Election implications for Japanese property

The upper house elections in Japan did not deliver the desired two-house majority for the Democrat Party of Japan. Who is to know whether they will be able to get a reform agenda going. One might hold out for the prospect of defections from the LDP if they prove to be obstructionist. There is a lot of discontent in this country...so reform will come eventually. I think the Democrats are still trying to develop policy. Anyway, yields are ok in Japan. One of my readers tells me they recently bought a high rise building in Osaka offering a 12% yield. No other data that that sorry!

The reason for the decline in support for the Kan-led DPJ administration is talk of an increase in the consumption tax. Clearly people want to see support for consumption or domestic demand to support jobs. Really, however the nation needs to cut costs and raise money from wealthy land-owners who will not be spending anyway. I am not a supporter of taxation, lest not welfare states, however the budget does need to be balanced, and assets ought to be taxed not income in these times. I would not be surprised to see a property tax increase in Japan in order to address the budget deficit. Japan's taxation as a % of GDP is on par with the USA, at 27-28%. I suggest in these times it ought to be taxing assets not private spending, since there is a critical need for it to cut government spending. Taxing assets will place pressure upon asset holders to increase the return on those assets, or dispose of them, such that others might.

Japan has long suffered from a lack of leadership. Kan is accused of speaking idealistically when he mooted the idea of a consumption tax. The problem is not his honesty (i.e. revealing a tax prior to an election), but rather his lack of a comprehensive plan. The problem with Japan is that it lacks 'Western-style' or 'inspired leadership. I don't mean Obama of course.... I mean ME! ME!

NZ Property Guide Philippine Real Estate GuideForeclosed Japan Guide Author Andrew SheldonApplied Critical Thinking | www.SheldonThinks.com