Government Deficit And Fiscal Reform In Japan presents a theoretical-based comprehensive analysis of economic consequences of government deficits and fiscal reform in Japan. Particular emphasis is directed at developing tools that can be applied to theoretically and empirically clarify essential economic concerns in Japan such as generational incidence of fiscal reform and a growing dependence on government bonds for covering financial deficits. This book evaluates the recent movement of Japanese fiscal reform and government deficit.

The authors first summarize fiscal policy in 1990's. Then, they move on to investigate the macroeconomic impact of government dept and the sustainability problem, and then discuss benefits and costs of public investment. The political aspect of fiscal reconstruction movements in Japan is also examined. Finally, the authors investigate the behavior of central government's control on local governments' debt issuance and its effect on the real activities of local governments. This book points out that the long-run structural fiscal reform is more important than the short-run Keynesian fiscal policy in Japan.

Inhalt

Contributors. Aim of the book. 1. Introduction; T. Ihori, M. Sato. 2. Debt Neutrality; T. Ihori, H. Kondo. 3. Intertemporal Tax Smoothing and Budget Deficits in Japan: 1957-1997; T. Nakazato. 4. Sustainability Problem; T. Ihori, T. Doi. 5. Government Deficits in an Aging Japan; R.R. Kato. 6. Public Works; H. Kondo. 7. Fiscal Reconstruction; T. Ihori, et al. 8. The System and Role of Local Bonds Permits in Japan; T. Doi. 9. Local Governments; H. Nakano. Index.