Sources of Cooperation Between the Private Sector and the State Administration in Japan

Traditionally, the state bureaucracy in Japan has been enjoying great prestige although remunerations earned by that group are not among the highest. The high social position results from the role played by the state administration (together with the private sector) in overcoming Japan's economic backwardness and in making it the second superpower in the world. The question is what are the sources of the longstanding cooperation between the government and business. Undoubtedly, one of them is the practice of amakudari - the retiring bureaucrats assume lucrative positions in the industry, on the whole in this industry which they supervised during their active professional life. The essential roots of this cooperation date back to the period of accelerated economic growth in 1954-1971 and they lie in the positive attitude taken by the government and by MITI in particular to the institution of price-production cartel. Organized in exporting industries, this cartel has contributed to a real expansion of Japanese products in the world (often at dumping prices). In spite of the fact that the international situation has changed radically, MITI continues to represent the acquiescent attitude to the institution of cartel, which implies harmful consequences, both economic and political.Zadanie pt. „Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki” nr 885/P-DUN/2014 zostało dofinansowane ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej nauk