Economic History of Japan

Pierre-Yves DONZE (Graduate School of Economics)

Cource Objective
   This course is an introduction to the economic history of modern Japan. It offers an overview of the development of Japanese economy from industrialization to the 1980s, emphasizing the relation with the global economic system (foreign trade, technology transfer, foreign companies in Japan) and the role of the State (economic policy). The objective is to understand how Japan became the second industrial nation of the world in the 1960s.

Requirement / Prerequisite
   No specific knowledge is required but an active interest is welcomed.

Course Content
   The class will consist on a lecture and discussion (60 minutes), followed by a group presentation by students (30 minutes)

Class Plan
   Classes will cover the following topics:

1. The Japanese economy during the Edo period
2. The Western impact I : integration into the global economy
3. The Western impact II: introduction of foreign technologies
4. Japanese big business and the zaibatsu
5. The war economy and the demilitarization of the industry after 1945
6. The Japanese Business System (1955-1985)
7. The Bubble economy

Textbooks
   Students will receive handouts of PowerPoint slides and other materials.

Grading Policy
   Assessment will be determined by the following criteria:
   (1) Class attendance and participation 20%
   (2) Report 40%
   (3) Presentation 40%
   Students will make an oral presentation and write a report (minimum 2000 words, printed on A4 sheets) on an aspect of Japanese economic history covered in class.