Korea's Economic Miracle: The Crucial Role of Japan

by Robert Castley

Overview

Very few developing countries have successfully industrialised. Many are under pressure from international organisations to achieve 'self-sustainable' industrialisation. This is why Korea's case is particularly interesting. There have been many attempts to explain the causes of Koreas' economic miracle. These have focused mainly on the internal factors such as the discipline of the Korean workforce and export-promotion policies. The present study however shows that these factors contributed to Korea's impressive growth but do not explain the reasons for her success. External factors have been more important, the Japanese economy in particular. This book examines therefore in detail the impact of Japan's economic growth on the Korean economy, in particular the stimulating effects of trade, sub-contracting, relocation of industry, investment, loans and technology transfer. It demonstrates how Japan provided a range of goods, services and capitals which were precisely what the newly industrialising country needed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780312160562
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	08/11/1997
Series:	St.Antony's
Edition description:	1997
Pages:	396
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.04(d)

About the Author

Charles Harvie is Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Wollongong, Australia. Hyun-Hoon Lee is in the Department of International Trade at Kangwon National University.

Table of Contents

Preface - Glossary - Introduction - Possible Explanations - Some Important Aspects - Analytical Framework - PART 1 - Japan's Industrial Restructuring - General Impact on Korea - PART 2 - The Sources of Capital - The Transfer of Technology - Demand Side Markets and Trade -Marketing - Industrial Organisation - Japanese Influence in the Light Industries - Japanese Influence in the Heavy Industries - PART 3 - Conclusions and Some Lessons - Replicability? - References - Annex - Index

Editorial Reviews

Theories abound concerning the causes of Korea's economic and industrial growth, in light of how few developing countries have "successfully" industrialized. This study shows that while the discipline of the Korean workforce and export-promotion policies have contributed to Korea's growth, they have been less crucial than Korea's relationship with the Japanese economy. The author discusses in depth the stimulating effects of trade, subcontracting, the relocation of industry, investment, loans, and technology transfer between Japan and Korea. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews