Japan has emerged from 'crossroads' of economic stagnation: Abe

Really? Let's hope so but I am not banking on it.

That's the thing . Economies either grow or shrink.I'm curious as to what Japan has been doing for the past 23 years.

Japan has emerged from 'crossroads' of economic stagnation: Abe

as true as his claim that everything is under control at Fukushima nuclear plant. :(

What kind of 'reform' did Japan do since last year?

cobblers.

Japan has emerged from the “crossroads” of economic stagnation

Just like

Fukushima is ALL UNDER CONTROL.

Nice one Abe. I'll believe it when I see it.

The increase is seen as crucial to shrinking the country’s huge national debt and marks a major political gamble for Abe, with previous tax rises having led to the downfall of his predecessors.

Then...why bother!?

Abe has also unveiled a 5 trillion yen spending package aimed at softening the blow from the tax increases.

Hey..and guess what folks, we will keep giving out free stuff too!! Just for the fun of it.

“I now feel very intensely that we have emerged from this crossroads onto a path that runs straight out before us,”

...runs straight out... to...a dead end road!?

“It is my belief that it is possible to revive the economy and restore the soundness of public finances in a compatible way,” he said. “There is no other path forward.”

And guys... (Abe speaking to his campaign staff...) I would need to redecorate our offices, like Mr. Noda did.

Japan has emerged from 'crossroads' of economic stagnation: Abe

But who's driving, and what direction?

That's kind of a messed up metaphor, if you ask me.

You can be at a crossroad, or you can emerge from a problem.

Crossroad = make a decision

something you emerge from = something beyond your control

Unless he's talking about the kind of crossroads where you've got to duel with the devil on your guitar to save your soul?

(nobody seemed to know me....everybody passed me by...)

Unless he's talking about the kind of crossroads where you've got to duel with the devil on your guitar to save your soul?

Good analogy, except that Abe can't play as good as the Karate Kid and its our souls that are on the line.

No PM Abe - no large manufacturers are expanding or opening new factories in Japan rather it is the reverse.

"I now feel very intensely that we have emerged from this crossroads" I have a very strong feeling as well but rather that Japan will submerge under this leadership. But everyone is supposed to believe his "feeling". Feelings come and go and are usually based on a hope or a circumstance. Feelings tend to change rapidly when the situation changes.

Oh please! What a load if hogwash! Give it another six months after the sales tax hike kicks in and watch the economy fail! Higher unemployment. Increased poverty. The list goes on!

cross road of stagnation or furhter stagnation. When monetary policy no longer works, we need to shift to fiscal stimulous but not on white elephant projects but those projects which puts income into the pockets of ordinary Japanese people so they can go out to Takashimaya and spend it like there is no tomorrow.

Japan indeed found the crossroads, but then made another wrong turn. First, they raised the consumption tax, and then, rather than cut spending, borrowed the money expected to be raised by the tax to pay for yet another pork-laden stimulus program.

Japan has turned off the road to stagnation, and turned onto the steep road of decline. It appears the map they are using to plan their economic trip is being held upside down.

Not further stagnation but inevitable decline but the USA and the EU are in the same boat, so no worries. We've gone past the point that debts can ever be repaid in developed countries. There will be a crash that makes what happened in 2008 look like a tiny blip. The global economic system is based on an insane idea that economies can continue to grow forever. Sorry but the only way to do that is to rape the earth of every last resource it has. The good news is the economic system will break long before the earth does.

Unless they can get the population to start making babies or massively reform their immigration policies the country is only going to experience a few years of an improving economy before it crashes.

Not further stagnation but inevitable decline but the USA and the EU are in the same boat, so no worries. We've gone past the point that debts can ever be repaid in developed countries. There will be a crash that makes what happened in 2008 look like a tiny blip. The global economic system is based on an insane idea that economies can continue to grow forever. Sorry but the only way to do that is to rape the earth of every last resource it has. The good news is the economic system will break long before the earth does.

The problem is that the only real growth we have seen in the past few years has been the growth of government. Increased commerce and growth in the private sector would be acheivable if governments didn't crowd them out. Since governments continually require a greater and greater part of GPD to pay their bills and service their debts, they are leaving less and less for the rest of us.

America and Europe are not in the same boat as Japan. America and Europe have the ability to support themselves; to grow enough food for everyone to eat, and to produce the energy they consume. Japan does not.

America and Europe are not in the same boat as Japan. America and Europe have the ability to support themselves; to grow enough food for everyone to eat, and to produce the energy they consume. Japan does not.

That's true. I would also add that the majority of houses are built to last and not to be torn down and re-built again in a few years

Since governments continually require a greater and greater part of GPD to pay their bills and service their debts, they are leaving less and less for the rest of us.

We've gone past the point these debts can ever be repaid and anyway too many people depend on government services one way or another to make their living, particularly in Japan with a massively bloated bureaucracy and the addiction to construction projects. At some point the government won't be able to continue this and Japan will have to add mass unemployment to the mix. We're on a collision course and we can't stop. I don't think even Keynes would be suggesting more stimulus in these economic conditions considering the massive amounts of debt.

Crossroads is the wrong analogy; It's been stuck in a roundabout, and it still is, only the tires are balding and the tank is running low. Not to mention who's at the wheel.

Has economic output actually increased??? Or is this "increase" only because the Yen has been so devalued over the past 6 months?

Japan has emerged from the “crossroads” of economic stagnation, with deep reforms...

Can someone remind me what kind of deep reforms have been undertaken...!!??

Japan is more in debt at this time than they were before Abe's reforms. There debt is increasing at about 9% per year, and they are only achieving about 3% growth with their 'fiscal stimulus'. Why would someone spend 9% more in order to achieve 3% in growth? That's stupid. Japan will be bankrupt in the next 10 years.