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  • Japanese Economic Malaise Books

    http://www.amazon.com/Balance-Sheet-...2390177&sr=1-1


    Balance Sheet Recession: Japan's Struggle with Uncharted Economics and its Global Implications (Hardcover)
    by Richard C. Koo (Author)
    ISBN-10: 0470821167

    Editorial Reviews

    Book Description
    In this groundbreaking book, leading international economist, Richard Koo argues that far from being the sick man of Asia, Japan is suffering from a temporary but highly unusual economic aberration.
    Economists and business commentators have always assumed that the majority of companies in any economy are forward looking and are trying to maximize profits. They never considered the possibility that a vast majority of companies may be placing their highest priorities on minimizing debt in order to repair their balance sheets. But that remote possibility has been the reality in Japan for the past decade, and more recently in many other countries including at least a part of the US.

    Balance Sheet Recession argues that contrary to popular belief, it is this massive shift in corporate behavior, instead of structural problems, that is the root cause of both the deflation and the non-performing loan problems that have troubled Japan for so long. It argues that when the causality runs from the corporate balance sheet problems to deflation and banking problems, a highly unconventional policy response is needed to stabilize the economy. After all, the last time anything similar has happened was the 1930s in the US.

    Richard Koo's experience in dealing with both the US banking crisis of the early 1980s and the Japanese balance sheet and banking problems of the last ten years makes him unique qualified to comment on this situation. He clearly explains how such a recession can happen in any economy following an asset price bubble, and how best to deal with it.

    Book Info
    Text argues that contrary to popular belief, it is a shift in corporate behavior, instead of structural problems, that is the root cause of the deflation and the non-performing loan problems that have troubled Japan for so long.



  • #2
    Re: Japanese Economic Malaise Books

    Paul Krugman et al tell Japan: "Print your way out! That's what we do."

    They forget that Japan's last total economic wipe-out was hyperinflation. Also, the government has for generations been propagandizing the population with a "save and sacrifice" mercantilist message for generations. Hard to turn that on a dime with an anti-saving currency depreciation policy.

    We don't have that problem. The US wipe-out was deflationary. We are left with the political and cultural mandate: no more Great Depressions.

    We print our way out of trouble. It's expected.
    Ed.

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    • #3
      Re: Japanese Economic Malaise Books

      u.s. corporate balance sheets were in pretty good shape, in contrast to that of individuals and the government. the recent private equity binge has caused a releveraging, both to finance buy outs and to finance share buybacks by companies looking to avoid acquisition. the real crunch here will come when and if the consumer ever decides it's time to do some saving.

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      • #4
        Re: Japanese Economic Malaise Books

        Originally posted by Fred View Post
        Paul Krugman et al tell Japan: "Print your way out! That's what we do."

        They forget that Japan's last total economic wipe-out was hyperinflation. Also, the government has for generations been propagandizing the population with a "save and sacrifice" mercantilist message for generations. Hard to turn that on a dime with an anti-saving currency depreciation policy.

        We don't have that problem. The US wipe-out was deflationary. We are left with the political and cultural mandate: no more Great Depressions.

        We print our way out of trouble. It's expected.
        The author makes a good point about not doing that in Japan, he sees that cure as worst than the disease. The wealth destruction would be phenomenal! He makes a convincing argument for the government to run deficits while the corporate sector repairs its balance sheet to prevent a monetary contraction and its ensuing destruction in the mean time.

        Good book.

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