Tackling Japan''s Fiscal Challenges : Strategies to Cope with High Public Debt and Population Aging

This book examines how Japan should cope with fiscal challenges, as demands on the budget from an ageing society have necessitated the reigning in of public debt and the revamp of the pension and healthcare systems. It combines insights from academic research with the views of policymakers to distil key issues that need to inform public debate.

Overview of the Japanese Deficit Question; R.G.Hubbard & T.Ito Comments on ''Overview of the Japanese Deficit Question''; D.E.Weinstein Comments on ''Overview of the Japanese Deficit Question''; N.Yoshino Public Debt and Economic Growth in an Ageing Japan; T.Ihori, R.R.Kato, M.Kawade & S.Bessho Comments on ''Public Debt and Economic Growth in an Ageing Japan; R.Dekle Comments on ''Public Debt and Economic Growth in an Ageing Japan; T.Tomita Medium-term Strategies for Long-term Goals; H.J.Aaron Comments on ''Medium-term Strategies for Long-term Goals''; H.Ishi Comments on ''Medium-term Strategies for Long-term Goals''; K.N.Kuttner Fiscal Decentralization in Japan: Does It Harden the Budgets of Local Governments? E.Tajika & Y.Yui Comments on ''Fiscal Decentralization in Japan: Does It Harden the Budgets of Local Governments?''; D.Citrin Comments on ''Fiscal Decentralization in Japan: Does It Harden the Budgets of Local Governments?''; M.Hayashi Managing Public Costs in the Japanese Health and Nursing Care Sector; Y.Imai & H.Oxley Managing Social Costs: Challenges in Creating a Cohesive System for Health Care, Pensions, and the Needs of the Elderly; K.Kaizuka Avoiding a Fiscal/Demographic/Economic Debacle in Japan; L.J.Kotlikoff Comments on ''Managing Public Costs in the Japanese Health and Nursing Care Sector'', ''Managing Social Costs: Challenges in Creating a Cohesive System for Health Care, Pensions, and the Needs of the Elderly'' and ''Avoiding a Fiscal/Demographic/Economic Debacle in Japan''; P.S.Heller Comments on ''Managing Public Costs in the Japanese Health and Nursing Care Sector'', ''Managing Social Costs: Challenges in Creating a Cohesive System for Health Care, Pensions, and the Needs of the Elderly'' and ''Avoiding a Fiscal/Demographic/Economic Debacle in Japan''; Y.Iwamoto Concluding Remarks; A.O.Krueger