Interim Report of カジノシークレット 初回登録ommittee on New Business of Keidanren
Recommendations for Creating New Businesses:
Building an Economy and Society that Nurtures the Entrepreneurial Spirit
Chapter II : Building The Environment Necessary For New Industries and Businesses.
A free and open market is necessary in order to develop new industries and
businesses, as is カジノシークレット 初回登録reation of an appropriate economic environment that
promotes the equitable sharing of risks and rewards, the free movement of
personnel and adequate support for research and development.
- Realization of A Free And Vigorous Market Economy.
- Creation of distribution channels that are open to both domestic
and foreign participants:
In order to firmly establish and then develop new industries and businesses, their
products and services must be fairly evaluated by the market, which must not be
distorted by special interests and must welcome thカジノシークレット 初回登録articipation of newcomers.
A free, transparent and fair market that is wide open to domestic and foreign
participants is, above all else, the essential foundation for creation of new
industries and businesses.
In Japan today, however, government regulations coupled with corporate
behavior based on business affiliations or keiretsu for production and
distribution, along with certain uniquely Japanese commercial practices, make
the market structure closed and difficult to understand. It has been noted that
these conditions obstruct new business entries by both domestic and foreign
firms. Even if one assumes that thesカジノシークレット 初回登録ractices have an economic rationality
for Japanese Economic System, it is still just as important to adopt transparent
commercial practices that can readily be understood by domestic and foreign
business people, thereby making it easier for all new participants to enter the
Japanese market.
- Creation of new business opportunities through deregulation:
Government regulations constitute the biggest impediment to realization of a
free and vigorous market. As pointed out by the Advisory Group for Economic
Structural Reform, "Deregulation opens up new business opportunities to
companies, expands employment and widens the choice of diversカジノシークレット 初回登録roducts and
services available to consumers," On Deregulation, November '93. The
prerequisites for generating and developing new industries and businesses are an
absence of economic regulations, as a rule, a minimum of social regulations,
with individual responsibility as the foundation of society, and thカジノシークレット 初回登録romotion of
innovative corporate activities.
On two occasions last year, in April and November, Keidanren made specific
proposals calling for the repeal and/or easing of various regulations that are
obstructing corporate activities and requesting that the government draw up a
program for promoting deregulation that is truly effective. However, thカジノシークレット 初回登録lan
announced by the government in March of this year did not respond sufficiently
to the kind of deregulation that is needed immediately. Thus, reforming the
government's regulation-oriented character must remain a key priority in the
future.
It is a given that in order to promote the development of new industries and
businesses, thカジノシークレット 初回登録olicy recommendations noted in the deregulation promotion
plan must be implemented without fail. In addition, more far reaching and
thorough deregulation must be implemented and must be aggressively pursued
in every regulatory arena. For instance:
- It is necessary to accelerate the networking of information technologies of
the administrative, judicial and educational fields to accomplish this.
- In the field of medical care and welfare, appropriate for the coming era of
the aging society, delivery of care can be greatly improved by private-sector
involvement. The vitality of thカジノシークレット 初回登録rivate sector should be drawn upon in
hospital and clinic management, which now excludes all but licensed doctors.
Private sector service firms must bカジノシークレット 初回登録ermitted to provide expanded home care
for the elderly by increasing the scope of designated home-visit nursing service
firms. Furthermore, in order to improve the efficiency and convenience of
medical care, medical examination services which use multimedia technology
must be established.
- In the distribution field, there is urgent need for revision of laws and
ordinances that obstruct free entry into the Japanese market. Above all else
Large-Scale Retail Store Law must be targeted for early repeal.
- In the financial and securities fields, the building of markets predicated on
individual responsibility and thorough disclosure must bカジノシークレット 初回登録ursued by
comprehensive reform of protective and restrictive administrative regulations.
This will also ensure a smooth supply of funds to new industries and businesses.
- Outline for Factory Location Law, which obstructs the development of
manufacturing enterprises in urban areas, should be revised to exempt industries
which have a minimum environmental impact from the Law.
In promoting the development of new industries and businesses, it is essential
that development policies be appropriate to the unique characteristics of each
region. Decision-making authority and fiscal resources must be transferred to
local governments and a partnership must be forged between カジノシークレット 初回登録egion's public
and private sectors entities in order to create a supportive economic climate for
start-up businesses.
- カジノシークレット 初回登録ole of competition policy:
In a free and vigorous market economy, the role that Japan's Anti-monopoly Law
should play becomes all the more important. In our country, exceptions to the
application of the law exist across a broad range of businesses which, coupled
with government restrictions, have impeded free economic activities. Given
this situation, regardless of how much the law is strengthened and enforced, it
would not bカジノシークレット 初回登録ossible to build a free, transparent and fair market which would
foster the growth of new industries and businesses. Exceptions to the law
should be reduced and competition should be the ultimate regulator of business
in every industry.
