Trade and economic cooperation between the Russian Federation and Japan

The commodity structure of Japan's foreign trade is closely related to the structure National economy and is formed under the influence of a number of factors, such as: the availability of natural and labor resources, historically established economic ties, etc. It reflects the level of development of the national economy and the nature of its participation in the system of the international division of labor.

Table 10. Commodity composition of Japanese imports in 2002 and 2010

From the table we can see that Japan's main imports in 2002 were mineral fuels, lubricants and similar materials, as well as machinery, equipment and vehicles, and the latter occupied a leading position - the share in the country's imports was 27.90%. In 2010, mineral raw materials take the first place, their share grows by more than one and a half times, and the average annual growth rate is 116.77%, which allows us to speak of this import item as the most dynamically developing one. In my opinion, this is due to the fact that Japan has scarce natural reserves of fuel and raw materials, so it is forced to import them from abroad, in addition, the development of mechanical engineering and high-tech industries leads to an increase in the consumption of mineral fuels, raw materials and chemical products (these import items also have good indicators of development dynamics).

The structure of Japan's imports in 2010 is shown more clearly in the figure.

(1 - Food products and animals; 2 - Beverages and tobacco; 3 - Non-food raw materials (except fuel); 4 - Mineral fuels, lubricants and similar materials; 5 - Chemical products; 6 - Worked products classified by materials; 7 - Machinery, equipment and vehicles; 8 - Miscellaneous processed (finished) products; 9 - Goods and transactions not included in the relevant sections of the SITC)

Now consider the commodity structure of Japan's exports for 2002 and 2010.

Table 10. Commodity structure of Japanese exports in 2002 and 2010

Japan's main exports are machinery, equipment and vehicles. However, despite the fact that its share in 2010 is more than sixty percent of the country's total exports, it can be seen that this figure has decreased compared to 2002. Moreover, the average annual growth rate of this export item is low (104.98%) and is inferior to most Japanese export items. This is primarily due to global economic crisis, which marked a drop in demand for durable goods, in particular for cars. During periods of economic recovery, the population begins to actively buy such products. At the same time, it is on it that people save money when the situation on the market worsens, which is what we are seeing at this stage.

Judging by the indicators of the average annual growth rate, the most dynamically developing export items are non-food raw materials (except fuel) and goods.

More clearly, the commodity structure of Japan's exports is shown in the figure.

(1 - Non-food raw materials (except fuel); 2 - Mineral fuels, lubricants and similar materials; 3 - Chemical products; 4 - Worked products classified by materials; 5 - Machinery, equipment and vehicles; 6 - Miscellaneous processed (finished ) products; 7 - Goods and transactions not included in the relevant sections of the SITC)

Conclusion

Foreign economic relations play a central role in the Japanese economy. In the course of analyzing the dynamics of the development of the country's foreign trade, we found that, in general, the indicators of foreign trade activity are increasing, but this growth is unstable. Throughout the period from 2002 to 2010, the country's exports exceeded its imports (as evidenced by the coverage ratio), but the growth rate of imports significantly exceeded the growth rate of exports, which could lead to a negative trade balance.

After considering the geographical distribution of the country's foreign trade, we found that Japan's largest trading partners are the United States, the Republic of Korea, Germany and China. At the same time, it should be noted that the development of trade relations with China is the most active, which we can judge by comparing China's share in Japan's exports and imports in 2002 and 2010.

An analysis of the commodity structure of Japan's foreign trade made it possible to determine the most significant export and import items in the country's economy. In the structure of imports, the leading place is occupied by mineral fuels and machinery, equipment and vehicles, although the share of the latter tends to decrease. In the structure of exports, the main items are machinery, equipment and vehicles. However, judging by the average annual growth rate for the period under review, the export of non-food raw materials (except fuel) is developing most dynamically.

Japan is a country with a highly developed economy and strong foreign economic relations. However, despite this, the crisis had a severe impact on the country's economy. But still, the huge economic potential allows Japan, even in a period of decline, to maintain a leading position on the world stage.

Japanese trade is a type of value-added trade. It consists of Japan's imports of raw materials and exports of manufactured goods. During the existence of the Japanese Empire, the country mainly imported raw materials for the textile industry, and exported textile goods. Trade was focused on light industry items. After World War II, Japan's main imports were fuel, and exports were engineering products, automobiles, high-precision equipment, and semiconductors. Trade was reoriented to heavy goods and the chemical industry.

