Bankruptcy in America, in stark contrast to its status in most other countries, typically signifies not a debtor's last gasp but an opportunity to catch one's breath and recoup. Why has the nation's legal system evolved to allow both corporate and individual debtors greater control over their...

1 The culture and institutions of Japan -- 2 Mental models and the cost of institutions -- 3 The process of long-term growth before the Meiji Restoration -- 4 Religious changes in Kamakura-era Japan -- 5 Institutions and trust level during the Muromachi era -- 6 Cultural foundations of Tokugawa...