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The Effects of Barriers to Technology Adoption on Japanese Prewar and Postwar Economic Growth

Author

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  • Daisuke Ikeda

    (Director and Senior Economist, Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies, Bank of Japan (currently Financial System and Bank Examination Department, E-mail: daisuke.ikeda@boj.or.jp))

  • Yasuko Morita

    (Director and Senior Economist, Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies, Bank of Japan @(E-mail: yasuko.morita@boj.or.jp))

Abstract

Following the start of modern economic growth around the mid- 1880s, Japan fs economy continued to substantially lag behind leading economies before World War II, but achieved rapid catch-up after the war. To explain the patterns, we build a dynamic model and examine the role of barriers to technology adoption. We find such barriers hampered catch-up in the prewar period and explain about 40 percent of the postwar miracle. Taking a historical perspective, we argue that factors that acted as barriers include low capacity to absorb technology, economic and political frictions with the outside world, and a lack of competition.

Suggested Citation

  • Daisuke Ikeda & Yasuko Morita, 2016. "The Effects of Barriers to Technology Adoption on Japanese Prewar and Postwar Economic Growth," IMES Discussion Paper Series 16-E-01, Institute for Monetary and Economic Studies, Bank of Japan.
    • Handle: RePEc:ime:imedps:16-e-01
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Hasumi, Ryo & Iiboshi, Hirokuni & Nakamura, Daisuke, 2018. "Trends, cycles and lost decades: Decomposition from a DSGE model with endogenous growth," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 9-28.
    2. Kosuke Aoki & Naoko Hara & Maiko Koga, 2017. "Structural Reforms, Innovation and Economic Growth," Bank of Japan Working Paper Series 17-E-2, Bank of Japan.
    3. Kim, Yong Jin & Lee, Duk Hee, 2020. "Technology convergence networks for flexible display application: A comparative analysis of latecomers and leaders," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    4. Rachana Vidhi & Prasanna Shrivastava & Abhishek Parikh, 2021. "Social and Technological Impact of Businesses Surrounding Electric Vehicles," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-17, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Japan; Barriers to technology adoption; Investment specific technology; Catch-up; Postwar miracle;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • 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
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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