As a result of the rapid economic development in the second half of the 20th century, Japan occupied one of the leading places in international economic relations. In the early 1990s, it came in second place in the world in terms of total foreign direct investment (15% of the global volume). The leading form of economic relations was foreign trade. In 1994-95 in terms of exports, Japan was second only to the United States and Germany, it accounted for 9-10% of world exports.

By the size of the export quota, it can be classified as a semi-open economy. 10-13% of GDP is sold abroad. A number of industries are almost entirely export-oriented. Since 1980, the country has had a permanent positive trade balance - sales exceed purchases. Because of this, trade conflicts have repeatedly erupted between Japan and the United States. In the 1990s, Japanese manufacturing plants moved a significant portion of their factories to Asian countries. The products of these enterprises are partially imported to Japan.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the main Japanese imports were oil, liquefied natural gas, textile goods, simple microcircuits, computers, fish, and seafood. The main exports were automobiles, complex circuits, steel, chemical and machine-building products. As of 2010, the amount of goods imported and exported was about 1.402 trillion US dollars.

In 2008-2009, the trade surplus increased 6 times: in September 2008 it was 90 billion yen ($1 billion) in September 2009 - 529.6 billion yen ($5.7 billion). Compared to September 2008, in 2009 the surplus in trade with Russia turned into a deficit and amounted to 52.65 billion yen ($580 million).

As of 2010, the amount of goods for export amounted to 765.2 billion US dollars. The main partners of Japan in 2009 were: China - share in exports 18.88%, USA - 16.42%, Republic of Korea - 8.13%, Taiwan - 6.27%, Hong Kong - 5.49%. As of 2010, the amount of goods for import was 636.8 billion US dollars. The main partners of Japan in 2009 were: China - a share in imports of 22.2%, USA - 10.96%, Australia - 6.29%, Saudi Arabia- 5.29%, UAE - 4.12%, Republic of Korea - 3.98%, Indonesia - 3.95%.

Due to a strong earthquake in March 2011, exports from Japan temporarily decreased while imports increased. However, by the end of 2011, Japan almost completely restored its position in the world market.

Development and Structure of Japan's Foreign Trade

Over the past 50 years, the physical volume of Japan's exports has increased by more than 70 times, its pace was almost twice the growth of world exports.

The success of Japanese companies in the world markets is based on the competitiveness of products, which is formed due to high quality, latest technology, personnel policy, the authority of the company. Japanese firms are known effectively developed system comprehensive and consistent control and management of product quality, which is associated primarily with the nature of the organization of production. Rhythm and flexibility of the production process, its ability to readjust and release new products, supply of components and raw materials just in time, significantly increase the quality of products and the efficiency of enterprises. The growth in the level of automation and robotization, the use of equipment quality control systems, the high level of technological limits regulation also make it possible to significantly improve the quality of manufactured goods. The principle of autonomization of production involves the release of the final product with full quality control and guarantees of defectlessness.

One of the methods of competitive struggle of Japanese firms is the rapid change of models. Their product development period is shorter than in the US.

Despite the importance of the above factors of the high competitiveness of Japanese goods in world markets, it should be borne in mind that the cost of labor per unit of output in Japan was lower than in the United States and a number of other industrialized countries. The cost component compensated for the lag of Japanese companies in one of the most important factors of competitiveness - labor productivity. According to some Japanese research organizations, Japan is 1/3 behind the United States in terms of labor productivity in the manufacturing industry. The gap in this indicator has narrowed (1975 - 50%), but remains significant. The lagging behind in the level of labor productivity is largely due to the strategy of a large number of Japanese firms, which pay primary attention not to profits, but to their market share. The general state of affairs is also influenced by the fact that labor productivity in small and medium-sized enterprises is significantly inferior to that of large enterprises, amounting to 40% of the level of large enterprises. This holds back the overall performance of the entire industry. A high level of labor productivity has been achieved in ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy and the chemical industry, where it significantly exceeds American figures. All other industries are lagging behind, even such as automotive and electrical engineering, where Japanese companies have strong competitiveness. There, the productivity level is 78 and 85% of the US.

Japan has long been leading place on the competitiveness of their products in world markets. As a result of the weakening of the price factor, it dropped to third place in 1993 after Singapore and the United States. There was a significant increase in the cost of labor from about 60% in the late 1980s to 70% of value added in 1994 (45% in 1960).

