Overview

Despite recent upheavals, Japan remains one of the dominant economic powers. Yet the Japanese economy is one of the most misunderstood phenomena in the modern world. Conventionally, Japan is presented as the exception to mainstream economic theory: an exception to the standard models of modern economics. This book demolishes that notion, bringing the full analytical power of economic thought to all aspects of the most dramatic economic success story in recent times. David Flath concentrates on four main themes: Japan's economic growth and development; Japan's integration with the world economy; Government policies and their effects; Economic institutions and practices. By applying common economic tools such as the Solow growth model, Modigliani's life-cycle model of saving, Becker's theory of investment, Samuelson's theory of revealed preference, Coase's exposition of the problem of social cost, and the modern theory of industrial organization, this book shows that the mainstream principles of economics apply in Japan as successfully as they do elsewhere. Revised and updated to take account of recent developments in Japanese banking and macroeconomics, this book is an indispensable resource for students and instructors alike. Lucid explanations and comprehensive and rigorous analysis make it natural choice for anyone interested in comprehending the rise of the Japanese economy.

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9780199278619

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Reviews

Review from previous edition Flath skillfully uses the powerful engine of neoclassical economic theory to dissect and integrate the unique and colorful panorama of the Japanese economy...An exemplary book on an important country. Choice In conclusion, one really cannot fault this book and it was a pleasure to read. While it is not a history of the Japanese economy per se, one can open the book at almost any page and learn something about Japan's history in the context of its economy. It is a well-written, lucid and attractive book, and should be recommended reading for all students of Japan's economy and business. Its broad historical sweep should make it appealing to business historians, too, particularly those with an interest in economics. Michael J. Lynskey, Business History

Author Information

David Flath is Professor of Economics at North Carolina State University, where he has been employed since 1976. He has previously been Visiting Professor of Economics at Kyoto University (2001-2) and at Osaka University (1995-6), and is the author of numerous academic articles on the Japanese economy.

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