Japan vs other First world countries in Economic Prowess

[BillMad]

I was having a conversation with a friend the other day and we came up on this topic, I think Tokyo being one the most costliest cities to live in plus the fact that even drinks there cost close to a dollar, the yen stands tall in todays time. He kept bringing up the fact that $1 equals almost a 100 yen and things there cost more simply because they're an island nation who dont have many natural resources of their own and hence import most of their raw materials being the main reasons that it seemed that way.

Is it economically equivalent to other first world countries like France, US etc.. or is there some disparity?
Would someone working in the abovementioned countries have the same salaries? What do you think?

 

[johnnyG]

Did you try googling for some answers?

 

[BillMad]

Yes, and I realized that I wanted to have a reasonable discussion with people who know about it firsthand instead.

 

[johnnyG]

Color me dim, but I've never worked in any of the countries in your list except Japan. A question like "A citizen of which country earns more?" so I think that this is better explored via google than gathering anecdotal stories here.

>> How many of those countries have you worked or lived in?

 

[WonkoTheSane]

Color me dim, but I've never worked in any of the countries in your list except Japan. A question like "A citizen of which country earns more?" so I think that this is better explored via google than gathering anecdotal stories here.

>> How many of those countries have you worked or lived in?

Not to mention that foreigners, for the most part, don't represent the average salary. While there are some exceptions, foreigners generally have a very narrow, specific set of jobs in which they work.

They also often do not have the language or interest in living a similar lifestyle to natives of a specific country.

Finally, looking at pure spending power ignores a massive amount of information surrounding the work life balance. How many hours, opportunities for professional growth, opportunities for outside of work enjoyment, job satisfaction, etc.

Google and Numbeo will probably have more useful and accurate information for you.

 

[BillMad]

Color me dim, but I've never worked in any of the countries in your list except Japan. A question like "A citizen of which country earns more?" so I think that this is better explored via google than gathering anecdotal stories here.

>> How many of those countries have you worked or lived in?

Coloring you isn't by any means necessary, you're pretty dull yourself already.
I'm asking here precisely because of the existance of people from many nationalities, people who would have worked in their home countries and also in japan and would be willing to share their experiences. Those anecdotal stories would mean more than bland numbers found by any web crawler. That is the whole point in asking in the forum, I feel like I'm wasting my breath now so please leave if you have nothing productive to add because I'm not willing to go as far as teach you about common sense.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

It's a tough topic to get replies to I think. Most people in the US only discuss their salary with their spouse , boss/manager , or a very close friend because it is considered very personal information. Most of our posters here are non-Japanese. I think many will automatically say their home country is best or that Japan is best , but maybe not. Let's keep things on a polite level so the thread does not get locked.

 

[johnnyG]

You might also try cross posting this on reddit or some other forums, just to test some other waters:

japan
Expats in Japan

 

[BillMad]

It's a tough topic to get replies to I think. Most people in the US only discuss their salary with their spouse , boss/manager , or a very close friend because it is considered very personal information. Most of our posters here are non-Japanese. I think many will automatically say their home country is best or that Japan is best , but maybe not. Let's keep things on a polite level so the thread does not get locked.

Yes I understand, I was only asking because I've usually seen people answer such questions under anonymity and have free discussions.

I am being as polite as I can telling people to contribute only positively if they can instead of trolling. I have no reason to spam or pick fights here.

 

[cocoichi]

Salary and the perception of it depends greatly on exchange rates, jobs, locations within the country, Gross/net differences, etc.

From what I have read Australia generally has one of the highest wages. People in London make more than people in other UK cities. Norway has one of the highest salaries in Europe.

Then again, that is just one aspect. More important is what you can buy locally with your income.

Coloring you isn't by any means necessary, you're pretty dull yourself already.

Comments like this do not make you very popular here, and most likely will not get you many answers to your question. Just my two cents!

 

[Mark of Zorro]

Hi BillMad. If I disagree with anything anyone said here, its mostly their tone.

It is a tough question, but, some person in answering could say something brilliant that leads you down a path you might never have explored if you just did some net searches. So don't be discouraged.

Actually I think this is a topic that a lot of us foreigners here ponder on a fairly regular basis. And truth be told, I don't think even the suggestions of web searches would come up with a conclusive answer to such a broad economic topic anyway. So yeah, I think you better examine a variety of sources, even at the risk of people being surly in response your asking.

Anyway, there are so many ins and outs. A lot of things are expensive, but there are ways to cut corners. Salaries I think are somewhat low, but Japanese get by by doing things like living with their parents and not owning a car. I think they also tend to be more fiscally responsible, and don't max out their credit cards or over-eat.

In the end, I think it all works out as far as money goes. Quality of life is another matter entirely though.

 

[BillMad]

Salary and the perception of it depends greatly on exchange rates, jobs, locations within the country, Gross/net differences, etc.

More important is what you can buy locally with your income.

True, never considered this fact at all.. So even with a high salary, if prices are too high, then that means that people have basically less to spend? Thats kinda scary.

Comments like this do not make you very popular here, and most likely will not get you many answers to your question. Just my two cents!

I know, nor did I like having to tell anyone off in my first post either, but honestly the guy asked me to constantly move to google when I had already politely told him I had done so trying to pick a pointless argument and then calling a mod, making it seem intentional almost like some troll hijacking a thread.

But I get your point, his intentions are also his opinions so I could have said something else instead too..

 

[BillMad]

Hi BillMad. If I disagree with anything anyone said here, its mostly their tone.

