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