East Asia's Industrial Region
Historically, East Asia has been either been limited or closed form the rest of the global market for various reasons. However, in the past century and more, the East Asian market has been growing quickly and dominating portions of world trade. This is due mostly to labor access, with additions in vast, natural resources and the manufacturing industries of electronics, textiles, and automobiles.
Japan: During the Meiji Period (1868-1912), Japan grew from a more rural society to a modernized society through government and social policies to catch the country up to the standards of the Western Europe. Thus, the Industrial Revolution set Japan on the path towards a global power. After World War II, Japan was able to sell manufactured goods inexpensively using a low-paid labor work force. The industries, rising in the corridor from Tokyo to Kobe, would lead the world in electronics and automobiles. A shift in the labor force occurred in Japan to make a more skilled population to begin making luxury items. This was due to pressure from China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Vietnam who were able to make more inexpensive goods for less wages paid to their labor force. The entertainment and fashion industry are also very large in Japan, exporting to many international markets, becoming the wealthiest nation of the region.
China: After the 1949 Revolution, the Chinese Communist party took over all of China, including the economy. After an initial downturn of the economy, China implemented a series of five year plans starting in 1979. These plans have led China to become the second largest economy by GDP in the world, behind the Unites States. China has the largest population in the world and so has access to a low-cost labor force. Because of its economy, China has also become the largest market for consumer goods. In the 1990s, foreign companies were allowed to open manufacturing plants to take advantage of their low-cost labor force, increasing the production of the textile, steel, and electronics markets. Most of the industrial regions are either located on the coast (Hong Kong, Shanghai), along the Yangtze River (Nanjing, Wuhan), or in the Northeast (Beijing, Shenyang).
Four Asian Dragons: This nickname has been given to South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong when the latter city was part of the British Empire. Collectively, these countries (minus Hong Kong) focused on the international trade approach through developing a few manufactured goods such as textiles and electronics. Due to low-cost labor, these countries were and are able to sell inexpensive goods to the global market. Steel also became a major export for South Korea.
Japan: During the Meiji Period (1868-1912), Japan grew from a more rural society to a modernized society through government and social policies to catch the country up to the standards of the Western Europe. Thus, the Industrial Revolution set Japan on the path towards a global power. After World War II, Japan was able to sell manufactured goods inexpensively using a low-paid labor work force. The industries, rising in the corridor from Tokyo to Kobe, would lead the world in electronics and automobiles. A shift in the labor force occurred in Japan to make a more skilled population to begin making luxury items. This was due to pressure from China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Vietnam who were able to make more inexpensive goods for less wages paid to their labor force. The entertainment and fashion industry are also very large in Japan, exporting to many international markets, becoming the wealthiest nation of the region.
China: After the 1949 Revolution, the Chinese Communist party took over all of China, including the economy. After an initial downturn of the economy, China implemented a series of five year plans starting in 1979. These plans have led China to become the second largest economy by GDP in the world, behind the Unites States. China has the largest population in the world and so has access to a low-cost labor force. Because of its economy, China has also become the largest market for consumer goods. In the 1990s, foreign companies were allowed to open manufacturing plants to take advantage of their low-cost labor force, increasing the production of the textile, steel, and electronics markets. Most of the industrial regions are either located on the coast (Hong Kong, Shanghai), along the Yangtze River (Nanjing, Wuhan), or in the Northeast (Beijing, Shenyang).
Four Asian Dragons: This nickname has been given to South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong when the latter city was part of the British Empire. Collectively, these countries (minus Hong Kong) focused on the international trade approach through developing a few manufactured goods such as textiles and electronics. Due to low-cost labor, these countries were and are able to sell inexpensive goods to the global market. Steel also became a major export for South Korea.
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