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November 22, 2024
 

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Robert J. Samuelson
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 28, 2015
Other nations' troubles could slow U.S. growth
President Barack Obama has declared America's economic crisis over, but will global weakness infect the U.S. expansion?
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 24, 2015
U.S. wages lagging and no one knows why
The U.S. unemployment rate has dropped from a peak of 10 percent in October 2009 to 5.6 percent at the end of 2014. Yet, hourly wage gains haven't accelerated. Economists are baffled.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 17, 2015
'Dynamic' deceptions in U.S. budget debate
Instead of facing the real issues of how to cut spending in the U.S. budget debate, Republicans and Democrats find it easier to argue over technical questions that, in the end, won't much affect the budget.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 13, 2015
Reagan played key role in U.S. war on inflation
There is common agreement that the decline of double-digit inflation in the U.S. was the big economic event of the 1980s. But to say that President Ronald Reagan had almost nothing to do with that is wrong.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 12, 2015
Europe's unending crisis
The European economic crisis refuses to go gently into the night because of the danger that Greece and its creditors can't agree and because of meager economic growth in the eurozone.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 6, 2015
Five top economic stories to watch in 2015
Economics columnist Robert J. Samuelson describes five issues to watch in 2015: oil prices, European debt, U.S. interest rates, wages vs. prices, and China's economy.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 30, 2014
Behind every good number is a good story
This is the time when we make lists. The best movies of 2014. The best books. The funniest cartoons. The greatest photos. The most amazing sports performances. The 10 best botched athlete celebrations. (No kidding, The Washington Post ran that.) Not to be outdone, here's my contribution: The year's best...
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 9, 2014
Aging brings gray hair ... and greater happiness
In our mind's eye, old age is to be endured as much as enjoyed, since people fear declining health, growing dependence and increasing social isolation. Then why do public opinion surveys show that, on average, people count themselves happier after age 65?
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 30, 2014
Sino-U.S. climate deal mainly a political triumph
The U.S.-China emissions deal is a huge political triumph, but whether it alters the world's climate is an open question.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 17, 2014
American politics are paralyzed on principle
Americans are avoiding unpopular choices by hiding behind ideological platitudes.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 25, 2014
World's rapidly expanding millionaire club
Time was that 'being a millionaire' was a mark of unimaginable success. Not anymore.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 20, 2014
Women joining the top '1 percent'
A study by three economists concludes that economic inequality in America is becoming more gender neutral. In the early 1980s, women comprised at least 3 percent of the top 1 percent of wage earners. Now they're approaching 20 percent.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 14, 2014
Why the world economy continues to sputter
It's become a dreary ritual. Every six months, the International Monetary Fund forecasts the global economy, and cuts its previous forecast. What are the real causes of sluggishness?
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 29, 2014
The next nasty economic surprise for the U.S.
Without an expanding economy as a shock absorber, will racial, ethnic, religious, generational and ideological conflicts worsen in the U.S.?
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 27, 2014
The slow recovery from a calamitous slump
What does slow recovery from a calamitous slump look like? In the U.S., you see women's pay catching up with men's and steady gains in full-time employment. But middle-class incomes have dropped to levels of the late 1980s or early 1990s.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 23, 2014
Americans feeling roughed up as incomes lag
Americans have a peculiar prosperity. Their economy is escaping the confines of the Great Recession, but people don't feel reassured. They've lost confidence in the future.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 9, 2014
Raise U.S. defense spending now
The Obama White House and Congress are systematically reducing America's military power as if the Ukraine crisis, the expansion of the Islamic State's footprint and China's harassment of ships in disputed waters have not happened in the past year.
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 6, 2014
Will consumer confidence spur investment?
Is stronger consumer confidence and spending in the U.S. about to support a cycle of stronger business confidence and investment?
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 2, 2014
U.S. think tanks turning into message merchants
Most U.S. think tanks were once idea factories, but now many are message merchants.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 4, 2014
Americans: born in an empire of contention
An historian reminds Americans this Fourth of July weekend that dynamic social and economic change, poisonous politics, bad policies and flawed leaders in an 'empire of contention' were all there two centuries ago.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?
By Kathryn Wortley

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