that year.

Furuichi reaches an altogether different conclusion about diminishing future economic prospects. He believes that young people have never been so content. They were learning to live with less, but at the same time were unleashed. Fathers of his generation, he says, were hapless cogs at work and mothers essentially maids and servants.

Haruki Murakami. Pilling, too, is hopeful. Bending Adversity is an enjoyable and easy read. I wholly recommend it to anyone seeking a modern interpretation of Japanese history and current-day Japan. Beacon Reports reveals Japan through the lens of thought leaders. Subscribe free! Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

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