Experts agree that Japan must strengthen its Antimonopoly Act, push deregulation to promote economic reform, reactivate its sluggish economy and protect consumer interests.
A 2002 report on Japan published by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development said a double structure plagued the Japanese economy -- an export sector with high productivity and a domestic sector with low productivity. It called on Japan to implement policies for encouraging competition and to push regulatory reform that attracts direct foreign investment.
The governing Liberal Democratic Party, in its manifesto for November's Lower House election, promised to enhance fairness and transparency in the domestic market by strengthening the Fair Trade Commission.