In Work and Pay in the United States and Japan, authors Clair Brown, Yoshifumi Nakata, Michael Reich, and Lloyd Ulman provide an integrated and detailed analysis of the components of firm human resources systems in the US and Japan. Drawing on data obtained from fieldwork in comparable establishments in these two countries, as well as from national sources, this work examines the relationship between company practices and national economic institutions. The authors address a number of key questions about employer-employee relations. How have major Japanese manufacturing companies been able to convert the assurance of "lifetime" employment security into a source of superior employee efficiency and adaptability, when job and income security have been feared as a source of "shirking" and wage inflation in the US? How have higher economic and real wage growth rates been associated with greater equality in earned income distribution in Japan, when the incentive role of income inequality to worker effort and savings has been stressed in the US? How could Japanese emphasis on employment security in the firm be reconciled with greater price stability and lower unemployment than in the US? This work analyses elements such as employee training and involvement programs, wage behavior as an incentive system and an alternate channel of savings, and synchronous wage determination (shunto) at work in the Japanese economy that provide for such successes. The book also explores the costs that have been associated with these Japanese accomplishments, as well as who must bear them. In particular, it examines how Japanese women compare less favorably with American women in terms of opportunities for work, pay, and promotion; the higher hours of working time for men in Japan than in the US; and the constraints on mobility for Japanese workers. It also poses the question of whether Japanese unions are weaker than their American counterparts, or just more sensible and far-sighted. Finally, this \ork examines the outlook for these distinctive Japanese institutions and practices in a period of slower growth and economic "maturity." Based on a research project carried out in both countries, the book concludes with the lessons that each country can learn much from the employment practices of the other. Work and Pay in the United States and Japan will be essential reading for students, professors, and all professionals involved with employment systems and employer-employee relations.

The book describes Japan’s efforts since 2015 to exit the deflationary ‘lost decades’ and chart a new economic course through digital and green transformation, as well as ‘new/ sustainable capitalism.’Japan is attempting to revitalize and reorient its economy through digital and green transformation. At the same time it is seeking to make a more equitable and sustainable transition through ‘new/ sustainable capitalism.’ These twin efforts face strong headwinds, not least from a declining and ageing population, and social divisions from earlier neoliberal policies. There are also contradictions, which are highlighted by corporate governance and labour market reforms, as well as technology push and competitiveness versus social needs- oriented innovation. The chapters in this volume, by Japanese and non- Japanese experts, highlight the emerging path of change towards Society 5.0, the quest to combine green and growth, and continued obstacles for full participation of women. They especially highlight the need for Japan to invest in people again, matching ‘human- centred’ rhetoric with concrete policy commitments and implementation. Only then will Japan truly emerge from its ‘lost decades.’This book is relevant for students, researchers, and policymakers in the fields of economics, sustainable development, environmental studies, public policy, and social sciences.The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Asia Pacific Business Review.

The book describes Japan’s efforts since 2015 to exit the deflationary ‘lost decades’ and chart a new economic course through digital and green transformation, as well as ‘new/ sustainable capitalism.’Japan is attempting to revitalize and reorient its economy through digital and green transformation. At the same time it is seeking to make a more equitable and sustainable transition through ‘new/ sustainable capitalism.’ These twin efforts face strong headwinds, not least from a declining and ageing population, and social divisions from earlier neoliberal policies. There are also contradictions, which are highlighted by corporate governance and labour market reforms, as well as technology push and competitiveness versus social needs- oriented innovation. The chapters in this volume, by Japanese and non- Japanese experts, highlight the emerging path of change towards Society 5.0, the quest to combine green and growth, and continued obstacles for full participation of women. They especially highlight the need for Japan to invest in people again, matching ‘human- centred’ rhetoric with concrete policy commitments and implementation. Only then will Japan truly emerge from its ‘lost decades.’This book is relevant for students, researchers, and policymakers in the fields of economics, sustainable development, environmental studies, public policy, and social sciences.The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Asia Pacific Business Review.

The book describes Japan's efforts since 2015 to exit the deflationary 'lost decades' and chart a new economic course through digital and green transformation, as well as 'new/ sustainable capitalism.'Japan is attempting to revitalize and reorient its economy through digital and green transformation. At the same time it is seeking to make a more equitable and sustainable transition through 'new/ sustainable capitalism.' These twin efforts face strong headwinds, not least from a declining and ageing population, and social divisions from earlier neoliberal policies. There are also contradictions, which are highlighted by corporate governance and labour market reforms, as well as technology push and competitiveness versus social needs- oriented innovation. The chapters in this volume, by Japanese and non- Japanese experts, highlight the emerging path of change towards Society 5.0, the quest to combine green and growth, and continued obstacles for full participation of women. They especially highlight the need for Japan to invest in people again, matching 'human- centred' rhetoric with concrete policy commitments and implementation. Only then will Japan truly emerge from its 'lost decades.'This book is relevant for students, researchers, and policymakers in the fields of economics, sustainable development, environmental studies, public policy, and social sciences.The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Asia Pacific Business Review.

