Ruins to Riches: The Economic Resurgence of Germany and Japan After 1945

In 1945, Germany and Japan lay prostrate after total war and resounding defeat. By 1960, they had the second and fifth largest economies in the world respectively. This global leadership has been maintained ever since. How did these 'economic miracles' come to pass, and why were these two nations particularly adept at achieving them? Ray Stokes is the first to unpack these questions from comparative and international perspectives, emphasising both the individuals and companies behind this exceptional performance and the broader global political and economic contexts. He highlights the potent mixtures in both countries of judicious state action, effective industrial organisation, benign labour relations, and technological innovation, which they adapted constantly - sometimes painfully - to take full advantage of rapidly growing post-war international trade and globalisation. Together, they explain the spectacular resurgence of Deutschland AG and Japan Incorporated to global economic and technological leadership, which they have sustained to the present.

1945年，德國和日本在經歷了全面戰爭和慘敗之後，陷入了低谷。到了1960年，它們分別成為了世界第二和第五大經濟體。這種全球領導地位至今仍然保持著。這些「經濟奇蹟」是如何實現的？為什麼這兩個國家特別擅長實現這一目標？雷·斯托克斯是第一個從比較和國際的角度來解答這些問題的人，他強調這一卓越表現背後的個人和公司，以及更廣泛的全球政治和經濟背景。他強調這兩個國家在明智的國家行動、有效的工業組織、良好的勞資關係和技術創新方面的強大組合，它們不斷地適應 - 有時是痛苦地 - 充分利用快速增長的戰後國際貿易和全球化的機會。這些因素共同解釋了德國AG和日本公司的壯觀復甦，使它們成為全球經濟和技術領導地位，並且這種領導地位一直持續到現在。