Intuitively, we might expect that security would be broadly conceived in the same way across the world. And yet even the way the security of the state is understood is quite different from the predominant ‘Western’ model in some parts of Asia in particular. Indeed, the constituent...

Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) programme, the world’s second largest, is best known for its funding of large-scale infrastructure projects. However, the aid programme has been undergoing a process of reform and more progressive aid projects are emerging. The paper...

This paper analyzes various reform options for Japan’s public pension in light of large fiscal consolidation needs of the country. The most attractive option is to increase the pension eligibility age in line with high and rising life expectancy. This would have a positive effect on...

Japan’s high corporate savings might be holding back growth. We focus on the causes and consequences of the current corporate behavior and suggest options for reform. In particular, Japan’s weak corporate governance—as measured by available indexes—might be...