Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- 1 Introduction and Overview
- 2 Economic and Political Institutions in the 1970s
- 3 The “High-Water Mark” of the Japanese Economy – A “Model” of Financial Liberalization: 1980 to 1985
- 4 An Accident Waiting to Happen – The Bubble Economy from 1985 to 1990
- 5 Economic and Financial Distress from 1990 to 2001 and the Turning Point
- 6 Why Did the Economic and Financial Distress Last So Long?
- 7 The Transition of Political Institutions in the 1990s and the New Century
- 8 Political Economy of Japan's Fiscal Program
- 9 Koizumi Administration's Reform in Broad Perspective: Fiscal Consolidation and Market Reform
- 10 Japan's Corporate Governance, Labor Practices, and Citizens' Social and Economic Life at the Beginning of the New Century
- 11 Japanese Political Economy in the First Decade of the New Century
- References
- Index
Preface
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 July 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- 1 Introduction and Overview
- 2 Economic and Political Institutions in the 1970s
- 3 The “High-Water Mark” of the Japanese Economy – A “Model” of Financial Liberalization: 1980 to 1985
- 4 An Accident Waiting to Happen – The Bubble Economy from 1985 to 1990
- 5 Economic and Financial Distress from 1990 to 2001 and the Turning Point
- 6 Why Did the Economic and Financial Distress Last So Long?
- 7 The Transition of Political Institutions in the 1990s and the New Century
- 8 Political Economy of Japan's Fiscal Program
- 9 Koizumi Administration's Reform in Broad Perspective: Fiscal Consolidation and Market Reform
- 10 Japan's Corporate Governance, Labor Practices, and Citizens' Social and Economic Life at the Beginning of the New Century
- 11 Japanese Political Economy in the First Decade of the New Century
- References
- Index
Summary
The beginning of the new century witnessed a major turning point in Japan's economic and political performance and institutional design. Starting from a flawed financial liberalization process in the 1980s and the collapse of equity and land prices in the early 1990s, followed by a decade of economic and political distress in the 1990s, Japan started a transition toward more aggressive market reforms after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi came to power in 2001. By 2005, there were signs that the Japanese economy and financial system had finally commenced a sustainable recovery. Japan's economic and political institutions have also undergone significant redesign.
The book is part of a new series of books by Cambridge University Press and focuses on Japan's economic, political, and social development since 1980; hence, the title of this book – Japan Since 1980. Clearly the date of 1980 is somewhat arbitrary, especially when applied to more than one country. Nonetheless, important institutional changes took place in many developed and developing countries in the past three decades, with 1980 as a loose pivotal year. This is certainly the case for Japan.
It was not an easy task to provide an overview of Japan's economic and political performance and institutional development over the past three decades. At a minimum, it required the collaboration of an economist and political scientist to tell the story properly. Our collaboration on this book essentially started when Cargill and Sakamoto met and participated in a conference at Southern Methodist University in 2004.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Japan since 1980 , pp. xi - xiiPublisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008