Is the Japan Problem Over?

Abstract

This paper argues that Japan's export growth is likely to slow sharply over the next few years, perhaps to zero. For the past dozen years Japan's export volume has gown much more rapidly than her domestic production. This divergence was made necessary primarily by rising oil prices, and secondarily by a shift into current account surplus. Now both these factors are running in reverse. If Japan's export growth does slow sharply, the mechanism will be a very strong yen -- probably above 140. The paper argues that it is Japan's export growth rather than static trade structure that is the main cause o± trade tension, so these developments should lead to a considerable reduction in trade friction.