In the post-war period, the structure of exports underwent significant changes. Until the 1960s, the predominant place in it was occupied by consumer goods: radios, televisions, textiles. Then the leading positions were occupied by products of ferrous metallurgy, ships, cars - over 60% of exports. The 1980s saw a new shift in the structure Japanese exports. With the increase in the share of automobiles and household electrical appliances, the export of capital funds began to take the lead. The share of products of general mechanical engineering (13.9 and 24.1%), electrical engineering (9.9 and 25.6%), scientific equipment, optics (3.7 and 4.5% for 1980-1995) increased significantly.

For certain types of products, Japanese companies account for a significant part of the export deliveries in the world: semiconductors - 50%, cars- 22, office and telecommunications equipment - 22.6, steel - 17.4%. The transformation of Japan into one of the world's main exporters of engineering products and science-intensive products was the result of its industrial and scientific and technological development.

The structure of imports reflects the processes of international specialization of industry, the internationalization of the economy and the poverty of the domestic mineral base. Japan has the lowest degree of self-sufficiency in raw materials and fuel among industrialized countries, the country is almost completely dependent on the import of many types of mineral and agricultural raw materials. For many types of mineral raw materials, it is a major buyer on world markets. It accounts for over 30% of world imports of iron ore, over 19% of non-ferrous metal ores, coal, cotton and wool.

At the first stages of economic development, the structure of production predetermined Japan's great dependence on developing countries - about half of its exports and over 40% of imports. Southeast Asia and the countries of the Persian Gulf are still the main market for the sale and supply of energy raw materials. The supply of ore and chemical raw materials in recent decades has been localized in industrial developed countries- Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

An important feature of the geographical structure of foreign trade relations is their concentration on the United States. So far, 29% of Japanese exports are realized in the American market and 22% of imports are provided. In turn, Japan accounts for over 11% of US exports, including almost 20% of agricultural sales.

Japan is the main trading partner of a number of Eastern and South-East Asia. It provides Indonesia with 37% of its exports and 24% of its imports, for Malaysia - 26% of its imports and 16% of its exports, for Singapore - 21% of its imports and 17% of its exports, for South Korea - 26% of its imports. Japan is also the main export and import market of the PRC (15-16%).

Trade turnover is reduced to a huge positive balance, which increased 6 times in 1981-1995. and exceeded 130 billion dollars. 40% of its volume is formed in trade with the United States. A positive balance develops with all regions except for the countries of the Middle East and in the 1990s - with Eastern Europe. Trade relations with industrialized countries are accompanied by outbreaks of trade wars, pressure on Japan, and the establishment of "voluntary restrictions" on its exports. The United States is especially successful in this.

technology exchange

Since the 1980s, Japan has been making efforts to expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation in science and technology. Multilateral scientific and technical relations are based on the implementation of international research projects. In 1986, Japan put forward a large-scale program called "Human Frontiers", which is compared by the Japanese themselves with the American "SDI" and the European "Eureka". secure a leading position in the most promising directions NTP, in particular the mechanism of living organisms. At the same time, it is assumed that this direction will become a key factor in the creation of fundamentally new materials, mechanisms and technologies capable of overcoming energy problems that are currently difficult to solve. natural resources, harmonious relationships between people and new technological means. The program is designed for 20 years, during which it is supposed to spend 6-7 billion dollars, half of them at the expense of Japan.

There have been significant changes in the country's technological balance of payments. From the 1970s, exports of Japanese technology began to increase. True, Japan's place in technology trade contrasted sharply with the exchange of marketable products. Until 1992, technology payments exceeded exports. At the same time, the volume of Japanese receipts (3-3.6 billion dollars) was 6-7 times inferior to the American one. In terms of the cost of technological imports, Japan surpasses the leading Western European countries. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the overall deficit in the technological balance was largely determined by the legacy of previous periods, when the country was completely dependent on technology imports. This is due to the fact that the technological balance includes both receipts and payments under newly concluded contracts, as well as royalty payments under old contracts, which can cover a period of up to 10-15 years. The balance of payments under newly concluded contracts, starting from 1972, is reduced to a positive balance. In 1993, a positive balance was achieved in technology exchange as a whole.

Japan occupies a peculiar place in the global movement of technology. It imports all technology from industrialized countries and exports almost half to industrialized and developing countries. 40% of the total technology exports are exported to Asian countries. Japanese companies are expanding scientific and technical cooperation and developing industrial cooperation with East and Southeast Asia, seeking to transfer the production of medium-complexity products to neighboring countries, while focusing on the development and development of technologically complex products themselves. As a result, the features of the Japanese-centric model of scientific, technical and industrial interaction are visible in the Asian part of the world.

