This book describes and clarifies how certain problems can be resolved in Japan and Asia. For the future, the focus should be on Japan, which can provide "common knowledge" as a public good. The book collects the results of researchers in Japan, China, South Korea, and Indonesia on declining...

International Financial Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank have in recent years promoted the implementation of credit bureaus as a way of improving access to finance for both individuals and businesses. In 2003, no such structure existed for consumer credit information in China. Not only was...