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An assessment of the Japan Railway companies since privatization: Performance, local rail service and debts

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  • Fumitoshi Mizutani

Abstract

This paper deals with three issues related to the privatization of Japan National Railway: the performance of each Japan Railway (JR) since privatization, the state of local rail service since the privatization and the handling of JNR's long-term debts. First, after a summary of what happened during the privatization of JNR in 1987, I will analyse the JRs' performance since privatization, taking the following performance measures: operating revenue cost ratio as an indicator of financial situation; average fare; wage; labour productivity; and average operating costs. In this analysis, I will investigate factors that attain performance improvement, such as competitive pressures and practical options related to organizational structure, incentive schemes, corporate strategies, etc. Second, I will focus on the question of whether the local rail service in small communities has remained intact since privatization. Opponents to privatization had argued that such service would atrophy. With JRs' typical local lines as samples, service quality is observed as reflected in frequency, operating time, departure of first and last train, with all figures taken between 1987 (the onset of privatization) and 1997 (10 years after privatization). Finally, the current issue of the long-term debts of JNR is discussed. In addition to the sale of JNR land and stock, it is inevitable that taxpayers' money will have to be used against this massive debt. I will outline the liquidation plan upon which the government has decided and look into the kind of political involvement brought about by the debt predicament.

Suggested Citation

  • Fumitoshi Mizutani, 1999. "An assessment of the Japan Railway companies since privatization: Performance, local rail service and debts," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(2), pages 117-139, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:transr:v:19:y:1999:i:2:p:117-139
    DOI: 10.1080/014416499295574
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    Cited by:

    1. Kohei Takahashi & Yuki Hashimoto, 2023. "Small grant subsidy application effects on productivity improvement: evidence from Japanese SMEs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1631-1658, April.
    2. Ryota Nakatani, 2023. "Productivity drivers of infrastructure companies: Network industries utilizing economies of scale in the digital era," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 94(4), pages 1273-1298, December.
    3. Bugalia, Nikhil & Maemura, Yu & Ozawa, Kazumasa, 2021. "Demand risk management of private High-Speed Rail operators: A review of experiences in Japan and Taiwan," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 67-76.
    4. Ruhe Xie & Haibo Chen & Chris Nash, 2002. "Migration of railway freight transport from command economy to market economy: The case of China," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(2), pages 159-177, January.
    5. Quiroz Flores, Alejandro & Pfaff, Katharina, 2021. "Private provision of public goods and political survival: Rail transport in four European democracies in the 20th century," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    6. Matthias Finger & Pierre Messulam (ed.), 2015. "Rail Economics, Policy and Regulation in Europe," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 15711.
    7. Perl, Anthony D. & Goetz, Andrew R., 2015. "Corridors, hybrids and networks: three global development strategies for high speed rail," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 134-144.

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