Relations with the US in technology exchange are characterized by cooperation and conflict. Japan remains highly dependent on US technology imports (69% of its imports). In the early 1990s, the ratio between exports and imports was about 2:1 in favor of the United States, but in the field of electronics it is 5:1, in machine tools - 7:1. In the United States, efforts are being stepped up to protect American technology as trade and economic relations worsen.

The organizational structure of the international activity management system is distinguished by a large number of intermediary firms, which, along with banking institutions, industrial companies and the state regulatory apparatus, have become one of the most important constituent parts mechanism for the implementation of its internal and external economic relations. The largest role in the organization and implementation international activities owned by nine universal trading intermediary companies (sogo shosha). They form an oligopolistic system of regulation and implementation of international and domestic trading activities. These are the trading houses Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Itotyu, Marubeni, Sumitomo, Nisse Iwai, Toyo Menka, Kanematsu Gose, and Nichimen. They account for about 45% of exports and 77% of imports. To their general functions includes the implementation of export and import operations, the execution of formalities to ensure foreign trade, the organization of foreign exchange, and consulting on logistics issues. IN last years new functions have appeared - investing capital abroad, promoting scientific and technical research and development.

The combination in the general structure of the subjects of domestic and foreign economic activity of large universal trading and small and medium-sized specialized firms creates a dual structure of the intermediary network, forms the basis for the high efficiency of the circulation system and largely determines the success of the country in foreign economic relations. Such a structure of management and regulation is a serious obstacle to the penetration of competitors in the Japanese market. The degree of import penetration (the share of imports in domestic consumption) is 1.5-3 times less than in other leading countries (1975 - 4.9%, 1987 - 4.4, 1995 - 10.1%) .

Export - import of capital. His characteristic features

In the 1980s, there was a reorientation of Japan from the export of goods to the export of capital. In the second half of the 1980s, it ranked first in the export of direct investment. The average annual volume of export in 1981-1985. was 5, in 1986-1990. - 32, in 1991-1993. - 20 billion dollars. In the early 1990s, Japanese companies in the export of capital let American and French TNCs go ahead. In terms of the cumulative volume of foreign direct investment, Japanese companies, as noted above, came second after the United States. Eight Japanese companies in terms of foreign assets are among the 50 largest investors in the world (Hitachi, Matsushita, Toyota, Sony, Nisso Iwai, etc.).

In the 1960s and 70s, the outflow of capital in the form of direct investment was largely aimed at serving the sale of goods and creating a network of mining enterprises abroad. Subsequently, in connection with the increase in the cost of labor, the exchange rate of the yen, Japanese companies began to create enterprises in labor-intensive industries. Approximately 15% of the production of automobiles in the United States is carried out by companies with Japanese capital. However, until now, the main investments are concentrated in the credit sector (42.4%), trade (11.3%), real estate (11.1%). If in the USA and Germany, 30% and 20% of industrial production, respectively, are removed from their territory, then in Japan - only 11%. In the manufacturing industry, foreign investments are concentrated in electrical engineering, chemistry, and transport engineering.

The main market for the application of Japanese capital is North America, where there is a noticeable tendency for the introduction of high technology companies that seek to use American experience and eliminate their backlog in such areas as computers, mobile connection, computer graphics. They not only form joint ventures with American companies, but also create their own. Next in the priorities of Japanese companies is Western Europe, where they are concentrated in Britain and the Netherlands. In Asia, the main centers of attraction for Japanese capital are Indonesia (24%), China (over 20%), and in South America- Panama (40%).

There is a geographic shift in priorities. Since the mid-1980s, after the conclusion of the Plaza currency agreement by the leading Western countries, a massive introduction of Japanese capital into the countries of East and Southeast Asia began. Their volume almost quadrupled, reaching $9.3 billion in 1994 and doubling the level of American direct investment. The change in the policy of Japanese companies resulted in the transformation of the western part of the Asia-Pacific region into one of the main centers for the production and export of color televisions, tape recorders, and air conditioners.

Japanese investment in the area is helping to create a relationship of diverse and complex industrial specialization between local and Japanese enterprises and local enterprises and their partners from neighboring countries. Industrial specialization relations contribute to the fact that one or more countries become the main suppliers of certain types of products: electrical parts and electronic circuit elements - Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand; machine tools and production equipment - Taiwan, South Korea; household electrical appliances - Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand.

Foreign Japanese enterprises in East and Southeast Asia send the main part of their exports to Japan - over 40%. It is obvious that the US, which used to have an overwhelmingly high degree of dependence on the market, is gradually losing its positions, which creates prerequisites for regional economic integration at the micro level or integration carried out by foreign investment. Japanese shipments of manufactured products to the countries of East and Southeast Asia exceeded the corresponding exports there from North America and Western Europe.

