> The government regularly launches initiatives, sets goals, and promotes catch phrases that are supposed to lead to greater progress and prosperity.
Some stuff has worked pretty well. I registered for a MyNumber card after years of dragging my feet. Now I can check how much tax I've paid, how much I have in my retirement fund, health insurance things, and a bunch of other stuff from my phone in like 10 seconds all from a single app. Previously I'd need to take a half day off, bring my wooden stamp to the appropriate government office, and wait for 10-30 minutes in order to make sure my stuff is in order.
I'm actually amazed how well it works.
Japan also builds infrastructure really fast.
It's not perfect, and some things lag behind other countries, but some things blow some other countries out of the water. If anything, I'd say the government moves pretty quickly with a lot of decisions (one consequence of being what's effectively a one party state, I suppose). Companies, particularly big ones, are more risk-averse.
For tech and immigration Japan has it all figured out.
No illegal immigration because illegal
No cheesing population growth because over time - a long time - it will repair itself
No high tech because it's not a good thing per se - fax machines and such
Basically the difference between a short term gains company versus long term gains. And look at many of their businesses, many proud to be 1000+ years old and such. Now that's long term gains.
And so the MyNumber as in my view a poor decision. In USA We have had something like MyNumber for a very long time, but because now it's been hacked, now it is called EveryonesNumber. So now I can check how much tax my neighbor has paid, how much my neighbor has in their retirement fund, my neighbor's insurance, a bunch of other stuff in like 10 seconds for like 400 million neighbors.
Some stuff has worked pretty well. I registered for a MyNumber card after years of dragging my feet. Now I can check how much tax I've paid, how much I have in my retirement fund, health insurance things, and a bunch of other stuff from my phone in like 10 seconds all from a single app. Previously I'd need to take a half day off, bring my wooden stamp to the appropriate government office, and wait for 10-30 minutes in order to make sure my stuff is in order.
I'm actually amazed how well it works.
Japan also builds infrastructure really fast.
It's not perfect, and some things lag behind other countries, but some things blow some other countries out of the water. If anything, I'd say the government moves pretty quickly with a lot of decisions (one consequence of being what's effectively a one party state, I suppose). Companies, particularly big ones, are more risk-averse.