Big Problems, Big Targets

The Japanese government is aiming to raise the nation's productivity by 50 percent in five years using technology and deregulation according to a new policy statement released this` week.

There is an imperative for Japan to do this: Japan is the world's most rapidly aging society and must raise productivity to maintain living standards as workers retire and aren't replaced.

The document calls for more economic cooperation with Asia, liberalisation of the aviation industry and greater competitiveness in financial and capital markets.