Some unreformable big companies propped up for another year thanks to stimulus spending
Yet more debt
Stock market up by 50%
Measly 1% annual growth
Large and persistent balance of trade deficit due to huge purchases of energy and sluggish exports
And spending by ordinary folk is expected to dip after the first sales tax increase. Actually it could dip sharply as real incomes fall. Only one thing for it:
Shovel more money to the usual and big suspects
Restart all nuclear power stations now
Make bold statements and confident predictions
Death to unbelievers
Japan's economy grew less than expected last year, countering forecasts it would benefit from a jump in spending ahead of a sales tax increase in April. Gross domestic product rose by 1% on an annualised basis in the three-month period to December, compared to market estimates for a 2.8% expansion. This was due to weaker private consumption and capital spending, as well as lower export figures.
The latest figures highlight questions about the sustainability of Japan's economic recovery, and whether the government's policy of 'Abenomics' is working.
"The disappointing GDP result is a reflection of the limit of Abenomics," Takuji Okubo, chief economist at Japan Macro Advisors in Tokyo said.
"Fiscal stimulus and monetary stimulus can only do so much without the actual change in the competitiveness of Japanese economy.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26222281