Japan: Why It Works, Why It Doesn't

By Shyam Sunder and Kazuhiro Igawa

This collection of twenty-six essays furnishes concise explanations of everyday Japanese life in simplified economic terms. They begin with such questions as, Do Japanese live better than Americans? Why don't Japanese workers claim all their overtime? Why don't Japanese use personal checking accounts? Why do Japanese give and receive so many gifts? The essays are written in non-technical, accessible language intended for the undergraduate or advanced placement high school student taking an economics course or studying Japan in a social science course. The general reader will find the book a fascinating compendium of facts on Japanese culture and daily life.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0824819675
• ISBN13: 9780824819675
• Release Date: October 1997
• Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
• Length: 236 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.8" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

interesting, easy read on Japanese economic characteristics

An excellent book for non-Japan specialists on the Japanese economy. The book makes for excellent reading by anyone intersted in Japan; sections or all of the book would make particularly great reading assignments for high-school level courses on the Japanese economy.The chapters in this book are written by actual academic specialists on the Japanese economy. The information is therefore summaries of some of the best academic research into the Japanese economy. However, rather than the stuffy style of academic papers, the chapters are clear, concise, and intersting (with several comic strips thrown in.)The book is an interesting, easy read, addressing both many of the myths as well as the truly different characteristics of the Japanese economy.

This book really tells u something about Japan .

After reading this book.. the one thing i like was that this book offers u all the information which is first hand and exprienced by the authors themselves . This book offers the information which is hard to get from any other book and this really tells u what is actuuly Japan is and how it is different from rest of the european and american nations. This is an excellent book to read and very nicely written