Genda Yuji, Professor, The University of Tokyo “I haven’t thought about it specifically yet, but after working hard until I’m in my 60s, I’d like to retire completely and be free at the appropriate time. I’d like to spend my retirement years comfortably, focusing on the things I enjoy, such as following pop idols/ entertainment interests and hobbies, while also taking care of my health.” For young people, this is likely the retirement future most people hope for. But is this future really possible? Saving money is essential to achieving a comfortable life. The Public Opinion Survey on Household Financial Behavior (Central Council for Financial Services Information [now Japan Financial Literacy and Education Corporation [J-FLEC]]) looked at the financial assets of households with two or more people in their 40s. The survey found that, in 2003, over 60% of the households had assets exceeding ... ... [Read more]

The “weaponization” of the economy and the rise of economic security Free trade is in crisis. The Trump administration’s tariff policy aims to rebuild trade by placing “fairness and balance” above economic efficiency. For the United States, this means that a growing trade deficit through free trade is “unfair,” and rebalancing is important. Therefore, the US uses tariffs to reduce imports from other countries. If imports are required, the revenue generated from tariffs can be used to recover lost wealth. Whether this policy will produce the results President Trump claims and what impact it will have on the American economy is impossible to predict. Nevertheless, it is clear that this tariff policy is endangering free trade. However, the Trump administration’s tariff policies are not the only reason for the current crisis in free trade. As a result of this American tariff policy, China was ... ... [Read more]

  Supply chain management to prepare for geopolitical incidents requires strategic thinking, where predicting the reaction of geopolitical competitors is essential to designing effective countermeasures.   Deterrence is the key for promoting supply chain resilience Friend-shoring is a double-edged sword Risk can be alleviated by trust-building through inter-firm networks across national borders   Inomata Satoshi, Chief Senior Researcher, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) With looming uncertainty in the global business environment, the pursuit of economic efficiency is increasingly associated with supply chain vulnerabilities. “Resilience” became a keyword in supply chain management and now forms the core aspect of economic security. Supply chain vulnerabilities are attributed either to (1) physical risks, (2) cyber risks, or (3) geopolitical risks.[1] Physical risks include those of natural hazards, climate change, and pandemics. Cyber risks are represented by malicious attacks on critical infrastructure or theft/leakage ... ... [Read more]