Figure shows that Japan€™s short-term interest rates have had periods during which they are near or equal to zero. Is the fact that the yen interest rates shown never drop below zero a coincidence, or can you think of some reason why interest rates might be bounded below byzero?

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Interest rates (percent per year) 21 18 15 12 Dollar rate Yen rate 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2011