Japanese overseas companies usually have low profit margins. At manufacturing enterprises, it is 0.9%. In Asian countries, it is quite high - 4.8%, and in North America and Western Europe often has a negative value. In other words, the enterprises controlled by Japanese capital there are unprofitable. Usually, these are branches and subsidiaries relatively new in time of their operation, when their priority goal is to expand the scale of their activities, and not to make a profit.

Japan is not a major target for strange capital. Although the importance of foreign direct investment is growing, their influx is insignificant, yielding to the corresponding Japanese export by 10-20 times. In the leading Western European countries, this ratio is in the range of 1-2.2 times.

In the past, foreign capital was widely used in the form of credits and loans and portfolio investments. In 1950-1960. its share in gross capital investments did not exceed 2.5%. In 1950-1975. almost 32 billion dollars were attracted. In new industries, foreign capital played a more significant role. Credits and loans were provided to Japan by the US Export-Import Bank.

The economic development of Japan has radically changed the nature of its monetary position. The increase in the competitiveness of Japanese goods on world markets has led since the mid-1960s to a sharp increase in the positive balance in all items of external payments. Having become one of the poles of attraction for international means of payment, Japan has become one of the largest creditors. It plays an important role in providing government development assistance, becoming the largest donor (1995 - 24.5%), although Japan is inferior to many countries in terms of the share of state aid in GDP - 0.20% of GDP.

A significant part of aid is traditionally directed to the Asian region (over 60%). The most significant part of it is received by China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Bangladesh. There have been changes in the geographical direction of assistance. In the 1970s, South Korea, Pakistan, and India were among its largest recipients. In the 1980s, Japan increased its attention to African countries (12.2%) and Latin America(9.1% of economic assistance in 1992), but in Asia it provides half of all assistance to Western countries, and in Latin America - 18%. Unlike the United States and Western European countries, more than half of bilateral aid comes in the form of low-interest yen loans. They are mostly unrelated in nature, which also differs from the assistance of a number of Western countries. Approximately 12% of all aid goes to technical cooperation, which is below the level of the US, France and Germany. Central location it is occupied by the admission of foreign students and trainees with a relatively small number of Japanese specialists sent abroad (5 thousand foreign students in 1990).

As of 2010, Japan ranked second in the world after China in exporting capital. The export of capital is currently the main form of foreign economic activity. Most Japanese capital works in the USA (42.2%), Asia (24.2%), Western Europe (15.3%), Latin America (9.3%).

The Japanese government intends to allocate more than $300 million for the development of solar energy in dozens of developing countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The main goal of the investment is to capture the global market by Japanese solar panel manufacturers. Japan will provide and install equipment free of charge as part of a new anti-crisis program. According to the Japanese government, the ongoing efforts will help increase the competitiveness of the national industry. Japan is one of the leaders in the solar energy market in terms of capacity commissioning and installed capacity. By 2020, Japan's solar power capacity will reach 37 GW, 26 times the 2005 level.

Meanwhile, Japan is actively attracting foreign investment. Tokyo plans to bring the volume of investments from abroad into the country's economy up to 5% of the gross domestic product. By the end of 2008, this figure approached 3.6% of GDP.

Tokyo is the world financial center of Japan

Tokyo is one of the world's three financial centers, along with New York and London. Also, Tokyo is one of the most economically developed agglomerations in the world. According to research conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Tokyo metropolitan area (Tokyo, Kanagawa and Chiba prefectures together, 35.2 million people) has a total GDP of $1.191 trillion in 2005 (purchasing power parity) and ranks first among the largest agglomerations in the world by GDP. In 2008, 47 Fortune Global 500 companies were based in Tokyo.

Tokyo is a major international financial center and the headquarters of some of the world's largest investment banks and insurance companies, and also serves as the hub for the transportation, publishing and broadcasting industries in Japan. During the centralized growth Japanese economy after World War II, many large companies moved their headquarters from cities like Osaka (the historic financial capital) to Tokyo in an attempt to take advantage of greater access to power. In recent times, this trend has begun to decline due to the continued growth of the population in Tokyo and the high cost of living there. Tokyo has been ranked by The Economist magazine as the most expensive (highest cost of living) city in the world for 14 consecutive years, until 2006.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange of Japan is the largest stock exchange, as well as the second largest in the world by market capitalization and the fourth largest share in turnover.

