Business Class

Beware China’s Political Bubble

Although China has been churning out its share of unpleasant news, many onlookers don’t consider its problems as serious as those of other big economies. They should think again. China’s biggest economic challenges are political in nature and daunting, and will almost certainly get worse. That is because its autocratic system, for all the stability […] 
Miscellaneous

What Are the Economic Consequences of the Japanese Disaster?

by Anil Kashyap and Takeo Hoshi Freakonomics Blog; March 22nd, 2011 On March 11, an earthquake of magnitude 9.0 hit the Pacific coast side of the Tohoku area in Japan. Subsequent aftershocks, tsunamis and breached safety mechanisms at nuclear plants in Fukushima have proven even more devastating than the earthquake itself. At this point, it […] 
Miscellaneous

Holding the Bank of Japan Accountable

by Takeo Hoshi and Anil Kashyap Wall Street Journal; March 9th, 2011 The Wall Street Journal asked eight prominent economists who follow Japan to critique the Bank of Japan’s monetary policy record, after BOJ Governor Masaaki Shirakawa gave an interview defending the central bank’s performance. Among the eight were the IGM’s Anil Kashyap and his […]