Japanization / Bloomberg (PDF)

An in-depth look at Japan's economic malaise and the steps it
must take to compete globally

In Japanization, Bloomberg columnist William
Pesek--based in Tokyo--presents a detailed look at
Japan's continuing twenty-year economic slow-down, the political
and economic reasons behind it, and the policies it could and
should undertake to return to growth and influence. Despite new
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's promise of economic revitalization,
investor optimism about the future, and plenty of potential,
Japanization reveals why things are unlikely to change any
time soon.

Pesek argues that "Abenomics," as the new policies are popularly
referred to, is nothing more than a dressed-up version of the same
old fiscal and monetary policies that have left Japan with
crippling debt, interest rates at zero, and constant deflation. He
explores the ten forces that are stunting Japan's growth and offers
prescriptions for fixing each one.

* Offers a skeptical counterpoint to the popular rosy narrative
on the economic outlook for Japan

* Gives investors practical and detailed insight on the real
condition of Japan's economy

* Reveals ten factors stunting Japan's growth and why they are
unlikely to be solved any time soon

* Explains why most of what readers believe they know about
Japan's economy is wrong

* Includes case studies of some of the biggest Japanese
companies, including Olympus, Japan Airlines, Sony, and Toyota,
among others

For many investors, businesspeople, and economists, Japan's long
economic struggle is difficult to comprehend, particularly given
the economic advantages it appears to have over its neighbors.
Japanization offers a ground-level look at why its problems
continue and what it can do to change course.