The German and Japanese Economies Maneuvering in Uncharted Waters

A rapidly ageing population, global warming, digitalization and AI, heightened geopolitical risks and a U.S.-induced tariff war – entering 2025, the German and Japanese economies confront an increasingly challenging as well as uncertain economic environment. They share similarities in terms of industrial structure and export orientation, but they also exhibit marked differences with regard to fiscal and energy policy or migration. How do they confront the fundamental domestic and international challenges? What possible scenarios do they envisage? These and related questions were addressed by two leading economic scholars. Their input statements were followed by comments from two Japanese corporate leaders, before the floor was opened to questions from the general audience. The event was followed by a networking reception.

Monika Schnitzer has been the chair of the German Council of Economic Experts since October 2022 and a member since April 2020. She is professor of comparative economics at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (LMU). She was visiting professor at Stanford University, Yale University, the University of California, Berkeley and Harvard University. Her research focuses on innovation, competition and multinational corporations.

Noriyuki Yanagawa is professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo. He serves as an expert member of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy of the Japanese government. He is also Chief of the Center for Real Estate Innovation (CREI) and Representative of Fintech Research Forum at the Center for Advanced Research in Finance (CARF). His research focuses on the economic analysis of corporate and contract law and optimal contractual design.

The two commentators were Osamu Mogi, Chair, Japan-Europe Relations Committee, Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives); Representative Director and Senior Executive Corporate Officer, Kikkoman Corporation, and Makoto Shiono, Member, Keizai Doyukai; Partner, Industrial Growth Platform, Inc; Director of Management, The Institute of Geoeconomics. The discussion was moderated by Franz Waldenberger, Director of the DIJ.