The Rise (and Fall) of the Japanese Yen
Lawrence Cifarelli III, Nazanin Ershad, Natthima Sonsoem, Anyesha Mahaptra
University of New Haven
Abstract
This Case study provides an insight to the fluctuations experienced in the currency of Japan, Yen from the late 1990’s to recent years. Japan follows the floating currency monetary policy due to which there is no measures taken on to control the fluctuations. Japan experienced magnificent growth through the 60's, 70's, and 80's leading into the 90's beginning. In the late 1990's, Japan’s economy marked its growth significantly slower, which had then come to be known as the 'lost decade' due to Japanese Asset Price bubble that collapsed. Eventually the nation faced major issues regarding
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For the following issues the Bank of Japan (BoJ) responded by embarking on Quantitative Easing (QE) in the early 2000's which did little to quell the deflation and Yen Strength that had plagued the nation entirely.
The major problem for the export-heavy nation became the strength of the Yen. When the exporters saw a more expensive Yen, they faced more difficulty to compete with domestic manufacturers in other nations. Also, due to extremely low rates of interest in Japan, it experienced massive outflows of capital from retirees and investors looking for yield in other economies such as United States, Europe and Australia.
Subsequently, the Japanese economy maintained a long-lasting recovery beginning in early 2002. However, the path has not always been smooth, given two "soft patches" (temporary softening in the market) and weakness in some parts of the economy.
Japan commenced on a multi-pronged approach by June 2012 in an urge to end the multi-decade slide that was seen in growth numbers for its economy. This approach was initiated by Shinzo Abe during his campaign for Prime Minister, once installed as the political leader of Japan’s economy with Hiroki Kuroda installed as the head of the Bank of Japan, the country spurred into putting effort in order to inculcate inflation consequently inflation back to the nation.
The current Japanese bond market bubble has contributed greatly to the fluctuation of the
In 1639, Japan did unfair trading, which led to expelling most foreigners and foreign traders. Japan also had to limit their trades with China and the Dutch.
Therefore, without the trade, factories wouldn’t be able to function properly to meet basic needs. Economy would proceed downhill without the ability to produce and export, and properly kept the money flowing. Also, shown from the Dependency of Japanese Economy on Foreign Import Other Than Oil in 1941 chart, it’s clear that Japan had a high level of dependency on foreign countries. Additionally, Japan reliance on imports, as shown “Japan imported 74% of its scrap irons, 60% of its machine tools...all its oil, 80% of which came from the USA”, would results in supplies shortage if they lost their biggest trading partner. Japan could easily collapsed as they are very poor in their natural resources and had to rely on imports to function as a modern
By 1941, Japan needed raw materials, space and respect. Japanese land was never rich with natural resources so japan had to import everything
The Japanese thought returning to a state-controlled economy would further alleviate the financial problems. However, these actions did not correct their economy. The Japanese people blamed their
The economies of the U.S. and Japan are very integrated in terms of trade in goods and services. As stated in the article the article, “Japan-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress,” of the Congressional Research Service, the U.S. is the world’s largest economy and Japan is the world’s third-largest economy. This status makes the U.S. and Japan valuable trading partners, considering the U.S. was Japan’s second-largest source of imports and their largest export partner as of 2014 (Chanlett-Avery, Manyin, et.al). One can see through examining past economic crises in Okinawa and the U.S. that such incidences impede healthy global relationships. In the article, “U.S.-Japan Economic Relations: Significance, Prospects, and Policy Options,” William H. Cooper, specialist in international Trade and Finance, explains ways in which two specific Japanese economic crises affected global relations. One financial crisis occurred in 2008, when the economies of the U.S. and Europe were declining, leading to a decline in global demand for Japanese exports. Another occurred in 2011, following the tsunami, earthquake, and a nuclear incident in northeast Japan. These exigencies lead to great deficits, specifically in U.S. and European trade (Cooper, 2014). As previously mentioned, Okinawa has been unable to develop a self-sufficient economy. These past economic crises show that when Japan is economically
Beginning from the last years of World War II and then following Japan’s defeat to the allied forces, the Japanese had to endure arguably its most painful few years to date. The majority of Japan’s cities had all been completely destroyed during the war, especially in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where the first atomic bombs were dropped. As a result, the majority of Japanese population had to not only survive the extremes of the seasons in make-shift shelters, but also endure starvation due to the lack of food and water available. However, thanks to the American occupation of Japan following the end of the war, Japan was finally able to recover. The year 1950 turned out to be the beginning of an extended period of Japanese economic and social prosperity. Starting from 1950 to 1990, Japan had experienced unrivalled miraculous economic growth and success in comparison to the majority of other developed countries. For this reason, the Japanese economic success during this period is known by many as the “economic miracle”. There are multiple reasons behind this so called “miracle”, and this essay explores some of these causes. In particular focusing on the major factors which include; the American occupation of Japan, the Korean and Vietnam War as well as social and economic reasons.
