In a shifting global landscape, ASEAN remains a centre of global growth in the Indo-Pacific region. But increasing geopolitical tensions between China and the United States over international trade now threaten regional stability and prosperity. The COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have also raised concerns about strategic goods and commodity shortages, as well as rising energy and resource prices.
Despite remarkably low unemployment rates, Japanese wages appear to be stagnating. That Japan is facing a dual challenge of low real wage growth and labour shortages appears paradoxical and raises the question of what policy actions might move wages in this context.
'Japan’s latest gender equality push prompts the question of whether Japan’s leaders are more concerned about true diversity or economic growth', writes Yasuo Takao via Curtin University.
'Despite its relative decline, Japan is seeking to exercise greater influence on the Asian order', writes Yusuke Ishihara via The National Institute for Defense Studies, Tokyo.
Japan’s participation in the MPIA is a boost for the rules-based international order, argues Arata Kuno via Asia University, Tokyo.
Researchers’ international experiences have a large impact on a country’s ability to innovate both technically and commercially. Overseas experience teaches researchers to ask the kind of questions and see the sort of options that those without that experience do not.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has pushed Japan to reevaluate its energy strategy once again. A sharp rise in the price of LNG, a lack of energy alternatives to reduce reliance on Russian LNG imports and Tokyo’s commitment to phasing out Russian coal and oil imports — all while ensuring Japan’s energy security — are making this reevaluation difficult. Even measures such as wearing turtlenecks to reduce energy consumption have been suggested.
Will the last Japanese person please turn off the lights?
Last year Japan’s total population fell by 538,000, bringing the population down to an estimated 124.77 million to start 2023, from a peak of just over 128 million in 2018. The fertility rate is around 1.37 births per woman, having fallen as low as 1.29 in 2004 and well below the 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population.
In 2022, Japan managed to cope with one major shock from the past, but was hit by two new ones. In spite of positive developments in its COVID-19 recovery, the Japanese economy is not in good shape. This is because of the new shocks originating from abroad — the Russian invasion of Ukraine and inflation.
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