I guess you could gamble a billion bucks in gambling, but this is serious question facing the Japanese government. You see, despite overwhelming evidence that government spending can work during downturns, Republicans have killed all chances of an economic recovery in America, not because they fundamentally disagree with the economics fundamentals; they just wanted to see President Obama fail in the first term. In his second term, they are too embarrassed to admit they were wrong so they continue to oppose his policy and are desperately trying to cut spending so that American can continue to be in slump (with the assumption that yet another Mitt Romney like candidate can make the same argument and win the 2016 elections).
So what is going on in Japan? Well, like most of the developed countries, Japan too is in a slow growth mode, and it is hurting the Japanese worker. There is high unemployment among educated youth and the government wants to address that by raising government spending. The only problem is that unlike our crumbling infrastructure, because the Japanese government maintains its infrastructure so well, there is not much left to repair or fix. Even worse, since the populating is aging, they do not need any more bridges or highways or airports.
Oh, wait, I have an idea. How about we let the Japanese spend their money in America using Japanese workers? We get better airports, schools, roads and bridges, while the Japanese people get jobs (we can promise not to levy income taxes on their incomes in America and their visas will be valid as long as the full hundred billions last).
So what is going on in Japan? Well, like most of the developed countries, Japan too is in a slow growth mode, and it is hurting the Japanese worker. There is high unemployment among educated youth and the government wants to address that by raising government spending. The only problem is that unlike our crumbling infrastructure, because the Japanese government maintains its infrastructure so well, there is not much left to repair or fix. Even worse, since the populating is aging, they do not need any more bridges or highways or airports.
Oh, wait, I have an idea. How about we let the Japanese spend their money in America using Japanese workers? We get better airports, schools, roads and bridges, while the Japanese people get jobs (we can promise not to levy income taxes on their incomes in America and their visas will be valid as long as the full hundred billions last).