The History of Japanese Economic Development

This is an easy-to-read book that explains how and why Japan industrialized rapidly. It traces historical development from the feudal Edo period to high income and technology in the current period. Catch-up industrialization is analyzed from a broad perspective including social, economic and political aspects. Japan's unique experience is contrasted with the practices of today's developing countries. Negative aspects such as social ills, policy failures, military movements and war years are also covered. Written in an accessible and lively form, the book engages scholars as well as novices with no prior knowledge of Japan.

Kenichi Ohno is Professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, Tokyo. He was born in Kobe, Japan and holds a PhD in Economics from Stanford University, California. He worked at the International Monetary Fund and taught at the University of Tsukuba and Saitama University before assuming his current position.

Introduction 1 An Overview: Evolutionary History and Translative Adaptation 2 The Edo Society: Preparing Conditions for Industrialization 3 Transition from Edo to Meiji 4 Importing and Absorbing Technology 5 Development of Key Industries 6 Budget, Finance and the Macroeconomy of Meiji 7 World War I and the 1920s 8 The Banking Crisis of 1927 9 The 1930s and the War Economy 10 Postwar Recovery 1945-49 11 The High Growth Era 12 Economic Maturity and Slowdown 13 The Asset Bubble and Prolonged Recession Questions and Answers