Chris Noonan
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199207527
- eISBN:
- 9780191708817
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199207527.003.0006
- Subject:
- Law, Public International Law, Competition Law
This chapter analyses the case for an international obligation for countries to enact and enforce a competition law to prevent anticompetitive conduct that creates market access barriers. It examines ...
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This chapter analyses the case for an international obligation for countries to enact and enforce a competition law to prevent anticompetitive conduct that creates market access barriers. It examines Japanese business practices that allegedly created market access barriers in several major industries, including soda ash, steel, stevedoring, semiconductors, and supercomputers. It is argued that anticompetitive conduct may restrict market access and that an international remedy should be available in limited circumstances. While there may be mutual gains from states agreeing to prohibit private anticompetitive conduct that restricts market access, the case for a common set of rules is weak.Less
This chapter analyses the case for an international obligation for countries to enact and enforce a competition law to prevent anticompetitive conduct that creates market access barriers. It examines Japanese business practices that allegedly created market access barriers in several major industries, including soda ash, steel, stevedoring, semiconductors, and supercomputers. It is argued that anticompetitive conduct may restrict market access and that an international remedy should be available in limited circumstances. While there may be mutual gains from states agreeing to prohibit private anticompetitive conduct that restricts market access, the case for a common set of rules is weak.
Michael Gerlach
- Published in print:
- 1997
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520208896
- eISBN:
- 9780520919105
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520208896.001.0001
- Subject:
- Anthropology, Asian Cultural Anthropology
Business practices in Japan inspire fierce and even acrimonious debate, especially when they are compared to American ones. This book attempts to explain the remarkable economic success of Japan in ...
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Business practices in Japan inspire fierce and even acrimonious debate, especially when they are compared to American ones. This book attempts to explain the remarkable economic success of Japan in the postwar period—a success it is crucial for us to understand in a time marked by controversial trade imbalances and concerns over competitive industrial performance. It focuses on what it calls the intercorporate alliance, the innovative and increasingly pervasive practice of bringing together a cluster of affiliated companies that extends across a broad range of markets. The best known of these alliances are the keiretsu, or enterprise groups, which include both diversified families of firms located around major banks and trading companies, and vertical families of suppliers and distributors linked to prominent manufacturers in the automobile, electronics, and other industries. In providing a key link between isolated local firms and extended international markets, the intercorporate alliance has had profound effects on the industrial and social organization of Japanese businesses. The book casts its net widely. It not only provides a rigorous analysis of intercorporate capitalism in Japan, making useful distinctions between Japanese and American practices, but also develops a broad theoretical context for understanding Japan's business networks. Addressing economists, sociologists, and other social scientists, the book argues that the intercorporate alliance is as much a result of overlapping political, economic, and social forces as are such traditional Western economic institutions as the public corporation and the stock market.Less
Business practices in Japan inspire fierce and even acrimonious debate, especially when they are compared to American ones. This book attempts to explain the remarkable economic success of Japan in the postwar period—a success it is crucial for us to understand in a time marked by controversial trade imbalances and concerns over competitive industrial performance. It focuses on what it calls the intercorporate alliance, the innovative and increasingly pervasive practice of bringing together a cluster of affiliated companies that extends across a broad range of markets. The best known of these alliances are the keiretsu, or enterprise groups, which include both diversified families of firms located around major banks and trading companies, and vertical families of suppliers and distributors linked to prominent manufacturers in the automobile, electronics, and other industries. In providing a key link between isolated local firms and extended international markets, the intercorporate alliance has had profound effects on the industrial and social organization of Japanese businesses. The book casts its net widely. It not only provides a rigorous analysis of intercorporate capitalism in Japan, making useful distinctions between Japanese and American practices, but also develops a broad theoretical context for understanding Japan's business networks. Addressing economists, sociologists, and other social scientists, the book argues that the intercorporate alliance is as much a result of overlapping political, economic, and social forces as are such traditional Western economic institutions as the public corporation and the stock market.
Masahiko Aoki and Ronald Dore (eds)
- Published in print:
- 1994
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198288152
- eISBN:
- 9780191684579
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198288152.001.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, South and East Asia
This book seeks to explain and understand aspects of the firm in the Japanese economic system, and to explain the corporate success of Japan. The book is interdisciplinary, uses theoretical and ...
