The Business of Japanese Foreign Aid: Five Case Studies from Asia (European Institute of Japanese Studies East Asian Economics and Business Studies Series)

Japan is now the biggest donor of Official Development Assistance (ODA) throughout the world. This study takes a new approach to this subject by focusing on the procedures, methodologies and business mechanisms at the implementation level that influence the process of policy-making in Tokyo. It is also the first study to explore the process of receiving aid, arguing that many of the recipient countries exert considerable influence over the distribution of Japanese foreign aid. Japan is now the world's largest donor of Official Development Assistance (ODA), distributing one-fifth of all world-wide foreign aid. Concentrating heavily on infrastructure projects in Asia, Japanese ODAs have predominantly taken the form of concessional loans, raising many questions about the aims and motives of the Japanese foreign aid programme. The Business of Japanese Foreign Aid brings together five case studies focusing on the procedures, methodologies and business mechanisms at the implementation level of ODA, suggesting that there are many more factors influencing the process than might have been anticipated at the policy-making level in Tokyo. Examining such countries as China, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, these studies explore the process not only of giving but also of receiving aid, arguing that many of the recipient countries exert considerable influence over the distribution of Japanese foreign aid. Japan is now the biggest donor of Official Development Assistance (ODA), distributing one fifth of all world-wide foreign aid. Concentrating heavily on infrastructure projects in Asia, Japanese ODAs have predominantly taken the form of concession loans, raising many questions about the aims and motives of the Japanese foreign aid program.

Marie Söderberg brings together five case studies focusing on the procedures, methodologies and business mechanisms at the implementation level of ODAs, suggesting that there are many more factors influencing the process than might have been anticipated. Examining countries such as China, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, these studies explore the process of receiving aid, arguing that many of the recipient countries exert considerable influence over the distribution of Japanese foreign aid.

This work focuses on the procedures, methodologies and business mechanisms of foreign aid that influence the process of policy-making in Tokyo. There have been a number of studies on Japanese foreign aid during recent years.