Economic progress requires technological development, which in turn depends on a country's social capacity to acquire, assimilate, and develop new technologies. Focusing on the evolution of Japan's economy from the Meiji Restoration to the present day, this volume provides an authoritative account, firmly grounded in theoretical and empirical analysis, of the country's attempts to generate the necessary social capacity for technological innovation and absorption. Successive chapters address the specific experiences of a number of key Japanese industries during this process. Each industrial case study is written by an acknowledged expert in the field and presents material of significant interest to specialists in economic development in a form that is also accessible to the nonspecialist. The book concludes with a summary of useful lessons, variously applicable to countries at all the different stages of industrialization.

This book identifies that problems that China must face to develop its economy and elucidates the structural deficiencies which lay behind these problems. Chinese economy compared with other economies in the world. The book also analyzes China's present economic situation and, where possible, provides prescriptions for solving its problems by comparing it with the Japanese development experience.

In this book Ryoshin Minami studies the last hundred years of Japan's remarkable economic growth from the Meiji period up to the present day. First, he reveals the factors which account for Japan's successful economic take-off during the Meiji period. Second, he explains why Japan achieved a more rapid rate of economic growth than other developed countries. This forms the major part of the book and will interest those in the developed countries who have felt the full force of Japan's export drive and whose own industries are consequently in decline. Finally, the author evaluates the results of Japan's economic growth and makes predictions for its future. The book makes a comprehensive survey of the Japanese experience in the pre- and post-war periods and points out lessons not only for developed countries but also for developing countries.

This book identifies that problems that China must face to develop its economy and elucidates the structural deficiencies which lay behind these problems. Chinese economy compared with other economies in the world. The book also analyzes China's present economic situation and, where possible, provides prescriptions for solving its problems by comparing it with the Japanese development experience.

Continuing the inequality and development debate originally ushered in by Kuznets, this book extends to the possible sociopolitical disruptions of growing inequality and its ramifications for growth and development. Comparing a range of countries in Asia and beyond, the book examines the relationships between growth, distribution and politics. Theoretical and empirical studies are backed up by discussion of historical developments in this interdisciplinary study which will interest political scientists, sociologists, historians and economists.

Economic progress requires technological development, which in turn depends on a country's social capacity to acquire, assimilate, and develop new technologies. Focusing on the evolution of Japan's economy from the Meiji Restoration to the present day, this volume provides an authoritative account, firmly grounded in theoretical and empirical analysis, of the country's attempts to generate the necessary social capacity for technological innovation and absorption. Successive chapters address the specific experiences of a number of key Japanese industries during this process. Each industrial case study is written by an acknowledged expert in the field and presents material of significant interest to specialists in economic development in a form that is also accessible to the nonspecialist. The book concludes with a summary of useful lessons, variously applicable to countries at all the different stages of industrialization.