So much for the trade war apocalypse.While many headlines feature gloom about the precarious state of relations between the US and its economic partners, Japan’s most widely watched indicator has some sunny patches worthy of attention.Japanese companies plan a surge in capital spending in the year through March 2019, according to the central bank’s quarterly Tankan survey released this week. Some increase was anticipated, in part because the second quarter usually shows an improvement, but the 1

July 4, 2018

Urban transportation is undergoing a revolution. Offerings such as Uber and Lyft, as well as car- and bike-sharing services are widely believed to reduce congestion and generally make urban dwellers more mobile; driverless cars are expected to provide further benefits. Yet the notion that these innovations always make things better is far from a given: The new services are a net good only if they complement traditional public transportation systems rather than compete with them.In May, Nashville

July 4, 2018

As Donald Trump drums up a trade war, China’s industrial policies are poised to give a boost to some little-known companies that already dominate crucial areas of the global auto industry.　In recent days, Beijing has dialed back the “Made in China 2025” campaign that’s been central to the Trump administration’s argument that the nation is using unfair business practices to gain an edge. Domestic media have been told not to mention the initiative, according to the New York Times, while the editor

July 4, 2018

It is time to rethink the notion that US strategic and military presence and influence in Asia is declining under Donald Trump. If the United States’ new military base in Pyeongtaek signals anything, the United States will continue to strengthen its military and strategic outreach with its alliance partners in Asia, including South Korea, although selectively. The Trump administration’s selective approach is to put US military and strategic interests ahead of anything else under the “America Fir

July 3, 2018

How does the government balance the interests of parents and children? How should it?　 I argued in a column last month that the Trump administration’s policy of separating children from parents at the US southern border is cruel and an offense against the inherent dignity of both. My Bloomberg Opinion colleague Tyler Cowen pointed out that these families are hardly the only ones broken up by US public policy. He cites a 2010 study finding that over 1.2 million incarcerated Americans have childre

July 3, 2018

One of my mottos is: Don’t criticize something unless you have a better idea. I’ve decried President Donald Trump’s tariff tactics, so it’s only fair I offer my own strategy for fighting a trade war with China -- one with a bigger chance of success and smaller downside risk.　Trump is right about China but wrong in his method. Yes, Beijing engages in unfair business and trade practices. Yes, something has to be done. But tariffs, bluster and threats aren’t likely to inflict enough damage to compe

July 3, 2018

A Wall Street Journal analysis recently concluded that “more than 40 percent of households headed by people aged 55 through 70 lack sufficient resources to maintain their living standard in retirement.”　It isn’t easy to solve the problem for those already at retirement age, but behavioral economists, working at the border of economics and psychology, have a magic bullet for getting younger people to save more: make enrollment in retirement savings plans automatic. In 2006, Congress blessed this

July 2, 2018

As the World Cup unfolds, captivating soccer fans around the globe, the broad appeal of high-level sports is on full display. But the impact of sports extends far beyond major international events, as impressive they may be, to include far-reaching benefits for ordinary people.Initiatives that encourage people to exercise regularly can help to reduce the incidence of strokes, cancer, and depression, resulting in higher productivity and lower health care costs. These are important goals for a reg

July 2, 2018

The Singapore meeting between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un made for a great propaganda film for North Korean TV, with swelling music, a swooning commentator and swanky pageantry. The planned summit between Trump and President Vladimir Putin won’t even produce that; it will be a pure waste of time for everyone involved.　The meeting, confirmed by Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, would serve two purposes: The US president loves playing the international statesman and Putin

July 2, 2018

I have read the article entitled “Turkey’s Erdogan fought hard, won unfairly,” which was published in The Korea Herald on June 28, with deep disappointment and regret.The article authored by columnist Leonid Bershidsky is a clear demonstration of a hostile campaign and hatred toward President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in connection with the recently held presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey. It is unfortunately perceived as a direct insult toward Turkey and the Turkish people in the per

July 1, 2018

As a college freshman, I was big and muscular, confident, goal-oriented, and I frequently led small and large groups of diverse people. I was involved in many complex activities and I was proud of my accomplishments. I belonged. I mattered. I felt connected to my friends. I was happy.　As long as my Xbox or PC was on, anyway.　Away from video games, I was a scrawny, depressed kid who was uncomfortable in the conventional college social scene. Most of all, I was alone -- a kid who left his dorm roo

July 1, 2018

Last year, Corporate America was all about press releases announcing lofty US hiring plans. The new fad is to threaten the reverse.　 On Friday, General Motors joined Harley-Davidson and bourbon maker Brown-Forman in calling out the negative impact to their businesses from President Donald Trump’s effort to use national security as an excuse to slap tariffs on goods imported from US allies. GM said tariffs on imported vehicles and auto parts could lead it to employ fewer US workers and have less

July 1, 2018

US courts have long been reluctant to intervene in the admissions decisions of colleges and universities. In general, the law allows them to do whatever they want within this overarching framework:　- Racial discrimination is forbidden.　- An institution may not maintain a racial quota system, even if it is sincerely seeking to ensure the presence of adequate numbers of traditionally disadvantaged groups, including African-Americans.　- An institution may consider race as a “plus,” at least if it i

July 1, 2018