Rediff.com |  Feedback  
You are here: » Rediff Home » Discussion Boards » Permalink
  
View : Single Message | Complete Thread | Read complete Discussion
Japan, India break trade impasse over lunch
by Bodh Ramdeo on Aug 22, 2007 10:01 PM

There are good reasons why Japan has been able to propser post WWII and India did not.
Fist and foremost is that Gen McArthur saw to it that Japan areceived the Asian equivalent of the Marshall Plan which was provided to Europe to rebuild their shattered economies. Poor India had no such luck.
Secondly, Japan has always been a homogenious society - everyone bascially of the same race, religion and language - no internicine infighting amongst themslves as happens in Indian politics. Also until the late '80, for all intents and purposes, like Taiwan and SKorea, Japan had a benign-dictatorail one-party 'democracy' - that's why govt could make tough decisions and carry them, not like happens in democratic India, where doing nothing is de requeur for good governance.
Fourthly, Japan had access to US technology, capital and materials, and untrammeled access to US markets, without the need to reciprocate.
Fifth, Japanese are a disciplined people, because historically, for centuries they've always lived under a totalitarian govt system - they did as they were told or were severely punished - death was a favored punishment -hence thier high level 'discipline'.
Sixth, Japan didn't have to spend all her resources and energies protecting herself against enemies surrounding her from all sides -Uncle Sam took care of that, leaving them free to use that money on developing their economy.
Also, Japan opted for a capitalist system, albeit with a heavy-dose of govt 'help', especially

    Forward  |  Report abuse
The above message is part of the Discussion Board:
Japan, India break trade impasse