Appeal for Financial Support

If you’re anything like me, you subscribe to several free blogs, but only a few that you must pay for. You may also, like me, contribute to blogs and newspapers that you could get for free, but you donate to ensure it can keep going. I have so far relied on that second model: keeping the blog free to grow the readership while asking readers to upgrade to a paid sub at $50 or $80. Today, 10,000 people subscribe to Japan Economy Watch, which is very gratifying, but most do so without paying at all. I want to maintain the current model—rather than give non-payers just a short summary of the posts—but that requires more crowdfunding.

I’d like to believe that Japan Economy Watch provides deep and easily understood analysis that is not readily available elsewhere. And that those of you who value it most are willing to help make sure it is available to as many as possible. But that entails costs. The biggest is my time. But there are also substantial out-of-pocket costs. The biggest one is the travel cost to and from Japan in an era where airfares to Tokyo are in the stratosphere and hotel rates have soared more than the yen has depreciated. Then, there are the paid subscriptions to publications or conferences that I need for my research.

So, here are three ways you can support the blog.

As you know, a standard sub costs $50 per year, while a “founding membership” costs $80. If you think the analysis and information give you more than $50 worth of value, please upgrade to a paid sub. Some of you have done so, but far too few. I am asking more of you to join them.

I understand that most people do not pay $50 because you cannot pay for all the blogs you value. However, I bet most of you can afford a smaller amount. You can contribute just $11 a year by signing up for the monthly sub at $5.50 per month for just two months. Then you can cancel. And then do the same each following year. Or, you can provide $22 by keeping the sub for four months. If all of you who now receive this for free were to pay just $11 or $22 per year, that would be enough to sustain the current business model. While it’s unlikely all will do so, even a few thousand of such temporary subs would make a huge difference.

Finally, there is an option for those with the money, generosity, and interest in the blog to donate more. You can buy gift subscriptions for others. You don’t have to name the other recipients. Just click on the donate button below. That will bring you to a page where you can input the number of subs you wish to buy at $50 per sub. To donate $300 or $500, you just input 6 or 8 in the little box. This is a one-time contribution. However, I hope some of you will do the same each year. Even one hundred donating in this way would really help.

I’d like to believe that Japan Economy Watch provides enough value and information that you are willing to help keep it going. I hope you agree.

To provide more support, donate several subs at $50 each. You do not need to name the sub recipients, just how many. This is a one-time contribution; it does not repeat automatically. Please click the button below.