Technological Innovation and Economic Development in Modern Japan

As the first volume of the two-volume Industrial Development in Modern China: Comparisons with Japan that studies the different paths of industrialization and economic modernization between China and Japan, this book analyzes the relationship between technological innovation and economic development in Japan before World War II.

Autorentext

Guan Quan is a professor at Renmin University of China. He has majored in Development Economics, and his research interests include China's economy and Japan's economy.

Klappentext

As the first volume of the two-volume Industrial Development in Modern China: Comparisons with Japan that studies the different paths of industrialization and economic modernization between China and Japan, this book analyzes the relationship between technological innovation and economic development in Japan before World War II. The author deploys econometric analysis, multivariate statistical analysis and case studies from different industries to shed light on technological innovation in the Japanese context with particular emphasis on the importance of the patent system. A great deal of new inventions and patents in this period led to fast economic growth in Japan characterized by the simultaneous development of both traditional and modern industries. These insights help reshape the understanding of Japan's economic development and industrial advancement at an early stage and provide pointers to developing countries as to how human capital, social capabilities and thereby technological innovation can figure in economic growth. This volume will appeal to academics of the East Asian economy, development economics and modern economic history as well as general readers interested in the miracle of the Japanese economy as the first to achieve economic development and modernization among non-Western countries.

Inhalt

Part I: Preliminary Investigation 1. Topic and Outlook Part II: Characteristics of Innovation and Development 2. Structural Changes in Industrial Development: Tradition and Modernity 3. Industrial Development and Innovation: Technology Impetus and Demand Driver 4. Regional Nature of the Power Revolution Part III: Conditions for Innovation and Development 5. Industrial Development and Human Resources: Analysis of Inventors 6. Industrial Development and Market Structure: The Schumpeter Hypothesis 7. Technology Policy: Analysis of Patent System Part IV: Cases of Innovation and Development 8. Traditional Industry: The Rise and Fall of the Rickshaw Industry 9. Intermediate Industry: The Development of the Bicycle Industry 10. Modern Industry: The Rise of the Automotive Industry Part V: Concluding Remarks and Implications 11. Concluding Remarks and Implications