Publication Number:
2011-11
Martin Bronfenbrenner (1914-1997) was an American economist who was conversant with Japanese counterparts and well informed in Japan’s economics and economy. This paper aims to examine how he managed to communicate with Japanese economists when he visited Japan (three times) during the period immediately after the conclusion of the Pacific War (1941-1945). It also discusses his caustic criticism of the monetary expansion policy started by Japanese Finance Minister Tanzan Ishibashi to bolster up the national reconstruction strategy. It also sheds light on his other activities in Japan and East Asia as a liaison to the Shoup Tax Reform Mission (1949-1950) and a consultant to an UN organization in Bangkok (1951-1952). It will conclude that one of Bronfenbrener’s first and most important missions in post-WWII Japan was to meet several Japanese modern economists and try to communicate with them on economic issues based on a common knowledge of economics. By sharing his experience in Japan, many economists received new insight of economic knowledge and actual policy implementation by conducting their missions for the recovery and reconstruction of a national economy.
