http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/07/27/japan-more-realism-from-the-dpj/ Economics, Politics and Public Policy in East Asia and the Pacific Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:50:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/07/27/japan-more-realism-from-the-dpj/comment-page-1/#comment-45881 Aurelia George Mulgan Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:12:27 +0000 http://www.eastasiaforum.org/?p=5969#comment-45881 The LDP might be disarmed on foreign policy issues (the DPJ not wanting to frighten the frighten the horses), but that still leaves plenty of options, particularly on the issue of how the DPJ is going to fund its very generous hand-outs to a whole range of recipients. What is more, the LDP is now 'covering' the DPJ in this area with its main policy pledge to increase the average disposable household income by more than ¥1 million by 2020 (so far off, this seems a rather 'fictional' promise I grant you). Nevertheless, it's the big headlines that count in policy manifestoes, and the particular areas selected for 'boosting' are very similar to those in the DPJ manifesto - i.e. child education, those with young families, the elderly, plus various other economic stimulus measures. We can only wait and see how the LDP is proposing to fund such proposals - perhaps this will make them vulnerable to the same counterattack from the DPJ - 'where's the money coming from'? The LDP might be disarmed on foreign policy issues (the DPJ not wanting to frighten the frighten the horses), but that still leaves plenty of options, particularly on the issue of how the DPJ is going to fund its very generous hand-outs to a whole range of recipients. What is more, the LDP is now ‘covering’ the DPJ in this area with its main policy pledge to increase the average disposable household income by more than ¥1 million by 2020 (so far off, this seems a rather ‘fictional’ promise I grant you). Nevertheless, it’s the big headlines that count in policy manifestoes, and the particular areas selected for ‘boosting’ are very similar to those in the DPJ manifesto – i.e. child education, those with young families, the elderly, plus various other economic stimulus measures. We can only wait and see how the LDP is proposing to fund such proposals – perhaps this will make them vulnerable to the same counterattack from the DPJ – ‘where’s the money coming from’?

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