Discussion Papers 2017
CIRJE-F-1063 | "Development State Evolving: Japan's Graduation from a Middle Income Country" |
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Author Name | Okazaki, Tetsuji |
Date | August 2017 |
Full Paper | |
Remarks | Revised in April 2018 |
Abstract |
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This paper reexamines the industrial policy in postwar Japan from perspectives of the literature on a "development state" and a "middle income trap". Japan transited from a middle income country to a high income country in the period from the 1950s to the 1970s. This process was characterized by a large structural change, such as resource reallocation from the primary industry to the secondary and the tertiary industries as well as resource reallocation within the secondary industry. Transition to a high income country is a challenging task for a middle income country. With respect to Japan, the industrial policy played a positive role in the transition. This was achieved by interactions between MITI and other related actors, who constrained and corrected MITI's attempts of excess intervention. |
Keywords: Industrial policy, Development state, Middle income trap, economic history, Japan |