Hola Jim:
>Yoshie writes:
>>You are right with regard to the Great Depression in the 30s, but
>>today's Japan does not have "extreme unemployment," which has been
>>one of the reasons why we haven't seen working-class revolts yet.
>>Hardships have mainly hit new women college graduates, salarymen
>>nearing the retirement age, small shop & factory owners & workers,
>>etc., I think.
>
>of course, unemployment doesn't have to be overt (it can involve
>hiring people not to work) while it doesn't always stimulate revolt
>(since it might be sublimated into alcoholism, etc.) I've also heard
>that Japanese unemployment stats are not strictly comparable to US
>stats, so that Japanese unemployment looks relatively good.
ĦAy Caramba! You're supposed to be the Economist who should explain
to me arcane mysteries of comparative statistics, with a big butch
talk on The Method!
Anyway, here's what I found on the net:
(A) Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Comparative Civilian Labor Force
Statistics, Ten Countries, 1959-1996," at
<http://www.itcilo.it/english/actrav/telearn/global/ilo/seura/uscompar.htm>,
a link to the International Labour Organization's International
Training Centre;
(B) Nobuhito Kishi, "Lies, Damned Lies: The Real Story of
Unemployment in Japan," at
<http://www.nira.go.jp/publ/review/96winter/kishi.html>, a link to
Sogo Kenkyu Kaihatsu Kiko [National Institute for Research
Advancement].
Looking at A, the picture doesn't look so bad; B, in contrast, gives
you a horror story (with thrills & chills for Rob).
Which is right? Tell me what you think.
>In any event, do you know about the unemployment and/or destruction
>of _fixed capital_, which is a crucial part of the Depression
>situation. It's unused fixed capital which discourages private
>accumulation.
A gives you "Civilian Employment by Economic Sector, 1960-1996" &
"Percent Distribution of Civilian Employment by Economic Sector,
1960-1996." I want newer stats, but I haven't found good & readily
available ones yet.
Yoshie
