Japanese Industrial Organization in Comparative Perspective

This review examines theory and research on Japanese patterns of work and indu strial organizat ion in broad comparison with the United States and other Western societies. Four topics are considered: labor markets, internal organi­ zation structure, employee work attit udes, and industrial organization. Two issues that pervade the discussion are: (a) the extent to which real differences exist between Japan and Western industrial economies in the orientations of workers and the structure of labor markets, firms, and industries; (b) the extent to which such differences can be explained within general theories of social and economic organization, as opposed to heavi ly culturalist or histori­