Accepting credit-risk weighted equity requirements for banks, is accepting the economy going into early retirement.

Sir I refer to Yoichi Takita’s “Split emerge between central bank and policy makers”, your special report on Japan, March 30.

Takita writes “ The government is working hard to ensure investment and employment growth will lead to an economic upswing.”… and for that Mr. Abe will try “eliminating disincentives such as high corporate tax rates, big electricity bills and excessive economic rules”.

I do not know enough about Japan to evaluate how much that could help, but, if it was for instance Europe, which depends so much on bank credit, then that would not suffice. That is because any country that tells its banks to go and leverage much their equity, and the implicit support they receive from taxpayers, on what is “absolutely safe”, and to stay away from “the risky”, is a country that has placed itself, unwittingly or voluntarily, in an early retirement mode not compatible with any sturdy and sustainable economic growth.

@PerKurowski

Poor Shinzo Abe. Has no one told him Japan as a member of G10 also signed up on Basel II’s risk-aversion?

Sir, Shinzo Abe, Japan’s prime minister with respect to the goal of achieving economic growth in Japan writes: “We are restoring Japan’s venture spirit, creating opportunities for start-ups to bid for government contracts, opening markets and promoting new entrants in areas including energy agriculture and medical services”, “My ‘third arrow’ will fell Japan’s economic demons” June 30.

I almost feel sorry for him. Has no one told him that Japan, as part of the G10, signed up on Basel II, those bank regulations that has it as its pillar, that all who are perceived as risky, like start-ups and new entrants usually are perceived, shall NOT have fair access to bank credit, because this is believed to promote the stability of the financial system?

With such an opposition, there is little Shinzo Abe, or anyone else for that matter can do, no matter how good the intentions.