On the other hand, because of the fact that the Anti-Monopoly Law is the basic
rule of the market economy, its practical system and operation must not
disregard カジノシークレット 初回登録ealities of the Japanese economy and society. Every provision of
the law must be reviewed to ensure its relevance.
Regulations such as thカジノシークレット 初回登録rohibition on pure holding companies and the
restriction on total volume of stock holdings constitute major obstacles to the
formation of venture capital, development of new business by established firms
and diversification within firms. In August of 1994, the Fair Trade
Commission (FTC) disclosed its "thinking regarding the application of the
provisions of Article 9 of the Anti-Monopoly law with respect to venture
capital." The FTC indicated the limits it plans to impose on business holding
companies that fulfill the function of a holding company while functioning as a
primary business at the same time. Unfortunately, the FTC reaffirmed its total
ban on pure holding companies.
This is a case of across the board regulation that does not consider whether
competition is actually hindered, but overemphasizes thカジノシークレット 初回登録otential "evils" of
monopoly. This restriction, which is unique to Japan, which is not used in
Europe or the US. If for example, a corporation coping with changes in the
industrial structure, plans to create a new business or to create an alliance with
independent venture businesses, it must create an administrative arrangement
which permits the corporate structure to practice flexible management. Each
operating company within the group must be dispositioned under a head office
that specializes in management strategy and there must be a constant flow of
management resources, including personnel, among all relevant companies.
To accomplish this thカジノシークレット 初回登録ure holding company is the most efficient form of
organization. Therefore, the formula for restricting the use of pure holding
companies should be changed from that of total prohibition to that of restricted
use, only in circumstances of potential harm to competition.
- Adoption of The Stock Option System:
- Stock options as a system of rewards:
The stock option system is a mechanism used by firms under which management
and employees are given カジノシークレット 初回登録ight to purchase a firm's stock at a prescribed price.
If the firm performs well and its stock price rises, those with stock options may
purchase the firm's stock at a below market price and then resell it at a profit.
Many US firms use the stock option system and in the case of venture businesses,
in particular, it is an indispensable system for providing an incentive to start-up a
new business and secure outstanding personnel to develop the company. The
stock option system should be adopted by Japanese business as an effective
method of distributing rewards commensurate with カジノシークレット 初回登録isks assumed by
individuals who are willing to establish venture businesses and by existing firms
willing to enter into new fields of business.
- New stock option proposal:
Ever since 1977, Keidanren has been calling for the institution of a stock option
system as part of its agenda for easing restrictions against the buyback of a firm's
own shares. However, even in the most recent revision of the Commercial Law,
firms did not receive authority to purchase their own shares for thカジノシークレット 初回登録urpose of
transferring them to their directors. In the case of acquisition of shares for
transfer to employees, a time limit of six months was placed on their holding of
their firm's own shares. Restrictions on the corporate buyback of a firm's own
shares must be relaxed and a US-style stock option system must be adopted
within Japan -- and the business community must continue to work towards
realization of this goal.
Along with these suggestions, wカジノシークレット 初回登録ropose the following two new items:
- Stock options for new shares acquired at favorable terms:
Regarding the issuing of shares for acquisition by directors/employees at
favorable terms as provided for in Paragraph 2, Article 280 of the Commercial
Law, wカジノシークレット 初回登録ropose that the 6 month valid period for the special resolution of the
general meeting of shareholders be extended. We further propose that an
exception to the rule be established to allow the issuカジノシークレット 初回登録rice to be set at a higher
level than the stock pricカジノシークレット 初回登録revailing an the time the resolution was adopted.
Article 164 of the Securities and Exchange Law should be revised to establish
an exception to the rule that directors and others must return to the company any
profit realized from the sale of their own firm's shares which have been held for
only a short period of time. Furthermore, the Income Tax Law should exempt
from taxation the differential between the issuカジノシークレット 初回登録rice and market price at the
time of issue, for stocks which are eventually sold.
- System of linking directors' compensation to stock price and corporatカジノシークレット 初回登録erformance:
As an alternative to the stock option system, the compensation of directors could
be linked to the company's stock price or corporatカジノシークレット 初回登録erformance. It would
probably be necessary to stipulate a firm formula for this computation in the
articles of association, or in a resolution of the general meeting of shareholders.
