Political Economy of the Abe Government and Abenomics Reforms

This volume seeks to explain the political economy of the Abe government and the so-called 'Abenomics' economic policies. The Abe government represents a major turning point in postwar Japanese political economy. In 2019, Abe became the longest serving Prime Minister in Japanese history. Abe's government stood out not only for its longevity, but also for its policies. Abe came to power promising to reinvigorate Japan's economy under the banner of Abenomics. He pursed a host of structural reforms and industrial promotions to increase Japan's potential growth rate. Abe also achieved important legislative victories in security policy. However, the government also faced significant controversies. The book will hold appeal to scholars and students specializing in the study of Japanese politics, comparative political economy, the politics of contemporary advanced democracies, macroeconomic policy, labor market reforms, corporate governance, gender equality, agricultural reforms, energy and climate change, and East Asian security.

'17 papers, this edited volume presents highly granular, academically rigorous research of the macroeconomic policies and political system reforms of Abenomics. By highlighting what has worked and what has not, the book makes a very important, fact- and data-based contribution to the assessment of Prime Minister Abe's legacy.' Ulrike Schaede, Professor of Japanese Business, School of Global Policy & Strategy, University of California San Diego, 'This insightful, substantive, readable book covers Japan's current political economy under Prime Minister Abe. In addition to their own excellent chapters, Hoshi and Lipscy have assembled outstanding specialists who address a wide range of specific issues.' Hugh T. Patrick, Chairman, Center on Japanese Economy and Business, Columbia University

Takeo Hoshi is Professor of Economics at the University of Tokyo. His research interests includes corporate finance, banking, monetary policy and the Japanese economy. He received the 2015 Japanese Bankers Academic Research Promotion Foundation Award, 2006 Enjoji Jiro Memorial Prize of Nihon Keizai Shimbun, and the 2005 Japan Economic Association-Nakahara Prize. His book Corporate Financing and Governance in Japan: The Road to the Future (2001) co-authored with Anil Kashyap received the Nikkei Award for the Best Economics Books. He co-authored The Japanese Economy (2020) with Takatoshi Ito. Hoshi received his PhD in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Phillip Y. Lipscy is Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Centre for the Study of Global Japan at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto. He researches international and comparative political economy with a focus on Japan. He is author of Renegotiating the World Order: Institutional Change in International Relations (2017) and co-editor of Japan under the DPJ: The Politics of Transition and Governance (2013). Lipscy obtained his PhD in political science at Harvard University, an MA in international policy studies and BA in economics and political science at Stanford University.