Japan Lost Decade vs US 2008 vs China

Japan's Lost Decade vs. the 2008 U.S. Crisis

Many economists and financial experts have compared Japan's lost decade to the U.S. situation after the 2008 banking crisis. In both cases, speculation fueled real estate and stock market bubbles that eventually crashed and led to government bailouts. Furthermore, the U.S. continues to deal with stubborn unemployment and anemic growth.

Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences between the two situations. Japan's aging population was a major contributor to its woes, while the U.S. maintains relatively positive demographics with plenty of young workers entering the workforce. The U.S. Federal Reserve has also been much quicker to act than the Bank of Japan. But on the downside, U.S. consumers have higher debt and poorer spending habits by comparison.