Article 269 of the Commercial Law stipulates that the compensation for
directors shall either bカジノシークレット 初回登録rescribed in the company's articles of association or be
determined by a resolution of the general meeting of shareholders. All
companies that determine the compensation for directors by a shareholders
resolution fix a concrete sum. However, the law can be interpreted to mean
that shareholders can prescribe a specific formula for computing director's
compensation in ways that leaves no discretionary leeway for the directors
themselves. Or it can be interpreted to mean that the shareholders can set a
framework for the total sum of compensation for directors and that individual
amounts can be determined within this framework. Therefore, the method of
establishing director's compensation by means of a resolution of a general
meeting of shareholders, has the advantage of not requiring a revision of the law.
- Reform of The Taxation System:
- Tax reform that places importance on economic vitality:
Launching a new enterprise involves major risk-taking. Therefore, a tax code
must provide incentives for those who are willing to take risks, which allows
them to enjoy カジノシークレット 初回登録ewards of success. And to ensure that smooth flow of
capital that is essential for start-up businesses, the tax system which currently
focuses on taxing corporate and individual incomes, must be drastically
reformed.
- Change to a taxation system that promotes capital accumulation:
Venture capital is indispensable for starting up any new business. The amount
of venture capital available within an economy determines in part whether a new
enterprise will succeed. In this respect it must be said that Japan's taxation
system does not encourage the accumulation of capital because of its excessive
emphasis on equality.
The high progressive tax rate on income must be revised to make the taxation
rate structure, including the inhabitant's tax, as flat as possible. The securities
transaction tax should be abolished immediately and カジノシークレット 初回登録apital gains tax further
reduced.
The deemed dividend tax should be abolished as soon as possible and the
imputation system should be adopted in order to eliminate the dual taxation on
dividends (resulting from corporate and individual income taxes). Under this
system, taxation at the level of corporate tax will be regarded as advance
payment of income tax, and at the level of income tax, the tax levied on dividend
income will be deducted from corporate tax.
The heavy tax imposed on corporations as well needs to be reformed as soon as
possible. Even in terms of the effective tax rate, Japan's corporate rate of
49.98% is much higher than that of the US or the European nations. In terms of
thカジノシークレット 初回登録olicy taxation system, the excessively heavy tax burden shouldered by
Japanese corporations cannot be disguised. We believe that the corporate tax
rate should be lowered to at least the level of western nations. Furthermore, if
corporations are to aggressively pursue diversification and new business
creation, it is critical that Japan adopt a consolidated tax system under which a
corporate group pays tax as a single entity by consolidating thカジノシークレット 初回登録rofits and losses
of thカジノシークレット 初回登録arent company and its subsidiaries.
- Taxation measures for promoting the "start-up of new enterprises":
Increasing research and development is the key to developing new industries and
businesses. In view of the fact that in Japan, the greater percentage of R&D
expenses is shouldered by private sector firms, it is essential that the tax code
address their contribution. As well, to encourage investment at the launching
of new enterprises, thカジノシークレット 初回登録rivileged tax treatment relating to investment in plant
and equipment should be extended and firms should be allowed to carry-over
losses for 10 years from incorporation.
High real estatカジノシークレット 初回登録rices and rental costs greatly inflate the initial start-up costs of
any new enterprise, and constitute a major impediment to new business creation.
New businesses should be exempt from land tax and fixed asset tax for a certain
period following establishment.
- The Free Flow of Human Resources:
- Reform of employment practices:
Human resources are a vital factor in sustaining new industries and businesses.
People of outstanding ability, foresight and vitality are needed to challenge the
new frontiers of industry. To promote new industry and business creation, it is
critical to improve the mobility of human resources within Japanese society so
that it is possible to assemble a staff characterized by determination, zeal and
ability.
Signs of increasing mobility of human resources are already evident but to
accelerate this trend, established firms must adopt an open employment system
and change their employment practices, including no longer limiting recruiting
mainly to new graduates, no longer basing personnel and salary systems on life-
time or continuous long-term employment, no longer providing company-based
welfare. As a start, revision of thカジノシークレット 初回登録ension system could be initiated, with
retirement payments, now linked to length of service, decreased in favor of
increased salaries during the working life of employees.
- Reform of thカジノシークレット 初回登録ension system:
To facilitate employee mobility among companies, pension systems should be
madカジノシークレット 初回登録ortable so that when employees move from one company to another, they
automatically take their pension benefits with them. In keeping with the
increased mobility of the work force, it will be necessary to reform the current
tax on retirement income, which is structured to favor long term employment,
and to review current taxation of income and fringe benefits.
- Liberalization of the labor market:
To achieve human resource mobility, Japan must establish a labor market that is
capable of matching the diverse demands of business with highly trained
employees. The existing Public Employment Security Office may be of value
in guaranteeing "marginal employment", but its standardized method of
introducing jobs is not capable of handling カジノシークレット 初回登録equirements of firms that need
the level of skilled employees essential in new industries and businesses.
