Takaichis „Benzinpreissubventionspolitik“ steckt voller Probleme: „Wir müssen den Benzinverbrauch in ganz Japan senken, aber wenn die Preise gedrückt werden, kann das nicht erreicht werden.“

Exactly. If there is concern about poorer households, give cash directly to low income people. If there is concern about particular industries, give targeted help to those industries specifically. Gasoline taxes are just spraying money about randomly, with the money going disproportiately to people with the biggest and greediest vehicles. Why should I subside a middle class suburbanite to fill up their massive Alphard?

Why doesn’t she incentivize plug in solar like they’re doing in Germany and UK – it has led to rapid growth in people setting up simple solar panels at home reducing electricity bills markedly and – reducing reliance on imported oil and gas. Come on Japan – you can do it!