http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13320970
Japan abandons target for red tape reduction in global ranking By TOMOHIRO YAMAMOTO/ Staff Writer May 7, 2020 at 08:00 JST - Share - Tweet <http://twitter.com/share?url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13320970&text=Japan%20abandons%20target%20for%20red%20tape%20reduction%20in%20global%20ranking%20:%20The%20Asahi%20Shimbun> list <https://twitter.com/search?q=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13320970> - Print [image: Photo/Illutration]Tokyo Tower and skyscrapers in the capital seen from the World Trade Center Building in Minato Ward (Asahi Shimbun file photo) Japan is dropping its long-held target that in 2020 it would be among the top three developed countries in the world with the most business-friendly environments and the least red tape. The government originally set its sights high, but in the final stretch, it looks like many countries are crossing the finish line ahead of it. Since the second Abe administration, the government has been shooting to rank in the top three among advanced nations in the World Bank's business conditions survey, called "Doing Business," by 2020. It clocked in at 18th place in the latest results released last year. After struggling in the ranking for years, Japan announced on April 20 that it is dropping its ambitious goal. The Cabinet Secretariat said it set a new goal of becoming the most business-friendly economy among Group of 20 countries and regions by 2030 so it includes emerging nations. But the change also moves the goalposts, with two of the top three countries in the last study--New Zealand and Denmark--excluded as competitors. The World Bank research covers 190 states worldwide. It compares across countries how much red tape there is to deal with, along with the costs of business procedures and how long they take. Back in 2013, Tokyo announced it was eyeing third place or better--in line with the government’s Abenomics platform. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had just taken office in late 2012. Japan ranked then as the 15th most business-friendly nation among developed countries. But it has yet to do better than that. At one point, it dropped to 26th place because of its complex business procedures and delay in introduction of online procedures. Related News - Study: Infants connect spatial positions with social rankings <http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13059974> October 29, 2019 - Japan’s child population shrinks to lowest level on record <http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13351591> May 5, 2020 - Foreign population in Japan reaches record 2.93 million at end of December <http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13256541> March 30, 2020 - ‘Dude, where’s my sand?’ Japan’s beaches are disappearing <http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13061495> August 13, 2019 - Japan cosmetics maker develops tech for spray-on ‘artificial skin’ <http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13058081> November 25, 2019
