Here's the salient paragraphs from a New York Times story today on where the big Japanese stimulus of the 1990s went wrong:
“In hindsight, Japan should have built public works that address the
problems it faces today, like aging, energy and food sources,” said
Takehiko Hobo, a professor emeritus of public finance at Shimane
University in Matsue, the main city of Shimane. “This obsession with
building roads is a holdover from an earlier era.”
problems it faces today, like aging, energy and food sources,” said
Takehiko Hobo, a professor emeritus of public finance at Shimane
University in Matsue, the main city of Shimane. “This obsession with
building roads is a holdover from an earlier era.”
and
“Roads and bridges are attractive, but they create jobs only during
construction,” said Shunji Nakamura, chief of the city’s industrial
policy section. “You need projects with good jobs that will last
through a bad economy.”
construction,” said Shunji Nakamura, chief of the city’s industrial
policy section. “You need projects with good jobs that will last
through a bad economy.”
Put the heat on your lawmakers to support transit. A good start is here and here.