Participation Type
Poster
Session Title
Session 3.09 Poster Session
Presentation #1 Title
Lessons for Appalachia's Transition to a Post-Coal Economy: The Japanese Model
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Is it possible to build a vibrant economy without coal or other natural resources? The experience of at least one country suggests that it is. Out of the ashes of World War II, Japan -- a country the size of California with a population half that of the United States -- rose to become the world’s second (and recently third) largest economy. Since the war, the nation has experienced three decades of spectacular economic growth. Japan is now a major aid donor and a source of global capital in the world economy. The Japanese accomplished these feats despite the fact that they have few natural resources. They have relied, instead, on human resources. The foundation of the “Japanese economic miracle” is a formidable educational system that has produced a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and highly successful car and consumer electronics industries. These industries, in turn, have been sustained by government-industry cooperation. Strong social and employment hierarchies run throughout Japanese society, including lifetime employment and strong group cohesion. Since the late 1990s, these traditional systems have started to fray. Even so, many of the underlying fundamentals are still strong, including the country’s relatively low unemployment rate of 4.1 percent and 99 percent literacy. This poster session will explore the lessons the Japan economic model holds for Appalachia’s transition to a post-coal economy.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Robin Antepara, Ph.D., is a free-lance writer and psychologist based in Japan. She teaches intercultural communication at Gakushuin University in Tokyo.
Lessons for Appalachia's Transition to a Post-Coal Economy: The Japanese Model
MSC Lobby
Is it possible to build a vibrant economy without coal or other natural resources? The experience of at least one country suggests that it is. Out of the ashes of World War II, Japan -- a country the size of California with a population half that of the United States -- rose to become the world’s second (and recently third) largest economy. Since the war, the nation has experienced three decades of spectacular economic growth. Japan is now a major aid donor and a source of global capital in the world economy. The Japanese accomplished these feats despite the fact that they have few natural resources. They have relied, instead, on human resources. The foundation of the “Japanese economic miracle” is a formidable educational system that has produced a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and highly successful car and consumer electronics industries. These industries, in turn, have been sustained by government-industry cooperation. Strong social and employment hierarchies run throughout Japanese society, including lifetime employment and strong group cohesion. Since the late 1990s, these traditional systems have started to fray. Even so, many of the underlying fundamentals are still strong, including the country’s relatively low unemployment rate of 4.1 percent and 99 percent literacy. This poster session will explore the lessons the Japan economic model holds for Appalachia’s transition to a post-coal economy.
