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When borders don't matter: development and global culture - The Keynesian consensus - The ascent of Japan

9 important questions on When borders don't matter: development and global culture - The Keynesian consensus - The ascent of Japan

What aim did the American occupation of Japan after WW II have?

The American occupation of Japan after World War II aimed to promote the same type of economic recovery under democratic principles that applied to Europe.

What political reforms did Japan get?

Although the emperor was permitted to remain in office as a symbol of unity, he was no longer treated as a divine figure, and he cooperated fully with General Douglas MacArthur, supreme commander of the occupation forces.
A new constitution, adopted in 1947, affirmed the principle of parliamentary government, renounced war as an instrument of policy, guaranteed individual civil rights, and adopted the practice of judicial review.
An extensive land-reform program addressed the problem of rural poverty, transforming millions of laborers into owner-cultivators.

What did urban workers do? What goal was behind it?

Urban workers benefited under the occupation: labor unions were recognized, and the right to collective bargaining was endorsed.
The goal was to break the stranglehold that a tiny minority of landowners and industries had enjoyed over Japan's economy since the early twentieth century.

Who are the zaibatsu? What happened to them?

The large holding companies that controlled the country's major industries, the zaibatsu, were not broken up, despite the fact that they had supported Japan's expansionist policies before and during the war.
Fear of economic chaos should the zaibatsu be dissolved, together with the fact that a number of large American firms, including Westinghouse and General Electric, had investments in the giant firms, blunted calls for retribution.

When did the occupation of Japan come to an end?

In 1950 Japan became a strategic base of operations for the American struggle against communism in Korea, and the following year the Americans signed a security treaty with their former enemy.
The occupation of Japan formally came to an end in 1952.

How did Japan create trade links?

The Japanese government paid reparations to countries in Southeast Asia that had been occupied during the war, and these transactions facilitated the establishment of more permanent trade links, with Japan purchasing raw materials from Burma (now Myanmar), the Philippines, and Indonesia.

What dominated the economic landscape?

Large electronics, automotive, and insurance corporations dominated the economic landscape, but small- and medium-sized firms also played key roles.

What contributed to the country's prosperity?

Government subsidies and tax incentives for businesses, coupled with high import tariffs and cumbersome regulations that made it difficult for foreign firms to establish a foothold in Japan, contributed mightily to the country's prosperity.

What does Japan focus on in the new century?

In the new century, with increasing competition from China and South Korea, Japanese businesses began to focus research and manufacturing in prospective growth areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and hybrid vehicles.
Perhaps the greatest economic challenge was the country's overall population decline and an ageing workforce.

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

A Concise History of the World Since 1945 | 9781352010206 | W M Spellman

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