Speaker to examine fast-growing Japanese economy





 


Is Japan’s current fast-growing economy a sign of true economic recovery? Laurence Blandford, first secretary of finance and economy at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, will examine this topic during his talk entitled “The Japanese Economy: A Return to Confidence?”, on Monday, March 15, 4:30 to 6pm, at the Technology Enhanced Learning Building on York’s Keele campus, Room 0005. The talk is sponsored by York’s Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics, Faculty of Arts. Admission is free.


Blandford will also deliver the talk the same day from 12-2pm at the Munk Centre for International Studies, North House, Room 108N, 1 Devonshire Place, University of Toronto. York’s Asian Business Mangement Program and University of Toronto’s Asian Institute are co-sponsoring this talk.



An abstract of Blandford’s talk follows.


With the latest GDP figures showing that the Japanese economy grew at its fastest rate in 13 years, one needs to wonder whether, in fact, this economic recovery is real, or more of the same “Japanomics”. Based on an examination of the facts, it is too soon to suggest that a full recovery and long run sustainable growth are guaranteed. However, despite some remaining challenges, the evidence is mounting that, this time, the apparent recovery is based on more solid fundamentals. The Japanese private sector, in particular, is emerging stronger than before and in a good position to compete in the global economy.