CIAO DATE: 09/02

Fujimori’s Financiers: How Japan Became the Largest Aid Donor in Latin America and Its Implications for Future Economic Development

Abstract

This paper analyzes the historical development of Japan’s economic relationship with Latin America and describes trends observed in the short and medium term. The main types of relations examined are trade, direct foreign investment, and official development assistance. Emphasis is placed on how Japan’s postwar economic development is mirrored in its changing relationship with Latin America. The importance of relationships for both Japan and the United States is discussed, as are competing broad theoretical hypotheses about the nature and evolution of these relationships. The concluding section explores the impact of the Asian economic crisis on Latin America and assesses the feasibility of free trade agreements between Japan and certain Latin American nations.

Full text (PDF format, 38 pages, 80kb)