Where does Japan stand in the world economically and politically nowadays ?

[Han Chan]

I found out today that Japan only ranked 18th for GDP (PPP) per capita per hour. In other words, Japanese work too long hours compared to what they earn, which is not surprising. What is interesting is that France ranks 3rd, although its GDP per capita is slightly lower than Japan's. This means that French people work much shorter, but earn over 50% more than the Japanese for the same time spent at work.

This is very interesting.

Actually I understand that many in Japan do not even register some of their overtime. People do not register some of the overtime either because they feel under pressuere not to do so or because they feel embarrased that they need so long time to do their job. So maybe the japanese actually work more hours than the figure which have been used for this calculation.

I think that the fact that working overtime is so common among "salary men" is a very significant problem leading to low productivity. Nobody is as efficient when working the 12th hour as compared to the 1st or even the 8th hour. I order to get more value for each hour worked, I think that women in general need to work more and men less.

[caster51]

bonds, not external debt !

Why does a nation issue government bonds?
The purpose is to borrow money.,...... debt
Does the foreigner buy the government bond of interest almost 0?
Does the foreigner lend money with interest 0?

[Glenski]

This is very interesting.
Actually I understand that many in Japan do not even register some of their overtime. People do not register some of the overtime either because they feel under pressuere not to do so or because they feel embarrased that they need so long time to do their job. So maybe the japanese actually work more hours than the figure which have been used for this calculation.
I think that the fact that working overtime is so common among "salary men" is a very significant problem leading to low productivity. Nobody is as efficient when working the 12th hour as compared to the 1st or even the 8th hour. I order to get more value for each hour worked, I think that women in general need to work more and men less.

Very true in both paragraphs.

Many Japanese sararimen stay after 5pm just because the boss does. They don't want to look embarrassed by leaving "early", even if the boss just wants to stay away from his wife by sitting in his office. Lots of sararimen just sit there trying to look as if they are working; they aren't really getting things done. And, then there are the many hours spent after the office hours in bars sucking up to clients and closing deals. Come home at 1am or 3am, then get up at 5am to start all over again. Lost efficiency indeed!

Jersey Boy wrote:

I also noticed a typical salary in Japan is not that great. I have been outside Japan since my college days. So, my work experiences have been outside Japan.

Typically, Japanese employers set up the salary level based on the age. So, if they put me in that typical age bracket, I have to be 60 years before I reach at what I am at now with a foreign-based corporation in Japan. It is amazing how screwed up Japan's salary scale is set up. Some of foreign based companies have started following suite what Japanese companies are doing.

The age-only basis for salaries is slowly changing into one that is more performance-based. Granted, Japan as a long way to go on that, but it does seem to be changing.

As for low salaries, please recall that many people live with their families until they are into their 30s, so living expenses are not so great on them. Lots of freeters and baito workers have ditches the lifetime employment regime (which is crumbling anyway) in order to pursue more hedonistic things -- Gucci bags, overseas vacations, expensive clothes, etc.

Oh, and just to keep on track with the title of this thread, don't believe for a moment any figures cited by the government for its debt. The numbers are very likely to be skewed low. Statistics in Japan are used very cleverly to keep the image (of anything being described) as positive as possible, even debt.