The Japanese financial system /

Suzuki (director, Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies at the Bank of Japan) is the author of other works in English on the Japanese financial system, and is regarded as the foremost expert on that topic. This book was written by his staff (although the names of the contributors are not mentioned) and was published in Japan in its latest edition in 1986. This specially edited English version contains 46 tables and 10 figures. The work is organized in two parts. The first provides an overview of the financial structure and financial system. The second part provides details on financial assets; the money, securities, and foreign exchange markets; interest rates; public and private financial institutions, including the commercial banks, long-term credit institutions, specialized foreign exchange banks, financial institutions for small business or for agriculture, securities companies, and government financial institutions; and the Bank of Japan and monetary policy, including an assessment of its effectiveness. The discussion is technical, informative, and well structured. The statistics end with 1985; thus the financial adjustments to recent further liberalization are not included. Adreas Prindl's Japanese Finance (CH, Apr '82) is more basic and readable. This useful reference on the Japanese financial system is recommended for graduate and research collections.-B. Mieczkowski, Ithaca College