Is capitalism everywhere driven by the same logic of market forces, contract, and individualistic motivation? Or is Japan different? These eighteen contributions by leading Japanese economists shed light on a number of issues in this increasingly important debate. The variety of perspectives and the range of firms covered -- not only the large industrial corporation but cooperatives, public enterprises, and mutual life insurance companies as well -- provide a broad overview that few other books on Japanese business can offer. In a new introduction to this English-language edition, Ronald Dore and Hugh Whittaker identify and summarize the salient themes and sharpen the points discussed. Chapters are grouped into five parts: Part I identifies characteristics of the typical Japanese firm and the enterprise system. Part II examines interfirm behavior such as trading, subcontracting, and cross-shareholding in enterprise groups. Part III describes general firm behavior: how businesses...
