The lives of Japanese people are becoming more and more polarized. Japanese economic journalist Shinichiro Suda said: "The number of people who are homeless and receive social welfare increases, while the rich are richer on the other hand." Prime Minister Kishida Fumio emphasized that "growth and distribution" is to draw a cake. The middle class, who used to be able to show off his skills, is now quietly in poverty while standing by. " This article is selected from some contents of Shinichiro Suda's new book "One hundred million total low-class society".
"polarization" develops to extreme
When I see the super luxury apartments rising one after another in Tokyo, the impact of reality is only "Is the gap between the rich and the poor so big? "
Hotasando, Shibuya District, Tokyo, specifically, walk five or six minutes from Yoyogi Subway Station, Meiji Shrine is under development and construction in the area adjacent to Kitasando. I was shocked to see the sales price of the 27-story apartment that has not yet been completed.
A question to readers here. The location is super first-class, the low-rise area is less than 40 square meters, the 1DK room has no living room and the bedroom has no windows. How much is such a house worth? The answer is more than 120 million yen! Although the average price of apartments in the city center has exceeded the price of the bubble period, it is really unbelievably high. What is even more surprising is that apartments with such high prices sold out immediately after they were launched and the transaction price was ridiculously high.
The middle class may have fallen into poverty when they stand by and watch
Why is the selling price so high? Behind this is the Bank of Japan's massive monetary easing policy in 2013. In order to make economic recovery a top priority, the Bank of Japan has adjusted its reserve interest rate to negative interest rate in the past nine years rather than Zero interest rate. To be precise, the target is set at "2% inflation rate" and strives to drive wages ups by flooding money, which leads to prices rising.
But in fact, money did not flow to places where money really needed, but gave rich people more opportunities to create wealth. Its flow into real estate led to a "real estate bubble", and prices have exceeded the peak of the bubble period in the late 1980s.
In addition, due to the Russian-Ukrainian war, the import of Russian timber used in Japanese residential buildings was blocked. The prices of materials have soared. Real estate prices have risen to unprecedented levels; at the same time, large-scale apartment developments have been carried out in the Kumachi area in the center of Tokyo, which has stimulated the real estate bubble.
"polarization" of the richer people is moving towards extremes compared to those who are increasingly homeless and receive welfare payments. The middle class, who used to try their best, has fallen into poverty without realizing it while watching. In other words, Inflation has led to resources, food and even real estate prices As the rise, more and more Japanese people are abandoned by the torrent of the times.
Japan is becoming more and more a "poor country"
Japan was once called "a 100 million total middle class society". The middle class, which used to account for the vast majority, is actually becoming poverty-stricken. On the other hand, the rich are richer, and the gap between the "polarization" between a few super rich and the poor will only continue to widen. If this situation continues, it may even become a "a 100 million total low class society".
Why is Japan so poor? Just because the income has not increased. According to the seven major economies of the OECD (OECD ) (Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Canada) plus the average real wage change chart, it is obvious that only Japan is still lower.
The wage level in the United States has been growing since 2000. As of 2020, the actual wage has approached $70,000, with a strong momentum. On the other hand, in 2015, Japan was surpassed by South Korea; in 2020, due to the epidemic, Italy had the lowest wages, but before that, Japan's wages were lower than Italy. What's more, with the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and South Korea all maintained a certain growth rate; but in the past 20 years, only Japan and Italy have not increased their wages. In fact, it is not only 20 years since wages have increased.
"100 million total low-class society" has gradually become a reality
According to the "personal wage statistics survey" of the IRS in Japan, the average annual income of the working class reached a peak of 4.67 million yen in 1997, and has never exceeded it since then. Looking further, the average annual income of the working class at the peak of the bubble economy in 1989 was more than 4 million yen. It reached 4.5 million yen in 1992, and continued until 1997; but it has not reached 4.5 million yen since then, and by 2020 it was 4.33 million yen, a decrease from the previous year. In other words, wages for working-class people in Japan are below the 1990s level and have not increased in the past 30 years. The "lost 30 years" after the bubble burst was the 30 years when the Japanese lost their wages grew.
If the income increases, the consumption will not increase. If funds do not flow to goods and services, corporate profits will not increase. The salary of employees cannot rise even if the company does not make money. With such a vicious cycle, Japan will become a "poor country", which is very natural.
Such a painful situation, even without looking at the statistics, the people must feel it happening every day.
Kisha government proposed "growth and distribution", no matter how you look at it, it is just "日本日本日本日本日本日本日本日本日本日本日本日本日本日本日本� Following the 2020 special unified allowance, the government also plans to provide 50,000 yen benefits to families raising children and 100,000 yen special benefits to families without resident taxes, but this amount of money is obviously not enough. What's more, what should those families who still barely pay resident taxes?
Most people are negatively affected by the epidemic, and there are definitely many of them who are forced to be in extreme situations. Where exactly does this support end? How can we do a one-size-fits-all approach? It is clear from this that the burden on ordinary families will increase due to rising global prices and depreciation of the yen, and it will be difficult for those who seem to live a normal life to increase their income, and the possibility of families collapse and falling into poverty will increase significantly. "One hundred million total low-class society" is gradually becoming a reality.
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