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Japanese Economic Miracle

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Submitted By tomspurs94
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What was the basis and mechanism of the Japanese economic miracle between 1945 and 1980?
Introduction

The aftermath of World War 2 including war time expenses left the Japanese economy on the borderline of ruin. Inflation, unemployment and all area shortages bring risk of a communist state being created through a soviet influence that was expanding across the pacific regions. If no governmental changes or outside influence occurred it could have ended up as a Soviet state. This led to American intervention to stop the Soviet Union gaining more power and to rebuild Japan. America started off the rehabilitation by occupying the country giving aid and assistance which was followed up by interventionism by the Japanese government leading to huge privatisation and capital projects funded by Japanese businesses encouraged to invest; kick-starting an economic rejuvenation. How each stage of the recovery is implemented will be discussed in further detail in each section including American Intervention, Japanese government intervention, MITI (Ministry of International Trade and Industry)/Keiretsu and the overview of the ‘Golden Sixties’.

American Intervention

The American government under order of SCAP (Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers) intervened by occupying Japan to prevent Soviet communism from commencing and to help rebuild the Japanese economy with a view to democratize and demilitarise the country. Special procurements were paid to the Japanese government due to military hostilities in the Korean Peninsula boosting the economy these payments amounting to 27% of Japans export trade. America added Japan temporarily to GATT (General agreement on Trades and Tariffs) to help expand their export / import potential creating a benefit for the economy. Land reforms were instigated to benefit farmers and reduce power of landowners who would have used their wealth

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