Japan, Inc.
Although Japan's economic development is primarily the product of private entrepreneurship, the government has directly contributed to the nation's prosperity. Its actions have helped initiate new industries, cushion the effects of economic depression, create a sound economic infrastructure, and protect the living standards of the citizenry. Indeed, so pervasive has government influence in the economy seemed that many foreign observers have popularized the term "Japan Inc." to describe its alliance of business and government interests. Whether Japan still fits this picture after several reforms in the 1980s and 1990s seems questionable, but there is little doubt that government agencies continue to influence the economy through a variety of policies.
Read more about this topic: Government-business Relations In Japan