The Author

Preface and Acknowledgements

Acronyms and Abbreviations

1. From the collapse of the bubble economy to the COVID-19 pandemic: an overview of the Japanese economy from 1990 to 2020
2. Key challenges facing Japan

Part I Labor market reform to sustain economic growth and promote social inclusion

3. Expanding the use of foreign workers and raising the fertility rate to cope with demographic challenges
4. Extending the careers of older persons
5. Promoting employment and leadership opportunities for women

Part II Raising productivity to sustain living standards in the face of a shrinking and aging population

6. Improving the innovation framework to boost productivity
7. Advancing the digitalization of Japan to raise productivity and well-being
8. Reforming the education system and increasing human capital
9. Strengthening the integration of Japan in the world economy to benefit more fully from globalization
10. Accelerating regulatory reform to strengthen competition and boost productivity
11. Upgrading corporate governance to revitalize the Japanese economy
12. Improving the insolvency regime to improve resource allocation
13. Making small and medium-sized enterprises a driver of growth and innovation

Part III Improving performance in key sectors

14. Enhancing productivity in the service sector
15. Upgrading productivity in the agricultural sector
16. Financial sector reforms to promote growth and financial stability

Part IV Macroeconomic policies to promote economic growth and fiscal sustainability

17. Improving the fiscal framework to ensure long-run fiscal sustainability
18. Providing universal high-quality healthcare while controlling spending
19. Consolidation of local government finances in tandem with the central government
20. Reforming Japan's tax system
21. Monetary policy: unconventional measures to achieve the inflation target

Part V Enhancing well-being

22. Reducing income inequality and poverty to promote social inclusion
23. Reforming the energy sector to achieve green growth and stop climate change

Part VI Summary

24. Summary: addressing Japan's economic and demographic challenges