This book discusses the transition of finance and money in Japan and the United States from the 1970s through the first few months of 1987. The similarities are noted here, but the differences are emphasized. The financial changes that have occurred in both countries are particularly important today and deserve close study on the basis of the size of the two economies and their impact on world markets, their relative macroeconomic performance since 1975, and the role financial issues have come to play in proposals dealing with the massive trade imbalances that emerged after 1980.