How do we avoid becoming another Japan? That question has prompted U.S. officials to move aggressively in recent weeks as they seek to save the American financial system while avoiding the kinds of regulatory pitfalls that plunged Japan into economic quicksand almost two decades ago. Although the world's second-largest economy buckled during a collapse of its real estate and stock markets, it was, many analysts say, government mismanagement that made the crisis even worse. The result was a diminishing of Japan's economic power and global influence lasting to ... (more)