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Abe says gov't ready to boost fiscal spending for virus-hit economy

37 Comments
By Leika Kihara

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37 Comments
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Sure what else could we expect.

Protect the precious economy which is ultimately just a destructive stream of largely meaningless consumption.

No concern or commitment to solving any other social or environmental issues.

17 ( +19 / -2 )

"retailers reliant on inbound tourism"

How times change. I've lived in Japan close to three decades and there was a time not that long ago when that statement would be impossible to even imagine.

The Japanese have become cash poor paupers due to non existent wage growth, tax increases and other rising living costs under this PM.

So fire up that yen printing press Mr Abe! I urge you to!

19 ( +19 / -0 )

Has anyone told him its tax payers money he is promising? Those same children he is suddenly protecting will have to pay one day for his care. While those poor companies with massive tax breaks and subsidies will ultimately disappear having sucked up all the cash they can leaving just increased future debt? And why are we being extra taxed when the government has a reserve of extra cash? A slush fund? Bizarre

12 ( +13 / -1 )

The bulk of Japan's confirmed coronavirus cases and half the recorded deaths were passengers who caught the pathogen on the Carnival Cruises Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined off the coast near Tokyo for several days last month.

This sentence makes little sense since Japan refuses so far to adopt a larger scaled testing of people which masks the true scale of infection. As of today and excluding the passenger of the Diamond Princess, only 2517 people have been tested. This is a ridiculous low number and people are starting to think that Japan is intentionally testing a low number of people in order to avoid the consequences of reporting a larger infection.

Abe and his greedy government is stupidly and shamelessly speaking about the economy but in the same time we don't have a clear picture of the infection in Japan.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

OH YES! stimulate me again!

9 ( +10 / -1 )

The only effective action that the numbskull should take is to reduce the consumption tax back to 5%.

15 ( +15 / -0 )

Abenomics is an abject failure.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Too little far far too late...

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I really don’t thunk there is any fiscal stimulus that will offset a demand-side decline from a public health crisis.

The first and only thing Abe should do is to get the infection rate under control. In the absence of that, people will not go out or spend money.

On the supply side of the equation, only time will allow the supply chain to get moving again.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

If my wife urged and stimulated as much as Abe I'd be a very happy man but seeing the results of Abes efforts...id definatly get a divorce. Or a huge right arm.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Massive spending for certain sectors may turn out to be arbitrary and highly political. A temporary relief on consumption tax, at rate from 10 to 5 %, would be fair and most effective on both business and household economy although this means denial of what the Abe administration (to say precisely, the hawkish Finance Ministry) had tried to achieve. To build a "virus-proof" society, teleworking and cashless services should be also encouraged, supported with subsidy programs due to its need of larger initial investment.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Perhaps if all career politicians had a lid on longevity and cut salaries in half I could start to believe this guy.

Isn’t there an inheritance tax here? How do these long term cronies stay so rich when many people are living in two room 12 mat places?

7 ( +7 / -0 )

The ordinary Japanese , I have much sympathy for.The crooked politicians with their grandiose plans to further their legacies on the backs of the hardworking populace make me feel like vomiting.

Japanese society needs to change to allow pluralistic views and policies to take hold and actually BENEFIT the man in the street.

Investment funds need to be set up for underdeveloped regions and Tokyo centric spending needs to be capped.

The OB club which runs politics here needs an age cap at 50 years of age-same for the civil service!

Allow young people to gain a foothold-our with the vampiric geriatrics and in with the young!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Throwing money at the virus is not going to help.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Abe, who has come under fire for his handling of the crisis, has pledged to focus over the next couple weeks on halting the spread of the virus in Japan.

Mr. Pledge pledging on something that he hasn't any clue about. One or two infection here or there doesn't require a pledge. If he is really serious he should be championing the ramping up of test.

S.Korea 120.000 test performed, Japan 2517 test. What is really wrong ?

The 15.3 billion yen from the supplementary budget to alleviate the mask shortage has failed. Nobody is asking whether the money has really been put to use or

Why there is still acute mask shortage.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

What outbreak? It seems compared to Korea, Italy, China, Iran... there are no huge increases in numbers. It’s almost like the government isn’t telling us something

4 ( +5 / -1 )

daito_hakToday  04:38 pm JST

This is a ridiculous low number and people are starting to think that Japan is intentionally testing a low number of people in order to avoid the consequences of reporting a larger infection.

Many folks keep repeating this mantra. I asked on another thread but got no reponse.

If Japan is keeping the infection case numbers deliberately low, for whatever reason, shouldn't we be seeing a much higher death rate?

