New York Times (January 8, 2012)
Americans are warned that their country could follow Japan and face lost decades. This is a myth. Japan is not a fallen giant. Indeed it has quietly been strengthening its competitiveness. “Japan should be held up as a model, not an admonition. If a nation can summon the will to pull together, it can turn even the most unpromising circumstances to advantage. Here Japan’s constant upgrading of its infrastructure is surely an inspiration. It is a strategy that often requires cooperation across a wide political front.”
Tags: Cooperation, Infrastructure, Japan, Lost decades, U.S.
Financial Times (November 7)
The growth of the G20 into a useful forum was “one of the few bright spots in the aftermath of the collapse of Lehman Brothers.” The world’s economic challenges remain, but the G20 appears to be stumbling. The Financial Times urges leaders in Seoul preserve this valuable forum. While cooperation through the G20 “cannot solve all the world’s problems, it can prevent a slide into protectionism.”
The growth of the G20 into a useful forum was “one of the few bright spots in the aftermath of the collapse of Lehman Brothers.” The world’s economic challenges remain, but the G20 appears to be stumbling. The G20 is not perfect, yet the Financial Times urges leaders in Seoul preserve this valuable forum. While cooperation through the G20 “cannot solve all the world’s problems, it can prevent a slide into protectionism.”
Tags: Cooperation, G20, Lehman collapse, Protectionism
