Reforming Capitalism, Going Digital and Green

Japan's Approach

D. Hugh Whittaker, Yoshifumi Nakata

• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN: 9781040339329
• Edition: 0
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Sustainable Development
• Index: Business

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.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Citation Information
• Notes on Contributors
• Preface
• Introduction: reforming Japanese capitalism
• 1 Has Japan’s corporate governance reform reached a turning point? Some cautionary notes
• 2 Japan’s quest for a sustainable, virtuous circle of growth and distribution
• 3 Society 5.0 and new capitalism: complementarities and contradictions
• 4 The transformation of science, technology and innovation (STI) policy in Japan
• 5 Japan’s triple sustainability challenge
• 6 Evidence-based policy making in Japan’s public expenditure: compatibility of fiscal health and investing for the future
• 7 Much to be done in Japan’s family and gender equality policies
• 8 Can affirmative action overcome STEM gender inequality in Japan? Expectations and concerns
• 9 Remedying Japan’s deficient investment in people
• 10 The ‘new trinity’ reform of labour markets in Japan
• 11 Japan’s ‘consensual’ variety of digital capitalism and its global relevance
• Index