Look at other countries with higher infection rates and their death rates.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

How about spending that slush fund money on the 40%+ of contract workers? Or would that upset company's and unions too much? Raise the minimum wage? So people have the funds to pay someone to care! Apparently that's toooooo difficult.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

I visited five pharmacies, here in Victoria, BC, yesterday, trying to buy as many masks as I could, to send to friends in Sendai, Kanazawa, Tokyo and Yokohama. They were all sold out! And couldn't tell me when they'd get a new supply. This is truly a global problem, and more than likely fear-driven. I shake my head and can only hope for some sanity from someone.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

TrevorPeaceToday  09:08 pm JST

I visited five pharmacies, here in Victoria, BC, yesterday, trying to buy as many masks as I could, to send to friends in Sendai, Kanazawa, Tokyo and Yokohama. They were all sold out! And couldn't tell me when they'd get a new supply. This is truly a global problem, and more than likely fear-driven. I shake my head and can only hope for some sanity from someone

So, in an attempt to panic buy (admittedly for the benefit of others) you were stymied by other panic buyers...

6 ( +7 / -1 )

@blvtzpk, it's rather stupid to say I was attempting to 'panic buy', but I gave you the thumbs-up, anyway.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Fiscal spending seems to be a solution to all problems in Japan.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@TrevorPeace

It is people like you who contribute to the issue. People did that in Australia /New Zealand too to send to friends in China.

Get a grip man. What's the obsession with masks in Asia?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@Treavor Peace

.

That was a very gracious and magnanimous gesture. You acted in a very humanitarian spirit.

.

Masks are proven effective.

Why else would doctors, dentist and other healthcare providers in the west - Australia, Canada Uk USA - use them ! ? And they are required wear for prevention of disease contagion ????

Masks are one of the first stage preventative measure to protect against airborne pollutants, viruses etc - (especially in high population dense venues) - just like washing hands on a consistent basis.

.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

Start the printing machines, print, print, print baby print more cash.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

From urge to warning to ready, Abe govt did excellent in foreplay, now please just shoot.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Japan could pull the billions in US fed reserves and get the whole intern'l house of cards toppling.

.

Barring that, the J Govm't is working an effective way in face of this most unexpected and unprecedented crisis one which is pivotal in terms of national and intern'l . interests.

.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

—-interest rates yahhh!

we will all be rich but headachy....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The Japanese government had no plan just like at Fukushima, you see how Trump can be force to respond by the American people, in a forceful way

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Fiscal stimulus is traditionally used for demand side weakness. This is a supply side shock, so the spending can't be expected to be very effective.

>

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Fiscal stimulus is traditionally used for demand side weakness. This is a supply side shock, so the spending can't be expected to be very effective.

Agreed! If they're willing to expand fiscal policy settings, it's better framed as a long term policy, such as government investments to enhance supply chain (bring back manufacturing from China), or investments in automation (to better prepare against foreign cheap labour).

For this shock, I would have thought more liquidity through monetary policy is in order.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@marcelito wait, didn’t they in 2009? And again in 1993? I don’t debate the fact that there needs to be change, but I believe that you’re operating under a false premise, at least with that statement anyway.

Like I said, I agree that they need to be change now. When I heard about Abe‘s plan to allow for lower arrival flights over the airports, and saw that they were people complaining, I was like “come on Abe”. Yes, I do support economic growth, but not at all costs!

That, and lowering the legal age to 18, so would-be minors can buy alcohol and cigarettes? I mean geez, you have to draw the line somewhere when it comes to economic growth!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

TrevorPeaceMar. 3 09:26 pm JST

@blvtzpk, it's rather stupid to say I was attempting to 'panic buy', but I gave you the thumbs-up, anyway.

@TrevorPeace

Firstly, I do appreciate your thumbs up, and the general tone of your reply.

I don't think, though, it's 'stupid to say' that you were involved in 'panic buying.'

When I read your original post it did come across as that ("*I visited five pharmacies, here in Victoria, BC, yesterday, trying to buy **as many masks as I could**") but I also* understood you were doing this for others**.

Nonetheless, I'm sticking with my belief, though, it was panic buying - you're concerned (panicked?) about people in different parts of Japan, and thus buying "as many masks as [you] could" which is, under the circumstances, panic buying. Buying up large quantities of limited resources for others is 'panic buying,' but it's just somewhat less selfish as someone doing it for themselves, or their family...or for profit.

Given your location, I wasn't surprised what you found (or, more actually , what you didn't find). I would have expected that the large immigrant community of your province has probably had the same idea as you, but probably earlier, and has already cleared the shelves.

However, my guess is, if they wanted to send the masks abroad, they've gone to other Asian countries, probably one in particular (not Japan).

In any case, thank you for maintaining the civil level of discourse.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

i thought we are talking about fiscal stimulus packages by the government.

it seems like always,the mask man appears out of nowhere, and he is not punished for talking about masks,

also i read your spats, buying for your friends and family does not, will not cause panic buying, i would never call this action hoarding, actually, it's a nice gesture, i wish more people would do this both locally and internationally,

i mentioned it many times in the comment , when you try to take 20,000 masks, 40,000 masks out of the country, Japan, Korea and now U.S and 1000s these snakes go back home making huge profits and also tell the world about it in the youtube, these are what i call scum of the earth , living that God forsaking land .

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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