First Britain was compared to Greece – sunk by debt. Then when the worst of the financial crisis passed and a battered exchequer was still solvent, Britain was likened to another capitalist basket case - Japan. With two lost decades under its belt, Tokyo is considered the capital of stasis, a place where nothing grows. Hardly a week goes by without someone arguing that Japan's lack of growth, its ageing population, massive debts or its strong currency spell the end of a renaissance that propelled the country into the first rank during the 1970s. To many people the situation remains benign. If you are happy with your ... (full story)