'Deficient in commercial morality'? Japan in global debates on business ethics in late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries

Hunter, Janet (2016) 'Deficient in commercial morality'? Japan in global debates on business ethics in late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Palgrave Studies in Economic History. Palgrave Macmillan, London, UK. ISBN 9781137586810

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Abstract

This enlightening text analyses the origins of Western complaints, prevalent in the late nineteenth century, that Japan was characterised at the time by exceptionally low standards of 'commercial morality', despite a major political and economic transformation. As Britain industrialised during the nineteenth century the issue of 'commercial morality' was increasingly debated. Concerns about standards of business ethics extended to other industrialising economies, such as the United States. Hunter examines the Japanese response to the charges levelled against Japan in this context, arguing that this was shaped by a pragmatic recognition that Japan had little choice but to adapt itself to Western expectations if it was to establish its position in the global economy. The controversy and criticisms, which were at least in part stimulated by fear of Japanese competition, are important in the history of thinking on business ethics, and are of relevance for today's industrialising economies as they attempt to establish themselves in international markets.

Item Type:	Book
Official URL:	http://www.palgrave.com/gp/
Additional Information:	© 2016 The Author
Divisions:	Economic History
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BJ Ethics D History General and Old World > DS Asia
Date Deposited:	24 Feb 2017 16:26
Last Modified:	15 Sep 2023 21:57
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/69562

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