Around 85% of Japan’s 3.6 million companies are classified as small businesses, typically with a handful of employees. After leaving Goldman in 2007, a chance encounter with a neighbor led Mr. Atkinson into the restoration of national heritage sites. Mr. Atkinson said they met about twice a year starting four years ago, and the politician said he was reading Mr. Atkinson’s books. “He is far more driven by numbers and analysis than any other senior politician that I have met," Mr. Atkinson said. “The most important issue for Japanese business is to raise productivity," Mr. Suga said in announcing plans to encourage mergers.

Source: Mint December 27, 2020 18:22 UTC