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This book seeks to explain and understand aspects of the firm in the Japanese economic system, and to explain the corporate success of Japan. The book is interdisciplinary, uses theoretical and empirical work, and features contributions from the fields of institutional economics, organizational theory, economic history, and sociology. Major themes are the recognition of business practices and the recognition of the diversity of experience within Japan, for example, analysing small or medium-sized firms separately from large companies. Several chapters deal with the transferability or adaptability of the Japanese experience to the Nordic or Anglo-American context.Less
This book seeks to explain and understand aspects of the firm in the Japanese economic system, and to explain the corporate success of Japan. The book is interdisciplinary, uses theoretical and empirical work, and features contributions from the fields of institutional economics, organizational theory, economic history, and sociology. Major themes are the recognition of business practices and the recognition of the diversity of experience within Japan, for example, analysing small or medium-sized firms separately from large companies. Several chapters deal with the transferability or adaptability of the Japanese experience to the Nordic or Anglo-American context.
Simon Partner
- Published in print:
- 2000
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520217928
- eISBN:
- 9780520923171
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520217928.003.0006
- Subject:
- Sociology, Occupations, Professions, and Work
This chapter explores the Japanese domestic market. It notes that as early as the turn of the 1950s, some visionary Japanese business leaders saw the production of an American-style middle-class ...
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This chapter explores the Japanese domestic market. It notes that as early as the turn of the 1950s, some visionary Japanese business leaders saw the production of an American-style middle-class society as crucial to Japanese prosperity, and explains that, in such a society, the consumer was vitally important. The chapter clarifies that in spite of the poverty which continued to haunt Japan, these businessmen set out to emulate their American counterparts and pioneer new markets—particularly a market for expensive electrical products.Less
This chapter explores the Japanese domestic market. It notes that as early as the turn of the 1950s, some visionary Japanese business leaders saw the production of an American-style middle-class society as crucial to Japanese prosperity, and explains that, in such a society, the consumer was vitally important. The chapter clarifies that in spite of the poverty which continued to haunt Japan, these businessmen set out to emulate their American counterparts and pioneer new markets—particularly a market for expensive electrical products.
Yuko Matsuzaki
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9781781381373
- eISBN:
- 9781781384886
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Liverpool University Press
- DOI:
- 10.5949/liverpool/9781781381373.003.0012
- Subject:
- Business and Management, Business History
Since the late 19th century, more than 13,000 volumes of shashi (company history publications) have been published in Japan and, despite the current economic climate; approximately two hundred ...
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Since the late 19th century, more than 13,000 volumes of shashi (company history publications) have been published in Japan and, despite the current economic climate; approximately two hundred companies publish new shashi every year. Shashi were traditionally made within the company by employees often without formal training in history or archiving. From the late 1960s onward, however, Japanese business history specialists, some of whom studied at major US graduate schools, started contributing to recording corporate history in Japanese companies. Academic business historians came to enjoy privileged access to corporate archives, which fostered the development of business history as a scientific discipline, and companies could publish credibility-enhancing corporate histories.This article focuses on the Toyota Motor Corporation, which celebrated its 75th company anniversary in 2012. Toyota has long made use of its heritage, publishing numerous shashi and other works, and marked its 75th anniversary by launching an extensive historical website.Less
Since the late 19th century, more than 13,000 volumes of shashi (company history publications) have been published in Japan and, despite the current economic climate; approximately two hundred companies publish new shashi every year. Shashi were traditionally made within the company by employees often without formal training in history or archiving. From the late 1960s onward, however, Japanese business history specialists, some of whom studied at major US graduate schools, started contributing to recording corporate history in Japanese companies. Academic business historians came to enjoy privileged access to corporate archives, which fostered the development of business history as a scientific discipline, and companies could publish credibility-enhancing corporate histories.This article focuses on the Toyota Motor Corporation, which celebrated its 75th company anniversary in 2012. Toyota has long made use of its heritage, publishing numerous shashi and other works, and marked its 75th anniversary by launching an extensive historical website.
Kumiko Nemoto
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- January 2017
- ISBN:
- 9781501702488
- eISBN:
- 9781501706219
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Cornell University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7591/cornell/9781501702488.003.0008
- Subject:
- Sociology, Occupations, Professions, and Work
This concluding chapter reflects on important changes and future reforms that Japan needs to work on if it wishes to reduce sex segregation, not only at the organizational level, but also in ...