According to the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tokyo had 20,900 hectares of agricultural land in 2003, hitting the last place among the country's prefectures. Perishable goods such as vegetables, fruits and flowers are supplied to markets in the eastern part of the county. Chinese cabbage (komatsuna) and spinach are the most important foods produced. Tokyo Bay was one of the main sources of fish. Currently, most of Tokyo's fish products come from outlying islands such as Izuoshima and Hachijojima. The main ocean food is tuna. Tourism in Tokyo also contributes to the economy.

Economy of Japan: the most complete and detailed analysis

The Japanese economy is one of the five largest economies in the world. And in terms of well-being, it is significantly ahead of China, occupying a position between the leading European countries. However, its share in world GDP is steadily declining. The financial system is in serious trouble. And there are practically no opportunities for growth. This article will talk about the state of the Japanese economy, the history of the formation of its modern structure and those problems that hinder further development.

The structure of the economy. The history of its formation

Japan's economy received a powerful impetus for growth in the second half of the 20th century. After the end of the war, the state was actually under the protectorate of the United States. America has been dictating to the Country for decades rising sun their political will. But in return for this, Western technologies were provided to her - especially in the automotive industry and microelectronics. Japan was able to manage this resource very skillfully. And in 20 years it has become one of the largest exporters of high-tech products.

In the first years after the war, the country was actively importing technology and knowledge. An effective system of R&D (research and development work) is being built, foreign experience is being adopted. We can say that the Americans taught the Japanese to create the first robots and various equipment for civilian purposes. However, after some time, Japan itself begins to export both robotics and video recorders, televisions, cameras, refrigerators and other equipment. And all products are of excellent quality. The country is gradually conquering more and more markets.

It was possible to achieve such results due to cheap labor. And also thanks to building a special business model, which will subsequently play a cruel joke on the economy.

Japan has formed a special form of state capitalism with the presence of oligopolistic players. The government actively supported large companies that were engaged in the export of products. It was export orientation that became the main idea of ​​the national economy.

The oligopoly structure of the market was characteristic of Japan in the 19th century. It remained so even after the US occupation in the middle of the 20th century. But the key role began to be occupied not by family clans, but by large financial and industrial conglomerates formed on the basis of partnerships.

This model initially gave very good results and contributed to development. The state actively supported large export-oriented corporations. Stimulated them, provided various subsidies and protection.

In the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, Japan became one of the largest manufacturers of microelectronics, household appliances, equipment, cars, and marine vessels. Goods from island nation are of good quality and not very expensive.

In the 1970s and 1980s, as in the United States and Western Europe, Japan began the transition from an industrial economy to a post-industrial one. The service sector is actively developing. The financial segment is growing rapidly. The mortgage market is booming. On the stock exchange, quotes are also constantly going up. The peak of growth falls on the 85-90s. Japan is called the country of the economic miracle.

However, rapid growth leads to inflating large bubbles. These bubbles form in real economy as well as in the financial sector. The mortgage segment becomes a particular problem. The crisis of overproduction begins. At the same time, with the growth of well-being, the labor force becomes more expensive. This increases the cost of goods produced. The situation is greatly aggravated due to the oligopolistic structure of the economy.

The rise of large state-backed corporations tends to weaken competition. It becomes extremely difficult for small companies to break through. But large conglomerates are given special privileges, and their mistakes are turned a blind eye. This reduces production efficiency. So-called zombie companies appear - which exist only at the expense of state support and are not able to survive on the free market. Ignoring problems is also observed in the financial segment. It is forbidden to sell large blocks of shares. The growth of quotations on the stock exchange is largely due to the fact that corporations resell securities to each other.

Bubbles in the Japanese economy burst in the 90s. All the problems that were previously hidden are coming to the surface. Large companies are inefficient. The oversaturated real estate market begins to fall. There is a collapse of stock indices on the stock exchange. Further, the crisis is replaced by stagnation, which drags on for 10 years. Experts talk about a lost decade.

In the 2000s, the situation improved slightly. But the global crisis that broke out in 2008 finally finishes off the Japanese economy. There is a drop in GDP by 10-15% (comparable to the growth in the 60-80s).

The second blow is the devastating tsunami in 2011, which interrupts the recovery growth of 2010.

On this moment The Japanese economy is still one of the most developed. The industrial sector occupies 23%. Financial services - 18%. For health, education and social system accounts for 30%. Trade, communication, restaurant and hotel business- 20%. Agriculture - 1.5%. The country is fully post-industrial. Having accumulated fat in favorable years of rapid growth, the state gradually spends what resources it has left. Infrastructure is highly developed in Japan (roads are among the best). The standard of living is quite high.

