Economists skeptical Japan can grow its way out of debt: Nikkei survey

Economists are skeptical that the Japanese government's investment push will spur enough growth to drive down debt relative to GDP. (Photo by Rie Ishii)TASUKU IKEDAJuly 24, 2026 06:25 JSTTOKYO -- Economists largely doubt the Japanese government can achieve its goal of steadily lowering the country's ratio of debt to gross domestic product, a Nikkei survey finds, voicing skepticism about the government's fiscal plan that relies on high growth. TOKYO -- Economists largely doubt the Japanese government can achieve its goal of steadily lowering the country's ratio of debt to gross domestic product, a Nikkei survey finds, voicing skepticism about the government's fiscal plan that relies on high growth.

TOKYO -- Economists largely doubt the Japanese government can achieve its goal of steadily lowering the country's ratio of debt to gross domestic product, a Nikkei survey finds, voicing skepticism about the government's fiscal plan that relies on high growth. Read NextPoliticsTakaichi's new economic blueprint for Japan: 4 things to knowEconomyJapan ruling party weighs end to 'mechanical' primary balance targetsMarketsJapan revises corporate governance code: 5 things to knowMedia & EntertainmentCool Japan Fund faces uncertain future after falling deeper into the redOpinionSanaenomics' optimistic ambition to bring back a stronger and richer JapanEconomyJapan maps $2.3tn investment plan across 17 strategic sectorsLatest on EconomyEconomySouth Korea logs modest growth even as AI chip boom powers exportsEconomyAliExpress hit with $629m EU fine over sales of illegal productsEconomyBangladesh forex recovery to get boost from Malaysia labor reopening Read Next Read Next PoliticsTakaichi's new economic blueprint for Japan: 4 things to knowEconomyJapan ruling party weighs end to 'mechanical' primary balance targetsMarketsJapan revises corporate governance code: 5 things to knowMedia & EntertainmentCool Japan Fund faces uncertain future after falling deeper into the redOpinionSanaenomics' optimistic ambition to bring back a stronger and richer JapanEconomyJapan maps $2.

3tn investment plan across 17 strategic sectors PoliticsTakaichi's new economic blueprint for Japan: 4 things to know PoliticsTakaichi's new economic blueprint for Japan: 4 things to know EconomyJapan ruling party weighs end to 'mechanical' primary balance targets MarketsJapan revises corporate governance code: 5 things to know Media & EntertainmentCool Japan Fund faces uncertain future after falling deeper into the red OpinionSanaenomics' optimistic ambition to bring back a stronger and richer Japan EconomyJapan maps $2.3tn investment plan across 17 strategic sectors Latest on Economy Latest on Economy EconomySouth Korea logs modest growth even as AI chip boom powers exportsEconomyAliExpress hit with $629m EU fine over sales of illegal productsEconomyBangladesh forex recovery to get boost from Malaysia labor reopening EconomySouth Korea logs modest growth even as AI chip boom powers exports EconomyAliExpress hit with $629m EU fine over sales of illegal products EconomyBangladesh forex recovery to get boost from Malaysia labor reopening Sponsored Content Sponsored Content