Articles on rebuilding Japan, why Turkey’s political model is not for export, rethinking economics, #gfc, the Italy and Spain squeeze, why more immigration is better for Canada, and living to 100.

Can the rebuilding of the tsunami devastated parts of Japan bring an end to twenty-one years of malaise and decline? (ed’s note – no it can’t)

Financial Times – Japan: Protect and Revive
Laying out a vision for reconstruction of Japan’s tsunami-devastated north-east coast, a government-appointed council of experts made clear the goal should be much more than merely rebuilding the region’s shattered towns.

Related.

Atlantic – What Joe Biden Will Find in Japan
The White House announced yesterday that Vice President Joe Biden will travel to China, Mongolia and Japan starting the 16th of August.

Turkey’s model of military rule would not work in Egypt.

Foreign Affairs – Istanbul on the Nile
In the weeks and months since Egypt’s military officers forced then President Hosni Mubarak from power and assumed executive authority, the country’s military rulers have shown an interest in applying what many have taken to calling the “Turkish model.”

Related.

Foreign Affairs – What to Read on Egyptian Politics
Egyptian politics are frequently portrayed as either perpetually in crisis or essentially unchanging.

A three part series challenging the conventional economic wisdom that growth, market liberalisation, and inequality are keys to successful economies.

Globalist – The Need to Challenge Conventional Economic Wisdom
The global financial crisis of 2008-09 prompted a critical rethinking of the rules that regulate financial markets. According to Adair Turner, chairman of Britain's Financial Services Authority, the independent body that overseas financial markets in the UK, the world needs to undertake an even more fundamental rethinking of the conventional wisdom that has influenced economic policymaking for the past 30 years.

Capitalism in crisis.

Guardian – Are We Heading for a Second Global Financial Crisis?
How far are we from #gfc2? For those not aware, #gfc2 is the Twitter hashtag used for "global financial crisis 2". And the question I ask is a real one.

Alone together.

Telegraph – The ECB Throws Italy and Spain to the Wolves
Its refusal to act in the face of an existential threat to monetary union has set off violent tremors across the global financial system, raising the risk that the crisis will spiral out of control.

60 million Canadians by 2050 will require immigration levels around today’s levels. Here is the argument for even more. (ed’s note – comment section is, as usual, full of thoughtful insights).

Globe and Mail – More Immigrants are in Canada’s Interest
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney’s announcement that he’s launching stakeholder consultations on Canada’s immigration program presents a timely opportunity for a national conversation.

Related.

East Asia Forum – Australia’s Population Policy and the Resources Boom
The Australian Government is caught between two contending pressures regarding its population policy.

Living to 100.

Independent – Is My Newborn Ready to Face Living to 100?
The thing is, I'm not convinced that living forever is a very good idea, but it seems that the daughter with whom I am eight months up the duff may achieve just that.