The industry still produces high-quality household appliances, cars, sea ​​vessels for various purposes. Microelectronics and digital equipment are of excellent quality. A good scientific base helps to conduct research and new developments. Much attention is paid to robotics (autonomous upright robots are being created). However, in general, further development is in question. The Land of the Rising Sun is losing its share of world GDP. Its products are less competitive due to the high cost. Growth points are practically absent. However, there are a number of serious long-term problems. The first is a huge public debt, which exceeds the country's GDP by 2.5 times (250%). True, this debt is almost entirely internal.

Unlike the United States, where a third of the debt belongs to foreigners, in Japan 95% of loans are distributed among the citizens themselves. A significant part is in the hands of large companies. This gives the government room to maneuver. However, the amount of debt still poses a threat and puts pressure on the budget. Japan's second problem is in the area of ​​demography. The number of old people due to life expectancy is too large compared to the able-bodied population. All this makes the further development of the country quite difficult. The government is trying to solve the problem of high production costs by depreciating the currency. But so far the results are very modest. But the public debt continues to grow.

Import and export

The territory of Japan is poor in minerals. Therefore, the main import item is raw materials. This is especially true for energy resources. Almost the entire volume of consumed hydrocarbons is imported from other countries. At the same time, half of the oil comes from the Middle East. And the gas comes from Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia. Coal is also imported from Australia, Indonesia and China. Fuel accounts for about 40% of the country's total imports. Moreover, its purchase is carried out at a fairly high prices. Another important import item is metals and rolled metal products. All this makes the state dependent on the supply of raw materials. A special risk factor here is the import of oil from the unstable Middle East region. To solve this problem, Japan has been building nuclear power plants for a long time, bringing their share in the country's energy balance to 10%. But the accident at Fukushima in 2011 slowed down this process.

The second largest import category (after raw materials) is computer equipment, simple microcircuits and various equipment.

Also, the import of food products exceeds the volume of sales abroad.

The main export item of the Land of the Rising Sun is cars and various components for them. Moreover, Japanese cars are famous for their quality and durability. This industry was extremely competitive until the 90s, which led to trade conflicts with America. And since the country is politically dependent on America, the resolution of conflicts often did not take place in favor of Japan.

A large share of exports is occupied by various high-tech equipment (in addition to machines), Appliances, office equipment, complex microcircuits and computers.

The metallurgical and chemical industries also supply many products to foreign markets, including rolled metal products and finished petroleum products.

Japan can be called a high value added economy. That is, the country buys raw materials and produces a lot of high value-added products from them.

Japan's main trading partners: China (19% of Japanese exports and 22% of imports), USA (18% of exports and 9% of imports), South Korea (8% of exports and 5% of imports), Australia (2% of exports and 6% of imports) , Saudi Arabia (1% of exports and 6% of imports), as well as EU countries (especially Germany) and the Middle East.

Advantages and disadvantages

Strengths:

• high level of technological development;
• export of high-quality high-tech products around the world;
• high level of well-being large stock strength;
• public debt in the hands of residents.

Weak sides:

• high wages and deflation of the yen deprive products of a competitive advantage;
• oversaturation of the domestic market of consumption and lending, there are no points of growth;
• high dependence on imports of raw materials, dependence of oil imports on the unstable region of the Middle East;
• huge public debt in relation to GDP;
• aging population.

Current state

Japan's economy is now in a kind of impasse. As already noted, it has a large margin of safety and has a high level of development. However, GDP growth is practically non-existent. The share of the Japanese economy in the world is declining. Manufactured products are experiencing increasing competition from Europe, the USA and especially China. Goods are expensive because of the high salaries of workers.

To reduce the cost of manufactured products, the government devalues ​​the national currency. A huge amount of money is pouring into the system. The exchange rate of the yen is artificially reduced. However, this does not bring the expected results in the long run. In Japan, deflationary processes are very strong (no inflation). During periods of crisis, they intensify. At the same time, overproduction and commodity saturation are observed in the country. Therefore, citizens prefer to keep permanently rising in price banknotes. This negatively affects consumer activity.

To solve the problems of the high cost of goods and the lack of consumer demand, constant devaluations are carried out, and the key rate is kept at zero. With each new round of quantitative easing (stimulus programs), these devaluations are getting stronger. But their effect is temporary. At the same time, public debt is growing rapidly. We can say that the situation has only worsened over the years. Back in the 90s, Japan had a positive trade balance(exports were greater than imports).

