Comparative analysis of policy changes in the coordinated market economies

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18KK0358
• Research Category: Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (A))
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Politics
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Nishioka Susumu 東北大学, 法学研究科, 教授 (20506919)
• Project Period (FY): 2019 – 2021
• Keywords: 調整型市場経済 / 政策過程 / 政策変化 / 競争政策

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Both Japan and Germany are categorized as the 'coordinated market economies' as described in the "Varieties of Capitalism" theory. The coordinated market economies have different characteristics from the 'liberal market economies' typical of the U.S. In recent years, however, institutional reforms modeled on liberal market economies have been promoted, leading to the liberalization of the coordinated market economies. The aim of liberalization is to revitalize the market economy through the reduction of government and reform of non-market mechanisms. In fact, however, even in the midst of liberalization, there are cases in which government regulation is rather strengthened. This study focuses on the competition policies of Japan and Germany as cases to show how government regulation has been strengthened under liberalization.

Free Research Field

政治学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、規制緩和や市場への政府介入の縮小を狙いとする新自由主義のアイディアが潮流化するなかにあっても、実際には経済的規制を強化する制度改革が行われる場合があることを明らかにした点で学術的な意義をもつ。とくに近年の調整型市場経済の変化と踏まえた研究は依然とした希少であり、その点でも貢献は果たしている。
本研究での競争政策の比較分析を通じて、日本における政策能力や規制能力の不足や課題が浮き彫りになった。このことは、今後の日本の競争政策だけでなく、政策・規制能力の向上が必要であること、それには何が必要なことなのかを示すことで、社会的な意義ももつといえる。