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
Wall Street Journal (December 17)
“When we increased paid leave at Google to 18 weeks, the rate at which new mothers left fell by 50%.” For her fifth time, the CEO of Youtube will take maternity leave at Google, but Susan Wojcicki points out that Google remains an exception in the U.S. where paid leave is not federally required. “Paid maternity leave is good for mothers, families and business. America should have the good sense to join nearly every other country in providing it.”
New York Times (February 5, 2014)
Recent estimates credit the Affordable Care Act with unchaining 2.5 million people from their jobs over the ensuing decade. “The new law will free people, young and old, to pursue careers or retirement without having to worry about health coverage. Workers can seek positions they are most qualified for and will no longer need to feel locked into a job they don’t like because they need insurance for themselves or their families.”
Tags: Affordable Care Act, Careers, Coverage, Families, Health, Insurance, Jobs, Positions, Qualified, Retirement, Workers
New York Times (November 7)
“The competition to get into higher-ranked universities is destroying the lives of young people and their families in countries like South Korea and Japan…. The paradox is these ridiculous tests don’t necessarily lead to demanding college classes.”
Tags: Classes, College, Competition, Demanding, Families, Japan, Paradox, Ridiculous, South Korea, Tests, Universities, Young people
New York Times (September 12)
“Teachers’ strikes, because they hurt children and their families, are never a good idea. The strike that has roiled the civic climate in Chicago — and left 350,000 children without classes — seems particularly senseless.” Chicago had offered the teachers, who make an average annual salary of $75,000, a 16% pay raise over a 4-year period.
