Why Japan is a classic special situation

ON JAPAN

Japan's situation is summarised by the annual World Economic Forum Report released on the 7 September 2011, in which 142 countries are reviewed to determine their competitiveness.

Japan came in at 9th out of 142 overall. The business community was a clear 1/142, in complete contrast to Japan’s government which ranked near the bottom, being 142/142 due to the level of debt outstanding at 220.3% of GDP and 135/141 due to the size of its annual budget deficit. What remains in Japan’s favour is the misunderstood and undervalued corporate sector that makes selective investment in Japanese stocks attractive. Similarly, the still deteriorating Japanese national fiscal position, worsened by the earthquake, is combined with little political will to tackle the problems. ...