THE DISTRIBUTION-SYSTEM OF JAPAN AND THE UNITED-STATES - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF FINAL-GOODS BUYERS

This paper examines (a) whether the cost of distribution services has been increased in recent years in Japan, and (b) whether it is the maj or cause of higher retail prices than in the United States. There are two major findings. The ratio of the cost of distribution services to the final price is comparable between Japan and the United States in r ecent years, suggesting that the distribution sector is not the major culprit of high retail prices. However, the cost of distribution servi ces for consumer goods shows a rapid increase, though the cost is stab le for investment and export goods.