Japanese Political Economy

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the economic and political dynamics that have shaped the postwar economic development of Japan and other East Asian economies. We will begin by exploring the historical events that shaped the development of Japan’s political system and its relations with its neighbors. Next, we will examine the role of governmental strategies in driving economic development, such as choice of economic model, industrial policies, trade policies, and regional and global economic integration. In doing so, we will cover the academic debate on the role of the state and bureaucracy in Japanese and East Asian economic development, with a focus on critically analyzing conflicting theoretical and empirical arguments. We will conclude by examining contemporary political economic challenges facing Japan, such as rising inequality, regional tensions, energy and climate change policy, and Japan’s recent economic stagnation.