经济调整东亚的繁荣实际上是处于不同发展水平的三种繁荣。日本处于最高一级水平上,其经济多年来每年平均增长10%以上,增长速度只是到1973年以后才缓慢了下来。日本的经济规模居世界第二位(次于苏联),为美国的一半,而且不断在扩大中。但是,日本不同于那些设法仿效其成功之道的国家,它在第一次世界大战以前就已经是一个世界强国了。日本的经历同本文主要探讨的八个国家是很不一样的。它一直是更高发展水平的范例,而不是这些国家的伙伴或竞争者。 Economic Adjustment The prosperity of East Asia is actually three kinds of prosperity at different levels of development. Japan is at the highest level and its economy has been growing at an average annual rate of over 10% over the years. The growth rate only slowed down after 1973. Japan’s economy ranks second in the world (behind the Soviet Union), half as large as the United States, and constantly expanding. However, unlike other countries that managed to follow the path of its success, Japan was already a world power before World War I. The experience of Japan is very different from the eight countries discussed in this article. It has been an example of a higher level of development, not a partner or competitor in those countries.