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Colonialism And Industrialisation: Factory Labour Productivity Of Colonial Korea, 1913–37

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  • Duol Kim
  • Ki‐Joo Park

Abstract

Unlike other colonial economies, Korea industrialised rapidly during its colonial period, which past scholars attributed to the industrialisation policy directed by the Japanese colonial government between 1930 and 1945. Our analysis of factory labour productivity from 1913 to 1937 suggests significant revisions to this claim. Factory labour productivity as well as total production grew rapidly before the active intervention of the colonial government. In addition, Korean entrepreneurs invested heavily in their firms and successfully competed with Japanese entrepreneurs. We conjecture that the pre‐war experience of Korean entrepreneurs provided a critical foundation for the post‐colonial economic growth.

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  • Duol Kim & Ki‐Joo Park, 2008. "Colonialism And Industrialisation: Factory Labour Productivity Of Colonial Korea, 1913–37," Australian Economic History Review, Economic History Society of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 48(1), pages 26-46, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ozechr:v:48:y:2008:i:1:p:26-46
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8446.2007.00226.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Bishnupriya Gupta, 2019. "Falling behind and catching up: India's transition from a colonial economy," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 72(3), pages 803-827, August.
    2. Yuan, Tangjun & Fukao, Kyoji & Wu, Harry X., 2010. "Comparative output and labor productivity in manufacturing between China, Japan, Korea and the United States for ca. 1935 - A production-side PPP approach," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 47(3), pages 325-346, July.
    3. Jeffrey G. Williamson, 2011. "Industrial Catching Up in the Poor Periphery 1870-1975," NBER Working Papers 16809, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Gupta, Bishnupriya, 2018. "Falling Behind and Catching up: India’s Transition from a Colonial Economy," CEPR Discussion Papers 12581, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Duol Kim & Ki‐Joo Park, 2012. "A Cliometric Revolution In The Economic History Of Korea: A Critical Review," Australian Economic History Review, Economic History Society of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 52(1), pages 85-95, March.
    6. Williamson, Jeffrey G., 2011. "Industrial Catching Up in the Poor Periphery 1870-1975," CEPR Discussion Papers 8335, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    7. Arusha Cooray (University of Wollongong), "undated". "Does Colonialism Exert a Long Term Economic Impact on Adult Literacy?," QEH Working Papers qehwps176, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford.

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