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Big questions for Japan: Deflation, wages, and the economic model

Economy
Japan
Started April 17, 2026

Japan's lost decades, wage stagnation, women's labour force participation, and whether structural reform is finally happening.

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Structural questions on demographics, productivity, and monetary policy.

Optional references: Cabinet Office, Japan — statistics · Bank of Japan — research · e-Stat · OECD — Japan

IMF — Japan ILO World Bank — Japan WTO — Japan trade policy reviews
Statement — of 7

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CLAIM Posted by will • Apr 18, 2026
Abenomics failed to address the structural causes of Japan's economic stagnation despite its monetary innovation.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Apr 18, 2026
Japan's corporations hold excessive cash reserves and should be required to invest them or return them to shareholders.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Apr 18, 2026
Japan's dual labour market — privileged regular employees (seishain) alongside precarious non-regular workers — entrenches deep inequality.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Apr 18, 2026
Japan's minimum wage should be raised to ¥1,500 per hour nationally to address chronic wage stagnation.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Apr 18, 2026
Japan should allow more flexible working arrangements and shorten the standard working week to improve productivity and work-life balance.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Apr 18, 2026
Japanese women's labour force participation is structurally constrained by discriminatory workplace norms that require legal reform.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Apr 18, 2026
Japan needs significant corporate governance reform to make its major companies internationally competitive.
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