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• Case | HBS Case Collection | April 2015 (Revised January 2020)

  Japan's Missing Arrow?

  Laura Alfaro and Hilary White

  In late December 2014, Shinzo Abe was elected to another term as the prime minister of Japan. His re-election was largely interpreted as a vote of confidence for his economics policies, collectively referred to as "Abenomics." Comprised of three "arrows," including expansionary monetary policy, fiscal stimulus, and structural reform, these strategies were designed to reverse Japan's two-decade long challenge with deflation and sluggish growth. Japan also faced several worrisome structural issues, including a demographic crisis, strict labor regulations, and low wage growth, despite low unemployment, in addition to a debt balance that reached 240% of GDP. As the Abe government launched a second round of quantitative easing, totaling ¥80 trillion per year, many wondered, would Abe's three arrows be enough to reverse Japan's problems with economic growth, rising debt, and persistent deflation?

  Keywords: Japan; currency; bonds; government bonds; Government Debt; public finance; economics; quantitative easing; stimulus; fiscal policy; fiscal deficits; debt management; Debt reduction; Abenomics; exchange rate; macroeconomics; Asia; Exports; reform; Economics; Macroeconomics; Policy; Government Legislation; Government and Politics; Asia; Japan;

  Citation:

  Alfaro, Laura, and Hilary White. "Japan's Missing Arrow?" Harvard Business School Case 715-050, April 2015. (Revised January 2020.)  View Details

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• Case | HBS Case Collection | June 2019 (Revised November 2019)

  Malaysia: An 'Asian Tiger' Reawakens

  Richard H. K. Vietor

  On May 9, 2018, in an extraordinary upset, Mahathir Mohamad again became Malaysia’s Prime Minister. Najib Razak, who had headed the government since 2009, had been swept up in the 1MDB scandal—perhaps the biggest state-corruption incident in history. Although Malaysia’s growth had remained solid since the financial crisis, the scandal undermined the budget, the country’s debt position, and foreigners’ willingness to invest. What was it in the history, culture, and institutional structure of the country that had allowed 1MDB to happen. And could the 93-year-old Mahathir get the country back on track?

  Keywords: Government and Politics; Crime and Corruption; Financial Crisis; Business and Government Relations; Economy; Leading Change; Malaysia;

  Citation:

  Vietor, Richard H. K. "Malaysia: An 'Asian Tiger' Reawakens." Harvard Business School Case 719-073, June 2019. (Revised November 2019.)  View Details

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• Case | HBS Case Collection | November 2019

  DeepGreen and Polymetallic Nodules

  Richard H.K. Vietor

  The world has begun a “green transition” – a move to reduce carbon emissions. Part of this will entail a growing shift to electric vehicles. Huge amounts of metals – cobalt, nickel, copper – will be needed to supply electric vehicles. Mining these on land, however, is carbon intensive and immensely destructive of the natural environment. DeepGreen, in conjunction with Nauru, has been developing a mining system for polymetallic nodules that cover the ocean floor in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture zone. This huge mineral resource – approximately 34 billion tons of metallic nodules – is regulated by the International Seabed Authority (of the United Nations). DeepGreen, perhaps the most advanced of several competitors, will eventually need more than $4 billion to develop the commercial mining system and specialized smelting facilities. The question is, can an entrepreneurial firm raise the necessary capital, succeed with the regulation and surmount the technical challenges that nodules impose?

  Keywords: polymetallic nodules; seabed mining; entrepreneurial finance; Metals and Minerals; Mining; Entrepreneurship; Finance; Problems and Challenges;

  Citation:

  Vietor, Richard H.K. "DeepGreen and Polymetallic Nodules." Harvard Business School Case 720-016, November 2019.  View Details

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