It is a tough question, but, some person in answering could say something brilliant that leads you down a path you might never have explored if you just did some net searches. So don't be discouraged.

Actually I think this is a topic that a lot of us foreigners here ponder on a fairly regular basis. And truth be told, I don't think even the suggestions of web searches would come up with a conclusive answer to such a broad economic topic anyway. So yeah, I think you better examine a variety of sources, even at the risk of people being surly in response your asking.

Took the words right out of my mouth, I just realized this after reading your post, but I think that stuff like this requires a lot of looking up to do because if has no single right or left answer. Doing even a slight amount of research, it looks like things are completely different from what they seem, thanks for your response!

This is precisely why I asked people on a forum, so I could gain from whatever insight they shared.

Anyway, there are so many ins and outs. A lot of things are expensive, but there are ways to cut corners. Salaries I think are somewhat low, but Japanese get by by doing things like living with their parents and not owning a car. I think they also tend to be more fiscally responsible, and don't max out their credit cards or over-eat.

Reminds me of Singapore, its a very rich country (its a trading post) but prices go waaay high and due to the stringent population people have compulsory military service because if they didn't, most wouldn't willingly join. My personal impression was that the whole country was almost like one huge company, where the people are assets existing only to service travellers (huge tourism industry + many corporate branches). Everything is artificial, even their monuments, strangely most singaporeans would be working at these establishments rather than ever enjoying a day out. If they did, their whole country would stop working. Even children may have to work part-time jobs even when they aren't forced to do so. Very few natives enjoy free time. Sorry went off for a bit there, just my personal POV though..

Quality of life is another matter entirely though.

Please do tell.

 

[johnnyG]

Bill,
You may think this forum offers anonymity to people who post here, but more than a few of the members here have been around for a while (in some cases quite a while!), posted quite a lot, and have at least established an online persona for themselves. Some post under their true identity.

On the other hand, you've been a member since Tuesday, you've posted 6 times, and you say you are 21 and from Sikkim:

Gee, is that the true you? Or are you leveraging some internet anonymity there?

If that's the true you, I'd again direct you to google (or numbeo, as someone else suggested). To me, you're just a wet-behind-the-ears kid who hasn't done his homework. You need to (a) show that you've made an effort to look for yourself, (b) present what you've found and your take on it, and (c) then ask for the opinion of others.

As I asked,

>> How many of those countries have you worked or lived in?

You ignored that question, and I can see why--as a 21 year old from Sikkim, you very likely have not lived or worked in any of the countries on your list.

Please reread your own survey question. Now, answer this for me (and others here): Why do you want to know? How are you going to use any info that others might post here?

Answer those questions--offer something of yourself, and people posting here will be better able to adapt their answers.

OTOH, maybe you're not a 21 year old from Sikkim--you're using that to misdirect, hide, and anonymize yourself. In that case, as a new member here who has no posting history, you don't have much credibility, at least in my eyes (I've lived and worked in Japan for about 30 years now, and am a good 40 years older than your supposed profile "age").

 

[WonkoTheSane]

True, never considered this fact at all.. So even with a high salary, if prices are too high, then that means that people have basically less to spend? Thats kinda scary.

If you've never considered something as basic to economics as purchasing power parity, I'm not sure you're really equipped to have a discussion about the economics you're asking about.

I'd recommend you spend some time learning about economics so that you can developed an informed opinion.

 

[BillMad]

Bill,
You may think this forum offers anonymity to people who post here, but more than a few of the members here have been around for a while (in some cases quite a while!), posted quite a lot, and have at least established an online persona for themselves. Some post under their true identity.

On the other hand, you've been a member since Tuesday, you've posted 6 times, and you say you are 21 and from Sikkim:
View attachment 21789

Gee, is that the true you? Or are you leveraging some internet anonymity there?

If that's the true you, I'd again direct you to google (or numbeo, as someone else suggested). To me, you're just a wet-behind-the-ears kid who hasn't done his homework. You need to (a) show that you've made an effort to look for yourself, (b) present what you've found and your take on it, and (c) then ask for the opinion of others.

As I asked,

You ignored that question, and I can see why--as a 21 year old from Sikkim, you very likely have not lived or worked in any of the countries on your list.

Please reread your own survey question. Now, answer this for me (and others here): Why do you want to know? How are you going to use any info that others might post here?

Answer those questions--offer something of yourself, and people posting here will be better able to adapt their answers.

OTOH, maybe you're not a 21 year old from Sikkim--you're using that to misdirect, hide, and anonymize yourself. In that case, as a new member here who has no posting history, you don't have much credibility, at least in my eyes (I've lived and worked in Japan for about 30 years now, and am a good 40 years older than your supposed profile "age").

Nobody's forcing you to reply or post at all. I stopped asking for your opinion and felt that talking to you was no longer necessary because you seem to not have been contributing anything in the first place and are now begging for my attention by shitposting on this thread.

I'm not the kind to lie unlike you(a 50 year old man would have more sense than pose personal attacks)

Have a nice day.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

Johnny G, none of what you said had to be said so curtly.

My advice for you is to do some research into tact.

Oh, yeah. I lay into people too, but generally not as they walked in the door and when I do, it involves questions of people's rights generally. Why these loosely economic questions would get someone to go into attack mode I really cannot fathom.

This forum could use more members, not fewer so consider that when dealing with new members. I suggest you slow your roll before somebody like Thomas requests you slow your roll. Just some friendly advice and I hope you will see it that way.

Incidentally, there are people that have lived and worked in various countries that have lots of information. They may not be common and they may not be members here, but the only way to find out is ask.