In Work and Pay in the United States and Japan, authors Clair Brown, Yoshifumi Nakata, Michael Reich, and Lloyd Ulman provide an integrated and detailed analysis of the components of firm human resources systems in the US and Japan. Drawing on data obtained from fieldwork in comparable establishments in these two countries, as well as from national sources, this work examines the relationship between company practices and national economic institutions. The authors address a number of key questions about employer-employee relations. How have major Japanese manufacturing companies been able to convert the assurance of "lifetime" employment security into a source of superior employee efficiency and adaptability, when job and income security have been feared as a source of "shirking" and wage inflation in the US? How have higher economic and real wage growth rates been associated with greater equality in earned income distribution in Japan, when the incentive role of income inequality to worker effort and savings has been stressed in the US? How could Japanese emphasis on employment security in the firm be reconciled with greater price stability and lower unemployment than in the US? This work analyses elements such as employee training and involvement programs, wage behavior as an incentive system and an alternate channel of savings, and synchronous wage determination (shunto) at work in the Japanese economy that provide for such successes. The book also explores the costs that have been associated with these Japanese accomplishments, as well as who must bear them. In particular, it examines how Japanese women compare less favorably with American women in terms of opportunities for work, pay, and promotion; the higher hours of working time for men in Japan than in the US; and the constraints on mobility for Japanese workers. It also poses the question of whether Japanese unions are weaker than their American counterparts, or just more sensible and far-sighted. Finally, this \ork examines the outlook for these distinctive Japanese institutions and practices in a period of slower growth and economic "maturity." Based on a research project carried out in both countries, the book concludes with the lessons that each country can learn much from the employment practices of the other. Work and Pay in the United States and Japan will be essential reading for students, professors, and all professionals involved with employment systems and employer-employee relations.

The book describes Japan’s efforts since 2015 to exit the deflationary ‘lost decades’ and chart a new economic course through digital and green transformation, as well as ‘new/ sustainable capitalism.’Japan is attempting to revitalize and reorient its economy through digital and green transformation. At the same time it is seeking to make a more equitable and sustainable transition through ‘new/ sustainable capitalism.’ These twin efforts face strong headwinds, not least from a declining and ageing population, and social divisions from earlier neoliberal policies. There are also contradictions, which are highlighted by corporate governance and labour market reforms, as well as technology push and competitiveness versus social needs- oriented innovation. The chapters in this volume, by Japanese and non- Japanese experts, highlight the emerging path of change towards Society 5.0, the quest to combine green and growth, and continued obstacles for full participation of women. They especially highlight the need for Japan to invest in people again, matching ‘human- centred’ rhetoric with concrete policy commitments and implementation. Only then will Japan truly emerge from its ‘lost decades.’This book is relevant for students, researchers, and policymakers in the fields of economics, sustainable development, environmental studies, public policy, and social sciences.The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Asia Pacific Business Review.

The book describes Japan’s efforts since 2015 to exit the deflationary ‘lost decades’ and chart a new economic course through digital and green transformation, as well as ‘new/ sustainable capitalism.’Japan is attempting to revitalize and reorient its economy through digital and green transformation. At the same time it is seeking to make a more equitable and sustainable transition through ‘new/ sustainable capitalism.’ These twin efforts face strong headwinds, not least from a declining and ageing population, and social divisions from earlier neoliberal policies. There are also contradictions, which are highlighted by corporate governance and labour market reforms, as well as technology push and competitiveness versus social needs- oriented innovation. The chapters in this volume, by Japanese and non- Japanese experts, highlight the emerging path of change towards Society 5.0, the quest to combine green and growth, and continued obstacles for full participation of women. They especially highlight the need for Japan to invest in people again, matching ‘human- centred’ rhetoric with concrete policy commitments and implementation. Only then will Japan truly emerge from its ‘lost decades.’This book is relevant for students, researchers, and policymakers in the fields of economics, sustainable development, environmental studies, public policy, and social sciences.The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Asia Pacific Business Review.

The book describes Japan's efforts since 2015 to exit the deflationary 'lost decades' and chart a new economic course through digital and green transformation, as well as 'new/ sustainable capitalism.'Japan is attempting to revitalize and reorient its economy through digital and green transformation. At the same time it is seeking to make a more equitable and sustainable transition through 'new/ sustainable capitalism.' These twin efforts face strong headwinds, not least from a declining and ageing population, and social divisions from earlier neoliberal policies. There are also contradictions, which are highlighted by corporate governance and labour market reforms, as well as technology push and competitiveness versus social needs- oriented innovation. The chapters in this volume, by Japanese and non- Japanese experts, highlight the emerging path of change towards Society 5.0, the quest to combine green and growth, and continued obstacles for full participation of women. They especially highlight the need for Japan to invest in people again, matching 'human- centred' rhetoric with concrete policy commitments and implementation. Only then will Japan truly emerge from its 'lost decades.'This book is relevant for students, researchers, and policymakers in the fields of economics, sustainable development, environmental studies, public policy, and social sciences.The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Asia Pacific Business Review.