Fig. 1.

Trends in suicide rates, unemployment rates and the economic policy uncertainty index. The possible explanations for increased the economic policy uncertainty: May–June 2010: Greek crisis prompts heightened uncertainty. PM Hatoyama resigns; PM Kan assumes office, leading to a new cabinet installation./August 2011: U.S. debt-ceiling crisis and concerns over the European debt crisis contribute to uncertainty. PM Kan resigns amidst further monetary easing and Japan's FX intervention./May–June 2016: Uncertainty rises due to the delay in the consumption tax hike and the Brexit referendum./November 2016–January 2017: Economic policy uncertainty escalates with the U.S. Presidential election and withdrawal from the TPP./March 2020: The Covid-19 outbreak in Japan sparks debates on fiscal stimulus and monetary easing, intensifying economic policy uncertainty.¹⁷