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Ezrati’s Economic Outlook: Poor Japan

After 20 years of tepid Japanese growth, there are some opportunities for investors.

By Milton Ezrati | Updated on May 30, 2012

Japan still looks troubled. To be sure, the economy recorded a surprisingly strong 4.1% annualized real GDP growth in the first quarter, much of which reflects government spending. Otherwise, the flow of news still points to the same tepid growth that has troubled Japan for more than 20 years now. Four of the last six quarters have shown real declines, including last year’s fourth quarter. This once powerful exporter faces a deficit in its balance of international payments, while spring data releases show industrial production is declining. The country also continues to face the threat of deflation. Consumer prices have risen only because of past fuel price hikes. Now that the cost of a barrel of oil has declined, Japan will likely see aggregate price declines again. The stock market has not missed the point either. It has fallen some 15% since April. The recent downgrade by Fitch in part reflects this economic picture. Still, there are opportunities.

Commentators have identified four proximate causes for Japan’s relapse into weakness. Most obvious is the lingering effect of 2011’s earthquake and tsunami. These have left Japan with only four of its 54 nuclear power reactors in operation, constraining industrial capacities generally and forcing a 25% increase in fossil fuel imports. Recession in Europe and severe flooding in Thailand have hurt Japan’s critical export sector. Most important is the rise in the yen, which has gained almost 40% against the dollar and even more against the euro since 2007. The initial up move in the yen occurred because Japan was seen as a haven during the 2008-2009 financial turmoil. More recently, the yen has offered a haven from the uncertainties of Europe’s debt crisis. Whatever the cause, the yen’s rise has hurt Japan’s export performance and encouraged a greater reliance on imports.

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