The development of Transistor Radio export from Japan -The contribution of Small and Medium firms in its formative stage-

In a postwar high-growth period, some Japanese industries which were classified as a glight machinery industryh appeared and contributed for acquisition of foreign exchange, especially American dollar. As a case study of these industries, this paper examined the development of Transistor radio industry. Not only some major Japanese electronics companies like Matsushita, SONY and so on, but also a lot of SMEs played a very important roll to open up its American Market. In its early stage, Japanese companies had an advantage of price competition over American companies, but were criticized itsf poor-quality. To improve it, MITI imposed an export restraint which gave favorable allotment to exporters which was dealing high quality goods and had a long term and exclusive contract with American importers. Middle class companies which was at a disadvantage against big companies in past export record utilized the system to secure their quota and was strongly motivated to improve their product. On the other hand, the companies shipping low quality goods had to leave the market. Consequently, by the middle of 1960fs, the industry was reorganized.