ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to look briefly at the pattern of Japanese modernization, focusing on the development of industrial work organization. It draws out some comparisons and contrasts with China and then discusses the impact of recent trade links and transfer of technology. The chapter looks at some of the parallels and differences of development, especially in relation to industrial work organization. The most interesting feature to emerge from a glance at the economic starting points of Japan and China is the similarities in many significant areas. Generally the Chinese collectives sector displays many of the characteristics of the small-firm sector in Japan: there are sharp differences between the State and collective sectors in terms of capital equipment, productivity, size, wages and working conditions. The major difference is the independent modernization of Japan in contrast with the dependent, foreign-dominated development of China up to 1949.
