This paper uses a VAR model to quantify the relative importance of external debt, exchange rates, monetary policy and other selected variables when explaining output fluctuations in Brazil. Using the money market rate as a policy instrument, impulse response functions indicate that shocks to the...

Contents: Preface -- 1. Introduction and overview / Dongchul Cho, Takatoshi Ito and Andrew Mason -- Part I Aging, industry maturation and Japanization -- 2. Japanization: is it spreading to the rest of the world? / Takatoshi Ito -- 3. GDP growth from the perspective of demographic change: will...

Japan's dramatic transformation from economic success to economic stagnation offers important policy lessons to advanced countries everywhere that are struggling with stagnation. The term 'Japanization' is often used by economists to describe long-term stagnation and deflation. Symptoms include...