Despite other central banks flexing their muscles, Japan’s authorities have every reason to prolong a policy loosening in the Bank of Japan’s 24th year. Japan’s quantitative easing will have to continue with policy rates suppressed, leaving the ministry of finance reliant on the Bank of Japan as its monetary agent. Yet, deep in a liquidity trap, it’s doubtful easier money alone will prove any different, suggesting the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was right to believe that other policy strands would be needed. In the longer term, is Japan still a test case for others?
OMFIF Chief Economist Neil Williams covers the issues with Economist Taylor Pearce. For more, see ‘Breaking Japan’s deflationary psychology’. (https://www.omfif.org/2022/07/breaking-japans-deflationary-psychology/)