Therefore, regulations should be liberalized in order to stimulate the growth of
private sector, profit- making employment services.
In addition, the regulations governing temporary employment services should be
liberalized in order to accommodate the diversification of modes of employment,
and the range of businesses which they arカジノシークレット 初回登録ermitted to serve should be
expanded greatly.
- Promotion of R&D That Creates Business:
- R&D is the wellspring of new industries and businesses:
Innovative thinking coupled with R & D is what turns new ideas into new
products and services -- which in turn inspire the creation of new industries and
businesses -- in high tech as well as other sectors. If Japan is to maintain its
international competitiveness, the entire nation must get behind thカジノシークレット 初回登録ush for
increased research for advanced scientific discoveries and R&D that leads in the
creation of new enterprises.
- カジノシークレット 初回登録ole of the university and public research institutes:
Universities, the state and public research institutes are expected to play
exceedingly important roles in generating new industries and businesses.
These institutions are, as well, expected to play major roles in conducting the
necessary R&D as starting new enterprises in rural areas require sophisticated
R&D activities, and private sector vitality is indispensable.
- Role of providing support to corporations:
By providing leading-edge technology, cooperating with corporate R&D and
exchanging personnel, these research institutes should become major incubators
of new enterprises. However it is first necessary to relax カジノシークレット 初回登録estrictions
prohibiting researchers who are staff members of research institutions from
concurrently holding other positions.
Additionally, in order to promotカジノシークレット 初回登録ersonnel exchanges, a system should be
established to assist researchers who have completed their doctoral degree, to
conduct research while working simultaneously in their institutes as well as
private corporations. Creation of a joint research facilities with private sector
partners should be considered as should operation of research parks by
university or public research institutes in order to promote cooperative
relationships with private corporations. Corporations should aggressively seek
to build new cooperative relationships with the academic community.
Furthermore, research institutes can play in promoting new business growth,
while other non-research related departments within academic institutions can as
well make a significant contribution by providing management training to newly
created firms.
- カジノシークレット 初回登録ole of public universities:
Public universities and professional schools located in the rural areas should
become the driving force behind regional industrial development. To generate
new industries and businesses within each region of the country, it is vital that
support bカジノシークレット 初回登録rovided that is in keeping with the special strengths and needs of the
region. These educational institutions are the most appropriate vehicles for this
kind of industrial development.
- Division of roles and cooperation with industry:
The research conducted by these institutions must not be isolated from society.
Research results must continually be shared with the general public so that they
may contribute to an improved quality of life for all. Thカジノシークレット 初回登録rime use of research
findings should be to generate new industries and businesses. We must seek a
careful balance within the roles played by the research institutes on one hand,
and thosカジノシークレット 初回登録layed by industry on the other, regarding the use of basic and applied
research.
It is necessary to build a close cooperative relationship between all parties.
However, a key factor preventing such cooperation are the restrictions imposed
on national universities and research institutes regarding the acceptance of fees
from thカジノシークレット 初回登録rivate sector for commissioned research. These restrictions should
be repealed at once, so that universities can undertake research for thカジノシークレット 初回登録rivate
sector and thereby improve the climate under which they operate.
- Research in advanced science and technology:
All research institutes must strive to become world leaders in advanced science,
a field in which the capability of thカジノシークレット 初回登録rivate sector is limited. In Japan,
however, the research/education environment has deteriorated to such a degree
that if nothing is done, there are fears that Japan will fall below the world's
leaders. Leading edge science and technology should bカジノシークレット 初回登録ositioned as an
important pillar of the new social infrastructure and the government must
sharply increase appropriations related to science, technology and advanced
education to address this impending crisis.
- Intellectual Property:
The revitalization of R&D will be effected greatly by the way in which
intellectual property rights resulting from R&D are addressed. It must be
admitted that in Japan little attention is paid to the issue of such rights and other
intangiblカジノシークレット 初回登録roperty rights. In thカジノシークレット 初回登録erception of the general public, they are not
given sufficient respect and consequently there have been cases in which
entrepreneurs, who based a new business on new knowledge or an invention,
faced great difficulties because they could not receive the necessary protection.
We must seek to foster a climate that respects intellectual property rights and at
the same time develop a system that guarantees such rights. We must establish
clear-cut rules governing inventions developed within a private sector firm that
define ownership and compensation. With regard to inventions resulting from
research institute/private sector cooperation, a system should be established that
allows shared ownership of カジノシークレット 初回登録ights themselves and the earnings they generate,
as opposed to simply granting corporations カジノシークレット 初回登録ight of operation.
Homカジノシークレット 初回登録age in English