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This concluding chapter reflects on important changes and future reforms that Japan needs to work on if it wishes to reduce sex segregation, not only at the organizational level, but also in management structures, the labor market, and the overall employment picture. It argues that the main reason why there has been little change in the state/business-led institutional dependence in Japan is the Japanese business culture's style of conformity management, characterized by a reluctance to implement necessary innovations and liberal reforms or to diversify and mobilize the labor market. Japanese management places too much emphasis on conformity, and the elderly dominate Japan's decision making, which makes change extremely difficult. With lifelong employment and seniority further sustaining the continuation of male dominance, women's low status will continue to be blocked by this organizational inertia.Less
This concluding chapter reflects on important changes and future reforms that Japan needs to work on if it wishes to reduce sex segregation, not only at the organizational level, but also in management structures, the labor market, and the overall employment picture. It argues that the main reason why there has been little change in the state/business-led institutional dependence in Japan is the Japanese business culture's style of conformity management, characterized by a reluctance to implement necessary innovations and liberal reforms or to diversify and mobilize the labor market. Japanese management places too much emphasis on conformity, and the elderly dominate Japan's decision making, which makes change extremely difficult. With lifelong employment and seniority further sustaining the continuation of male dominance, women's low status will continue to be blocked by this organizational inertia.
Yoshiro Miwa and J. Ramseyer
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- February 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780226532707
- eISBN:
- 9780226532721
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
- DOI:
- 10.7208/chicago/9780226532721.001.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, International
For Western economists and journalists, the most distinctive facet of the post-war Japanese business world has been the keiretsu, or the insular business alliances among powerful corporations. Within ...
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For Western economists and journalists, the most distinctive facet of the post-war Japanese business world has been the keiretsu, or the insular business alliances among powerful corporations. Within keiretsu groups, argue these observers, firms preferentially trade, lend money, take and receive technical and financial assistance, and cement their ties through cross-shareholding agreements. This book demonstrates that all this talk is really just urban legend. In their analysis, the chapters here show that the very idea of the keiretsu was created and propagated by Marxist scholars in post-war Japan. Western scholars merely repatriated the legend to show the culturally contingent nature of modern economic analysis. Laying waste to the notion of keiretsu, the book debunks several related “facts” as well: that Japanese firms maintain special arrangements with a “main bank,” that firms are systematically poorly managed, and that the Japanese government guided post-war growth. In demolishing these long-held assumptions, this book aims to offer a reliable chronicle of the realities of Japanese business.Less
For Western economists and journalists, the most distinctive facet of the post-war Japanese business world has been the keiretsu, or the insular business alliances among powerful corporations. Within keiretsu groups, argue these observers, firms preferentially trade, lend money, take and receive technical and financial assistance, and cement their ties through cross-shareholding agreements. This book demonstrates that all this talk is really just urban legend. In their analysis, the chapters here show that the very idea of the keiretsu was created and propagated by Marxist scholars in post-war Japan. Western scholars merely repatriated the legend to show the culturally contingent nature of modern economic analysis. Laying waste to the notion of keiretsu, the book debunks several related “facts” as well: that Japanese firms maintain special arrangements with a “main bank,” that firms are systematically poorly managed, and that the Japanese government guided post-war growth. In demolishing these long-held assumptions, this book aims to offer a reliable chronicle of the realities of Japanese business.
Lalita Som
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- December 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780199452736
- eISBN:
- 9780199084548
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199452736.003.0008
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Behavioural Economics
This chapter looks at the simultaneous interaction between human capital, social capital, and institutional capital and how that interaction contributed to Japan’s industrial success in the post-War ...
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This chapter looks at the simultaneous interaction between human capital, social capital, and institutional capital and how that interaction contributed to Japan’s industrial success in the post-War period. Japan’s extraordinary economic growth since 1945 was orchestrated by the Japanese government and achieved through Japanese companies and their employees. The remarkable growth was achieved through a combination of a centralized developmental state, private industry, and long-term credit banks, political and economic linkages, and the fundamental transformation and organization of the production system harnessing the human capital of engineers, R&D scientists, and managers. This chapter looks at the growth experience of Japan after Second World War, analysing the above reasons through the lens of the relationship between human capital, social capital, and institutional capital.Less
This chapter looks at the simultaneous interaction between human capital, social capital, and institutional capital and how that interaction contributed to Japan’s industrial success in the post-War period. Japan’s extraordinary economic growth since 1945 was orchestrated by the Japanese government and achieved through Japanese companies and their employees. The remarkable growth was achieved through a combination of a centralized developmental state, private industry, and long-term credit banks, political and economic linkages, and the fundamental transformation and organization of the production system harnessing the human capital of engineers, R&D scientists, and managers. This chapter looks at the growth experience of Japan after Second World War, analysing the above reasons through the lens of the relationship between human capital, social capital, and institutional capital.