What Were the Bases for Economic Growth in Post-Wwii East Asia? (Focusing on Japan 1945-)

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What were the bases for economic growth in post-WWII East Asia? (Focusing on Japan 1945-) After World War II, Japan is known to have pulled itself out of the difficult consequences that were brought upon from the war. With hard work, Japan became one of the richest, respected and stable countries. The path to recovery wasn’t an easy ride or just a “miracle” as many have viewed it. This essay will discuss the two phases of Japan’s post World War II economic growth. To get a better perspective of Japans economic growth, this essay will begin with discussing what Japan’s economy was like prior World War II and also the consequences it had on Japan. Prior World War II, Japan built a widespread empire that included Korea, Taiwan, Manchuria and other parts of Northern China. Japan did this to prevent foreign countries that could block Japan from accessing raw materials and important sea passes, this was a necessity as Japan had very little natural resources and Japan’s military force was an essential part to Japan’s defence. Since 1868, structural change and rapid growth were the bases of Japan’s two periods of economic development. Agriculture helped the economy grow, as it was a way to fund the modern industrial infrastructure, also transportation and communications had developed to keep a heavy industrial development as well. In 1937, the Japanese government wanted to develop and acquire important natural resources in order to secure economic independence, which led to invasions, annexations and land seizures. Japan managed to acquire coal in china, sugarcane in the Philippines and purchased the rice production from Thailand and other countries. Japan’s economy expanded rapidly, steel production rose and in 1941 and Japan’s aircraft industries could manufacture about 10,000 aircraft a year. Just when everything was looking up, there was a downturn during the
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