Europe Is On The Verge Of A Japanese-Style Lost Decade

Recently the IMF made it clear that the current euro area leadership needs to address its ongoing banking problems. The Eurozone's banks are continuing to deleverage, with total loan balances to euro area residents now at the lowest level in 5 years. What makes the situation even more troubling is that many Eurozone banks banks are repeating the Japanese experience of the 90s. They are carrying poor quality and often deteriorating assets on their balance sheets, refusing to take writedowns that will require recapitalization.