This book provides an insider's account of how macroeconomic policies in the United States, Japan and major European countries were carried out and how the OECD and the author either as its senior official or a Japanese central banker dealt with international trade issues, protectionism, globalisation, regional integration and other related issues since the 1960s. Employing an informal tone, the author offers a critical review of the successes and failures of the economic policies followed by these countries in the international setting which prevailed during this period. This book will interest economists, international businesspersons, journalists and historians.

Kumiharu Shigehara has pursued a distinguished career as both an international civil servant and a Japanese central banker: Bank of Japan Chief Economist, later OECD Chief Economist and subsequently OECD Deputy Secretary-General. He is currently President of the International Economic Policy Studies Association.