Since 2011, imports have exceeded exports. This means that Japanese goods are in less and less demand. In 2015, the imbalance began to slowly improve. But at the beginning of 2016, the situation worsened again. The graph of the country's GDP is characterized by strong jumps from positive to negative. Growth of 4-5% in one quarter is replaced by a fall of 6-7% in the next quarter. This is an indicator that they are trying to artificially accelerate the economy (GDP can be increased for a short time, but if the manufactured products are not in demand, then there will be an equivalent fall in the next period). In general, there is no growth over a long period of time, or it is insignificant.

Japan was the first to face the problems that the whole world is now facing. developed world(USA and EU). AND Western countries follow the same path as the Japanese Central Bank - depreciate national currencies saturate the economy with money. Therefore, the benefits of super-soft monetary policy in the Land of the Rising Sun are leveled. At the same time, the deflationary processes in Japan are stronger, and the debt burden is higher. And this has been going on for many years.

A lost decade is replaced by a lost twenty and thirty years. As a result, we can say that the situation in the Japanese economy is more deplorable. The situation is compounded by the problem of an aging population. If global changes do not occur in the world or a technical breakthrough does not occur, then the scenario of further deterioration in the long term looks most likely.

However, it is difficult to talk about full-fledged degradation. The high level of development achieved during the growth periods of the 1960s and 1980s will support Japan's waning economy for many years to come. And the scientific and technical potential provides an opportunity for new discoveries and breakthroughs.

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Table of contents 1. Geographical location .............................................................. ............ 2. Population. ................................................. ................................... 3. Import and export .......... ................................................. .............. 4. Foreign policy .............................. ................................................... 5. Social security...... ................................................. ..... 6. Ecology .......................................... ...............................................

Geographical position

Population.

Import and export

Foreign policy

Social Security

Ecology

1 option

1. In which region Overseas Asia located Japan?

A) Southwest Asia V) central Asia

b) South Asia d) East Asia

2. The most densely populated part of China is:
a) North b) South c) East d) West

3. What is the shape state structure India?

a) unitary republic c) absolute monarchy

b) federal republic d) unitary constitutional monarchy

4. Megalopolis Tokaido in Japan is located:

a) in the north of the country c) in west coast

b) in the south of the country d) in east coast

5. The basis of China's fuel and energy complex is formed by industry:

a) coal b) oil c) gas d) nuclear

6. The main wheat growing area in India is located on:
a) in the north of the country b) in the south of the country c) in the east of the country d) in the west

7. Which of the following statements apply to Japan?

This country is included in the "big seven".

The main religion in this country is Shintoism.

In this country hieroglyphs are not used in writing.

English is one of the official languages ​​in this country.

In this country state language considered Hindi.

In this country, the national dress is the sari.

G-11 Verification work"China, Japan, India"

3 option

1. Most Big City in China:
a) Beijing b) Seoul c) Shanghai d) Madras

2. Specify the most numerous ethnic group in India:

a) Bengalis b) Hindustanis c) Sikhs d) Indians

3. Japan's main imports are...

a) food products b) fuel, ore and other raw materials

c) machinery and equipment

4. China ranks first in the world in the production of:
a) electricity and steel c) cotton fabrics and fertilizers

b) steel and cotton fabrics d) mineral fertilizers and electricity

5. The main region of the iron and steel industry of India is located on:

a) north b) east c) south d) west

6. Agriculture in Japan plays an important role:

a) in export b) in providing the country with food

c) in economic support of neighboring states

7. Which of the proposed statements apply to China?

This country has the largest population.

The capital of the country is the city of Beijing.

This country has a monarch.

The national currency of this country is the yen.

This state has gone fromIItype of population reproduction toI.

The religion in this country is Confucianism.

Unique architectural structure of this country, built to protect against the Huns, can be seen even from space.

This country holds the world leadership in the number of cities, villages and townspeople.

This country is mononational.

The sun is depicted on the flag of this country.

This ancient state gave the world chess and the decimal system.

This country is highly urbanized.

This country leads in the production of bicycles.

The third largest state in the world.

In this country sacred mountain is Mount Fuji.

This country is the birthplace of the inventions of porcelain, paper, compass, gunpowder.

It occupies the 1st place in the world in the production of cotton fabrics.

One of the objects is located in this country world heritage UNESCO - Taj Mahal mausoleum.

This country has the world's longest railway tunnel Seikan.

The traditions of this country are ikebana, bonsai, calligraphy, sumo, tea ceremony.