Chinese Find Japanese Firms to be Uncompetitive Employers

[Taka-Okami]

Man, must be a lot of Fat Cats here. I'm suffering only on a little less than 10mil/year(equiv in yen)! Expect to take a big hair cut as well mid next year as the economy implodes.

[Adhesive]

We make the fastest plane in the world

You guys made the SR-71?

We make the fastest car in the world

Designed by the Germans.

We make the fastest train in the world

What's a train?

We are behind the first mass produced affordable electric vehicle

Pushing it, surely.

We are the driving force behind the European space agency

Well, that explains it.

We are the driving force behind Airbus industries

Alright, a multinational effort, but you got a semi-decent point here.

We make our own helicopters, fighter planes, Aircraft Carriers, Subs and battletanks.

Hmm, I do love military tech.

We had cheap internet equivalent (the Minitel) before most countries discovered fire and agriculture.

That was pretty damn cool.

We invented sex during the day and menage a trois.

OK, you win. Vive la France!

[Tsuru]

If you don't mind me asking, what programs did you work on at MHI? I've worked with MHI over the last 10 years for the space program (International Space Station, where MHI built several modules). I know plenty of folks from many MHI facilities throughout Japan. Even stumbled upon a Japanese native who grew up in Texas and was in my high school at a design review in Nagoya a few years back.

I've always wondered what kind of salary my colleagues at JAXA are pulling down. Only a couple have houses in Tsukuba, despite land being relatively cheap out there. On the other hand, most of my European colleagues are making a decent enough wage to buy a house, though most aren't in the big cities.

I don't work for MHI.... I started working in this sector in Europe straight out of college, but was considering trying my luck in Japan as the prototype phase of the MRJ is now fully underway and during this phase of development aerospace companies are generally aching for engineers. But as you say, while I can afford to own property and provide for my family on one income over here, I don't think this would be possible in Japan, even though my father-in-law might be able to hook us up with a good deal for a house in the Aichi countryside.

[Coligny]

Pushing it, surely.

Ok, you got a funny dere'

OK, you win. Vive la France!

Anf I got redsnotted troll for that post... go figure...

[Mulboyne]

Since this thread went off into a comparison with France, here's something from the Marginal Revolution blog making the case for why the country works relatively well.

1. The French elite work very hard and are educated very well.

2. Contrary to stereotype, France has arguably the strongest work ethic in the world. Given the rates of taxation, and the difficulty of being fired, most people still do a fair amount of work and they do it fairly well. If that's not a work ethic, what is?

3. Esteem and approbation are especially important in France, as incentives. This is one reason, not always voiced as such, why immigration in such an issue there. It breaks down prevailing forms of status competition.

4. France has been well-positioned to benefit from the growth and economic integration of Europe. The more open the economy, the less domestic economic policy matters.

5. The French are very smart and able, and have been so for a long time. You'll note that a wide variety of French companies, whether Dannon or Carrefour, do well around the world. The French are preeminent globalizers.

6. The foreigners' view of France, and its charm, would be very different if all of the country's buildings dated from after World War II.

7. The French are the very best, and wisest, consumers in the entire world, whether it be for clothing, music, food, or for that matter Hollywood movies and American blues and jazz. The French government tries to influence this activity, or put up some nominal protectionist measures, but for the most part this French specialty and strength remains unregulated. It helps account for the very high living standard there.

8. If you see a "World Music" recording from a French record label, buy it.

Personally, what I find most distressing about France is the limited number of dimensions for status competition. Very often there is one right way to do things, to dress, and so on. But that's also part of what makes the place work.

Some of those comments could also be made about Japan.

Incidentally, I just found out recently that Etch A Sketch was invented in France.

[Catoneinutica]

The overall productivity rate of French workers is about the highest in the world; Japan's, quite low. EOM