Study On The Evolution Of Japan's Industrial Structure Under Resource Constraints

Economic development in modern society can not be separated from of the optimization and upgrading of industrial structure that is an important symbol, necessary condition and a powerful driving force of one country's economic development. Resource constraints, especially natural resource constraints, does not only determine the initial formation of one country's industrial structure, but effect industrial structure development. Changes of resource constraints will also affect the speed and direction of industrial structure evolution, promote or hinder the optimization and upgrading of industrial structure.In the developed capitalist countries, Japan is an extremely resource-poor country with weak resource endowment and low self-sufficient rate in resources. However, under such resource constraints, Japan achieved economic recovery and rapid economic growth in a very short time after World War II and went through twice oil crises, which has promoted the optimization and upgrading of Japanese industrial structure. Therefore, issues on its reasons and methods are worth studying. Since reform and opening up, China has maintained rapid economic growth and her growth mode has changed greatly with continuous optimization and upgrading of industrial structure. However, features of extensive production determine the enormous consumption of resources. With the increase in total resource consumption, China has changed to be a resources-importing country from a self-sufficient country gradually. Resources increasingly affects sustainable healthy and rapid development of China's economy and becomes a significant issue. This study analyzes the evolution of Japan's post-war industrial structure from the aspect of resource constraints, aimed to explore valuable paths to realizing optimization and upgrading of Chinese industrial structure by discussing the inherent mechanism between resource constrains and the evolution of industrial structure.This study consists of three parts. The first part is the base of study including chapter one and chapter two. The second part is the main body of study arranging from chapter three to chapter six. Part three is chapter seven as well as the extension of the previous chapters.Chapter one introduces the background and meaning, study object, methodology, outline, literature review, and innovation. Majority experts and scholars studied Japan's industrial structure mainly focusing on the aspects of international trade, direct investment, technological improvement etc. Very few studies related to the impacts of resources on industrial structure. This study discusses the fundamental effects of resources constraints on the evolution of Japan's industrial structure.Chapter two is the theoretical foundation. This chapter demonstrates the related theories on resources and industrial structure evolution discusses the interaction mechanism between resource constraints and the evolution of industrial structure. Resources are the basis of economic development. The impacts of resource constraints on economic development are realized by the interaction between resource constraints and the evolution of industrial structure. On the one hand, resource constraints of one country determine the initial state of the industrial structure, influence the speed and direction of industrial structure evolution, promote or hinder the optimization and upgrading of industrial structure. On the other hand, changes of industrial structure can alter resource constraints to enhance or reduce its impact. Under resource constraints, the optimization and upgrading of industrial structure would be promoted by the combined action of macro-economic regulation and market mechanisms, and that of government and enterprises.Chapter three analyzes the status of Japan's resource endowment and resource constraints. Japan is a resource-poor country with weak resource endowment and low self-sufficient rate in resources. Abundant resources need to be imported, so changes in import prices of resources directly affect Japan's domestic supply and demand of resources, influence industrial production and economic development. Viewed from the variation tendency of Japanese self-sufficient rate in energy, the rate has increased after the first oil crisis but not much confined to its objective conditions, which does not have Japanese industrial structure and economic development get rid of resource constrains in a considerable long period of timeChapter four discusses the relevance between resource constraints and the evolution of industrial structure in Japan. From the aspect of features of Japanese industrial structure evolution, the phase of structure evolution is consistent with the stage of economic development, and every tremendous change in the resource constraints would bring out major industrial structure adjustment. Viewed from the changes of resource constraints, the optimization and upgrading of industrial structure can alter strength and flexibility of resources consumption, so as to change resource constraints. Under resource constraints, the mode of Japanese industrial structure evolution possesses features of "flying geese pattern of development," "product cycle model of development", "simultaneously developing model of development" and "leap-style development model" that contribute to reducing the negative effects of resources constraints on the evolution of industrial structure, that accelerate the speed of Japanese industrial structure evolution. Impacted by resource constraints, Japan takes an complex evolution path of industrial structure evolution including "alternative resources ", "resource-saving" and "technology-driving".Chapter five from the top-down macro perspective analyzes under resource constraints Japanese policy choice and its economic effects in the evolution of industrial structure. Japanese government, according to the changes of resource constraints, takes developing strategies, economic planning, industrial policies, laws and regulations to intervene and guide industrial development, playing a leading role in the evolution of industrial structure, and promote the optimization and upgrading of industrial structure. Chapter six from the bottom-up micro perspective analyzes the countermeasures taken by Japanese enterprises in the evolution of industrial structure under resource constraints and its economic effects. Changes of resource constraints directly influence production costs, corporate profits, activities of production and operations. Japanese enterprises, in accordance with resource constraints changing, transfer production and operation methods, improve scientific and technological capability to increase value-added products, and strive to expand domestic and foreign markets, which reduce constraints from resources on enterprises, improve management and promote the optimization and upgrading of Japanese industry structure.Chapter seven provides the future direction of industrial structure adjustment with Japan's current problems. Based on the analysis of Chinese resource constraints and characteristics of industrial structure evolution, it is found that under current resource constraints China over-consume resources, deficiently use energy, and her tertiary industries and internal structure develop in harmony. In light of both positive and negative experiences of Japan's industrial structure evolution, the study presents some suggestions that China should improve the efficiency in resources and give full play to government's macro guidance and business vitality to promote the optimization and upgrading of industrial structure.