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Japan Update economic keynote speech - The most fundamental challenge facing the Japanese economy

Crawford School of Public Policy | Australia-Japan Research Centre | Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis | ANU College of Asia & the Pacific | ANU Japan Institute

Event details

Lecture

Date & time

Tuesday 05 November 2013
9.45am–10.45am

Venue

Molonglo Theatre Level 2, JG Crawford Building 132, Lennox Crossing, ANU

Speaker

Masaaki Shirakawa, Former Governor, Bank of Japan.

Contacts

Jill Mowbray-Tsutsumi
+61 2 6125 1667 or +61 2 6125 0168

Additional links

This keynote speech of the 2013 Japan Update will focus on the most critical issues currently facing Japan’s economy. Professor Shirakawa will begin with a rundown of the factors which influenced Japan’s low-growth during the so-called ‘lost decades’, including the bursting of the bubble economy, policy failures and deflation. He will also discuss the impact on the economy of Japan’s changing demographics and the necessary responses of lifting productivity and labour participation. He will argue that in order to address the problems which the Japanese economy faces today, there is also a need to think more deeply about the interaction between society and the economy. Professor Shirakawa will conclude by looking at this interaction and the unique strengths of Japan’s position today.

Professor Masaaki Shirakawa is the former Governor of the Bank of Japan. He joined the Bank of Japan in 1972 and was appointed Governor in April, 2008. Shirakawa’s career at the Bank of Japan focused on both monetary policy and financial stability. He held key positions during his time, including Executive Director, a role responsible for laying the groundwork for Japanese monetary policy decisions. He left the bank in March of this year. Shirakawa has also served as the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank for International Settlements since January 2011. He studied economics at the University of Tokyo (BA in 1972) and at the University of Chicago (MA in 1977) and was a professor at the Kyoto University School of Government from July 2006 to March 2008. He is currently a professor at Aoyama- Gakuin University and a member of the Group of Thirty.

The Japan Update is presented by the Australia-Japan Research Centre and the Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis at the Crawford School of Public Policy and the Japan Institute at The Australian National University and is supported by the Australian Government through the Australia-Japan Foundation which is part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Updated:  30 March 2024/Responsible Officer:  Crawford Engagement/Page Contact:  CAP Web Team