AMERICANS and Europeans are always lecturing Japan about its sluggish economy. But here are the figures, from HSBC, for growth per capita in the 2001-2010 decade.
Japan 1.6%
UK 1.2%
Germany 0.8%
US 0.7%
France 0.6%
So the Japanese have actually done pretty well, considering their lack of population growth. Perhaps other politicians should be listening to them, and trying to take some tips. And although many people say that Germany has prospered from euro membership, it doesn't look that way from the data. Even when you look at the overall GDP numbers, the Japanese record is as good as that of the Germans.
US 1.6%
UK 1.5%
France 1.2%
Germany 0.8%
Japan 0.8%
http://www.economist.com/blogs/buttonwood/2012/03/economic-growth
