Abe must not make the same mistake. If Japan’s government can overcome a demand setback after the tax increase takes effect – leaving the economy functioning smoothly and initiating a recovery in government revenue – Abe will be able to declare Abenomics an unequivocal success.
仅仅在一年前，前首相野田佳彦试图在深度衰退的情况下提高消费税而不放松货币——这一做法的唯一效果是延长经济停滞。安倍晋三必须避免同样的错误。如果日本政府可以克服增税实施后出现的需求不振——让经济平稳运行并让政府收入复苏——那么安倍晋三可以宣布安倍经济学取得了不可否认的成功。