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Trade in the Shadow of Power: Japanese Industrial Exports in the Interwar years

Author

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  • Alejandro Ayuso-Díaz

    (Universidad Carlos III)

  • Antonio Tena-Junguito

    (Universidad Carlos III)

Abstract

During the interwar years, Japanese industrialisation accelerated alongside the expansion of industrial exports to regional markets. Trade blocs in the interwar years were used as an instrument of imperial power to foster exports and as a substitute for productivity to encourage industrial production. The historiography on Japanese industrialisation in the interwar years describes heavy industries’ interests in obtaining access to wider markets to increase economies of scale and reduce unit costs. However, this literature provides no quantitative evidence that proves the success of those mechanisms in expanding exports. In this paper we scrutinise how Japan—a relatively poor country—used colonial as well as informal power interventions to expand regional markets for its exports, especially for the most intensive human capital sector of the industrializing economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Alejandro Ayuso-Díaz & Antonio Tena-Junguito, 2019. "Trade in the Shadow of Power: Japanese Industrial Exports in the Interwar years," Working Papers 0153, European Historical Economics Society (EHES).
    • Handle: RePEc:hes:wpaper:0153
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    Cited by:

    1. Christopher David Absell, 2023. "British slave emancipation and the demand for Brazilian sugar," Cliometrica, Springer;Cliometric Society (Association Francaise de Cliométrie), vol. 17(1), pages 125-154, January.
    2. Tena Junguito, Antonio & Restrepo Estrada, María Isabel, 2022. "Power politics and the expansion of U.S. exports, 1879-1938," IFCS - Working Papers in Economic History.WH 34225, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Instituto Figuerola.
    3. Christopher David Absell, 2023. "British slave emancipation and the demand for Brazilian sugar," Cliometrica, Journal of Historical Economics and Econometric History, Association Française de Cliométrie (AFC), vol. 17(1), pages 125-154, January.
    4. Alan de Bromhead & Alan Fernihough & Markus Lampe & Kevin Hjortshøj O'Rourke, 2021. "Four great Asian trade collapses," Australian Economic History Review, Economic History Society of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(2), pages 159-185, July.
    5. Ayuso-Díaz, Alejandro, 2022. "Natural trading partners versus empires in East and Southeast Asia regional integration (1840-1938)," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    6. Kyoji Fukao & Saumik Paul, 2021. "Baumol, Engel, and beyond: accounting for a century of structural transformation in Japan, 1885–1985," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 74(1), pages 164-180, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    International Trade; Empires; Trade blocs; Japan; Interwar years;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • N15 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Asia including Middle East
    • N75 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - Asia including Middle East

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