In the current si t u a t i o n of oversupply i n world coal markets, Japanese" coal buyers are accused i n some quarters of having deliberately over-stimulated the supply by offering loans and extending long-term contracts to more coal mine operations than has been warranted by market conditions. Contained i n the accusation i s the charge that the Japanese government and steel industry have collaborated to set the conditions for oversupply. The thesis finds at the root of th i s assumption remnants of the "Japan Incorporated" stereotype. Examining the case of the steel industry,.the study demonstrates the inaccuracy of the e l i t i s t model of Japan from which the stereotype derives. The purchase of thermal coal by Japanese interests i s discussed to introduce further evidence of the d i v e r s i t y of interests which participate i n policy decisions i n Japan. An examination of the ste e l industry's approaches to acquiring coal reveals that a major concern of the industry has been to find ways to assure that i t w i l l have r e l i a b l e supplies of reasonably-priced material. The industry's actions are best understood as ad hoc arrangements which have developed i n response to domestic and international market conditions. To achieve i t s goals, the industry has pursued a strategy of d i v e r s i f i c a t i o n of supplier. The case of Western Canadian coal i s presented to i l l u s t r a t e some of the main features of the implementation of the strategy. To enhance the security of their coal contracts, Japanese buyers increasingly have chosen to invest d i r e c t l y i n the coal mine.
[1]
I. Vertinsky,et al.
Japan's Energy Strategy at the Crossroads
,
1984
.
[2]
Miyohei Shinohara,et al.
Industrial Growth, Trade, and Dynamic Patterns in the Japanese Economy.
,
1984
.
[3]
吉原 久仁夫.
Sogo shosha : the vanguard of the Japanese economy
,
1983,
The Journal of Asian Studies.
[4]
Richard J. Samuels.
The Industrial Destructuring of the Japanese Aluminum Industry
,
1983
.
[5]
D. Rodrik.
Managing resource dependency: The United States and Japan in the markets for copper, iron ore and bauxite
,
1982
.
[6]
T. J. Pempel.
Japanese foreign economic policy: the domestic bases for international behavior
,
1977,
International Organization.
[7]
赤尾 信敏.
Japan's economic security : resources as a factor in foreign policy
,
1983
.
[8]
康弘 中曽根,et al.
Japanese trade policy formulation
,
1983
.
[9]
M. Saso,et al.
Japanese industrial competition to 1990
,
1982
.
[10]
Herbert I. Goodman.
Japan and the world energy problem
,
1980
.
[11]
霍見 芳浩.
Multinational management : business strategy and government policy
,
1977
.
[12]
M. Yoshino.
Japan's Multinational Enterprises
,
1976
.