Financial Times (September 27)
“It is disappointing that Mr Abe chose last week not to redouble his efforts,” especially on the third arrow of structural reform, “but instead promulgate three newer arrows: ‘strong economy’, ‘support for families’ and ‘social security’. Anything that confuses his original, and clearer message risks undermining its goals.” Moreover, his original program has been working. “Japan is no longer the deflationary outlier — virtually every developed country has seen negative inflation following the recent oil price falls. When this effect is stripped out, Japan’s CPI has been growing at between 0.5 and 1 per cent, well above its previous rate.”
Tags: Abe, CPI, Deflationary, Economy, Families, Japan, Negative inflation, New arrows, Oil, Social security, Structural reform, Undermine
