Efficiency analysis of Japan’s industry and manufacturing

Abstract Historical developments of Japan’s industry, especially manufacturing industry during a period of 1955–2000 are reviewed, and Japan’s industrial and manufacturing efficiencies are analysed and evaluated from four kinds of measure; that is, yield rate, efficiency index, relative productivity, and labour productivity. It is found that Japan’s manufacturing efficiency is high in terms of the efficiency index, the relative productivity and the labour productivity, but the lowest from the standpoint of the yield rate among classified industrial sectors. Japan’s industrial labour productivity is also compared with that for other industrialized countries.