This paper aims to compare the Japanese Yen against the US Dollar over a five year period starting from 2005 till 2010. The exchange traded fund for Japanese Yen shall also be discussed in the paper and afterwards an analysis of both the currencies shall be presented. There are different factors that influence the exchange rate differences between any two chosen currencies. The effects produced by these different exchange rates can be of quite different intensity. The most common elements that have an impact on exchange rate difference include economic factors, socio political factors and other behavioral or technical factors also. The macroeconomic factors such as growth of a country, employment rate, gross domestic product etc. All
Japan’s unemployment rate of about 4% opposed to the U.S. unemployment rate of close to 10%. Even the financial debt to GDP ration is an advantage, and debt in the private sector has not increased unlike the U.S. and European countries, (Time, 2009). In addition, since Japan is a huge exporter and with the U.S. demand going downward, the international balances and growth declined especially as the dollar value dropped and the yen surged. •
First being a balanced budget, followed by suspension of new loans from the Reconstruction Finance Bank (this source of supply of money was identified as the root cause of inflation), and lastly, reducing as well as completely eliminating subsidies. The above-mentioned policies were identified to aid in accelerating the Japanese economy. Dodge’s policies caused problems along the way in its implementation but it created a path for recovery without the help of America. The Japanese were encouraged to economize and accumulate capital through such a policy.
In the years immediately following the second Great War, Japan was struck by what some would call an “economic miracle”. This miracle allowed for the industrialized nation of Japan to regain its foothold in the economic sectors of Southeast Asia. Essentially, after the war, the U.S. called for “unconditional surrender and for Japan to be stripped of most of its empire, occupied by allied troops, and demilitarized. Japan would then be integrated into the world economy, and its economic viability would be guaranteed through free trade”
A world-class manufacturing power was lead into a deep slump. Japan has traditionally possessed a remarkably high savings rate and a moderately low consumption rate. Throughout the previous two decades of recovery and high-speed growth, this ‘savings surplus’ provided greatly needed capital to private industry in the form of bank loans. This money was used to build and expand Japan’s industrial infrastructure power. However, during the 1990’s the ‘savings surplus’, once the essential fuel for high-speed development became a stern obstruction, leading to a severe collapse in demand and causing a heavy drag on Japan’s economic recovery.
The growth advanced Japan to rank as the 2nd largest economy in the world rivaling the United States. However, this economic growth started slowing in the 1970s and in 1990 real estate and stock prices crashed and “the bubble burst” (Drogus and Orvis 240). Luckily, the government managed to get the economy back up and running in 2003 when Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reduced regulation, privatized the postal service saving system, and lowered deficit spending.
The deregulation of financial markets catalysed by Globalisation worldwide has impacted on the amount of trade within the Japanese economy beneficially allowing easier access to foreign currencies, facilitating a higher flow of goods between nation, by relaxing laws that severely prevented foreign buying of currency, and floating the yen. These drivers have helped boost Japan's trade and recovery from its recession. Technology has allowed finances to be traded and communication to be near to instantaneous. This has increased dramatically the amount of FDI into Japan largely thanks to the numerous strategies the Japanese government has taken to promote economic growth and hence development. Finance and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) have increased as a direct result of globalisation doubling from $63 billion in 2001 to $144 billion in
The onset of Super Endaka in 1995 summed up to an already existing situation of global recession (1991), with price pressures, posted production and sales declines. Moreover, trade barriers in Europe prevented Japan's firms to expand and compensate for the US losses, where the price effects of yen appreciation were most severe. This time, the challenge posed by the new exchange rate shift was even harder than the first one.
Japan ranks as the third largest economy in the world as of 2010. The GDP at current prices in US dollars in Japan was reported at 5068.06 billion in 2009, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Japan’s resurgence after World War II has however reached an inflection point in yearly 1989 after the burst of Japan’s asset price and real estate bubbles. As can be seen from the graph below, Japan’s GDP has hovered around the same level through more than 20 years of economic stagnation. The GDP’s slow growth has been exacerbated by the world financial crisis of 2008. A major landmark of Japan’s stagnation has been the BOJ’s fight against deflation.