Conclusions

Conclusions are very similar to introductions in that they should give an overview of the way in which the essay answered the question. They frequently include a very brief summary of the main points (pieces of evidence, data, and so on) from the argument you constructed to answer the question. It is extremely important that you explain, explicitly and very clearly, precisely how the argument you have produced answered the specific question or task set in the essay title.

Here are some real examples with comments:

Example 1

The question:

1. ‘The most important factor in explaining Japan’s Twentieth Century international trading success has been the willingness of other countries to buy Japanese exports.’
Discuss the validity of this statement

A student conclusion

Therefore as long as Japanese manufacturers are encouraged to export their products to countries such as the US and as they are forced to pay high margins to distribute their products at home they will use the alternative to export them abroad as there is a ready made market for their products. The Japanese trading companies also stand ready to offer them simple, direct and efficient export distribution channels.

Comment

Far too short, and no mention of how the argument they constructed answered the question asked of them.

Example 2

A student conclusion

Japan discourages imports of manufactured goods, the only goods it allows to import is raw material and oil - which Japan cannot produce. They then use these raw materials to produce manufactured goods and sell them abroad adding value. This is how they have managed to become so successful.

Comment

Far too short, does not summarise the argument, does not quite answer the question - the question was not just ‘explain how Japan has become successful in world markets.’ The emphasis in the answer has to be on the reasons behind their export performance (this is partially addressed) and/or the reasons behind their persistent B. of P surplus (this is only addressed indirectly).

Example 3

The question:

4. Analyse the importance of the part played by the Distribution System in preventing import penetration in the Japanese economy.

A student conclusion

It is true that the distribution system is very complicated in Japan and has lots of levels which are unnecessary and it does deter not necessarily prevent foreign companies exporting into Japan. The main problem is of course the strong Keiretsu links and the Japanese culture which is built in to the Japanese distribution system also prevents companies which aren’t ‘Japanese thinking’ from entering the market. These distributors also tend to belong to trade associations that exclude foreign imports

NB The student’s essay covered the following topics:

the complexity of the distribution system the effect the large number of different levels has on would-be importers the effects of distribution Keiretsu the influence of Japanese culture and the role played by trade associations.

Comment

Not bad, does summarise most of the preceding arguments, however, does not refer directly back to the question asked - i.e. should have ended up with some kind of statement of the ‘importance’ of the distribution system. It is also very poor writing style to just leave the paragraph hanging in the air like that.

Example 4

The assignment task:

‘Many attempts to explain Japan’s economic success in the Twentieth Century have placed too much emphasis on the ‘uniqueness’ of a variety of aspects of the Japanese Business Environment. Japanese economic history, culture, institutions and so on are, in reality, very similar to their equivalents in Western nations.’

Critically assess the validity of this statement and argument in relation to any two of the following aspects of the Japanese Business Environment:

economic history financial system industrial / Keiretsu Structure labour market government policy international trade distribution system corporate management

The conclusion from an assignment written by a student who selected the topics of Government Policy and Keiretsu Structure

In conclusion it can be argued that to the extent that Japan has recorded a ‘unique’ rate of economic growth for a large part of the post-war period, it seems likely that some of that success may be the result of the influence of ‘unique’ social or economic factors. However, it would be an exaggeration to state that Japanese Government policy and Keiretsu structure are ‘unique’ in comparison with their Western equivalents. As a result of their financial structures and strategic alliances, Keiretsu are a feature of the Japanese economy that give it great strength. The linkages between the various elements of the Keiretsu create a vast, diverse structure. Although there are tangible links (share-ownership/shared directorships), there are also many other intangible links such as friendships and informal information sharing. The Keiretsu are unique in that they have no legal equivalent in western industrial economies. Similar structures in the West would be regarded as anti-competitive, and thus illegal. However, this difference should not be over-stated: collusion in the form of strategic alliances between companies intended to modify or distort market forces does occur in the West. Government policy in relation to intervention in markets to reallocate resources has a number of western imitators, particularly France and Germany. Any attempt to control the Macroeconomy will, necessarily involve state interventions to some extent. The major difference between the support given to industry by governments in Japan and the West is the degree to which that support is regarded as ‘legitimate’ (Crest and Hoult, 1980, p. 157) and socially acceptable, even desirable, in Japan. The Government policy of ‘Administrative Guidance’ may be unique to Japan in title, but not in content as I have tried to illustrate in this paper. The two chosen subjects areas have an historic inter-connection which has been highlighted by way of examples such as the growth of the steel and petro-chemical industries. The degree of intervention and interrelation between Government and industry is changing, but perhaps the final words on the subject belong to Hedreth Abromeit who states: “In Japan, however, there is less pretence about respecting the sanctity of the free market.” Abromeit, (1990), p. 46

Comment

That’s pretty damn good. Unfortunately a single ‘I’ slipped in. Nevertheless, if the rest of the assignment that preceded that conclusion was up to the same kind of standard, the student could expect a mark in excess of 80%. NB This student had 3500 words to play with. Even so, this is a long conclusion. In an assignment with a tighter word limit I would expect to see a shorter conclusion.

John Ramsay

Penkhull

May 2000

(This is the kind of thing that academic staff do when they’re not teaching)