Mr. Mukherjee may be right that Japan did better than the US if compared on the basis of per capita GDP, but the problem, at least with Japan, is that the income divide has become bigger. The number of househoulds recieving welfare has increased and we have more young Japanese than before who do not earn enough income to get married or to live independently of their parents. These 'young' Japanese are entering the middle age or even the old age group.