2. (Role of education in
economic development in
Japan)
Reported by:
Ms. Rachelle J. Prado
3. The contributions of education in
achieving the modernization of the country
since the Meiji Restoration (1868), might
be evaluated from various points of view.
4. The Meiji Restoration ( 明治維
新 , Meiji Ishin?
), also known as
the Meiji Ishin, Renovation, Revolution,
Reform, or Renewal, was a chain of
events that restored practical imperial rule
to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji.
5.
6. Recently, the interests of countries
abroad have been centered on the role of
education in achieving the economic
development of Japan.
The first point – was the economic
reconstruction after World War and the
prosperity that followed in Japan.
7. The remarkable recovery from the economic
losses suffered from the war and the following
spectacular economic growth in this country
as well as in West Germany is deemed as the
miracle in the current world.
It is said that this economic development has
mainly depended on such human factors as
knowledge and talents which had been
accumulated since pre-War periods.
And such accumulated knowledge and talents
are no doubt the very results of education in
the past.
8. The first point stated that the unexpectedly rapid
revival from the socio-economic collapse following
World War, and the following prosperity in Japan
resulted largely from the accumulated efforts of
pre-War education.
The second point – to be mentioned is the fact that
Japan is included among such countries as
Canada, West Germany, Israel, the U.S.S.R. and
the U.S.A. which have achieved exceedingly rapid
economic growth through this century.
The second points mentioned that Japanese
education had successfully met the needs of
industries which had developed on the bases
founded in an earlier period.
9. The third point – noted from comparison
with other countries concerning the role of
education in achieving economic
development in Japan, is the overcoming of
disadvantages by the introduction and
diffusion of a modern educational system
during the so-called ‘take-off’ period.
Education in early Meiji Era, as the third
point, supported the foundation on which the
modern Japanese economic system was
created, rather than contributing directly to
economic growth.
In other words, the diffusion of elementary
education raised the quality of the people’s
10. political, social and cultural factors
undoubtedly contributed to the economic
growth of this country, but the effects of
these factors varied between countries in
both kind weight.
The countries mentioned achieved rapid
economic growth, however, have one factor
in common: namely, the important role of
their educational institutions.
Further, it should be noted that the
educational system of such countries were
modernized ones intentionally and strongly
orientated toward technological progress
and economic development.
Japanese modern education also had been
developed.
11. Japan now is approaching the economic level of
developed Western countries, in advance of other
Asian-African countries, despite beginning
modernization of society and industry later than
the European countries, her overcrowded
population and her very scarce natural
resources.
Like Japan in Asia, Denmark in Europe is
mentioned as a country which overcame such
disadvantages of underdeveloped status,
overcrowded population and scarcity of natural
resources.
A common basis for the economic development of
Denmark and Japan has been the introduction of a
modern educational system, especially the spread
of general elementary education to farm families
who constituted the major part of the labor force
beginning period of modernization.
12. Thus, the role of education in achieving
economic development in this country
should be attributed to the effort of the
people who had restricted consumption
and invested the money thus saved in
education.
That the rate of educational expenditures
to national income in Japan was among the
highest in the world substantiates this
statement.
13. • Japan has overcome many of the structural problems that
hindered growth during the decade following the collapse
of the asset price bubble in the early 1990’s, helping it to
achieve a sustained expansion led by domestic demand.
Although robust economic growth is projected to
continue through 2007, Japan must address a number of
problems to sustain the expansion over the medium term.
The five key challenges are:
1. Ensuring a definitive end to deflation
ender a new monetary policy framework;
2. Achieving fiscal consolidation in the
context of high public debt and rapid
population ageing;
3. Addressing rising income inequality and
14. 4. Boosting productivity growth by
upgrading the innovation system, focusing
on the R&D framework, product market
competition and the education system,
and
5. Strengthening the integration of Japan in
the world economy to benefit more fully
form globalization.
