Cooperative Capitalism : Self-Regulation, Trade Associations, and the Antimonopoly Law in Japan

Japan's industries are increasingly assuming regulatory functions through autonomous 'self-regulation'. They set and enforce trade rules through their trade associations, thus governing their own markets. Antitrust enforcement cannot halt this trend. Based on interviews and detailed data analysis of trade association activities, this book concludes that increasing self-regulation renders deregulation programmes and international trade negotiations ineffective, leaving many Japanese markets closed to international competitors.