"Land of the Rising Imports "

Business Week, July 23, 2001

Synopsis:
This article explains the causes and consequences of the rising imports in Japan. Due to expansive labor costs in Japan, importing back into Japan goods manufactured in low-cost countries seems inevitable for Japanese companies to stay competitive. Japanese consumers also welcome the flood of overseas goods that helps them lower the cost of living. This article also explains why Japan will still likely to enjoy a current-account surplus despite the surge in Japan's imports and the subsequent decline in exports.

Full-text Article: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/01_30/b3742150.htm

Text connection: Chapter 7 "The Political Economy of Foreign Direct Investment" (pp. 215-218).

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