Zaibatsu and Keiretsu: The evolution of Japanese business group

Abstract

This thesis is aimed to address the basic layout of Japanese business group Zaibatsu and Keiretsu. In this thesis, the historical background of Japanese business group and the factors led to Keiretsu today were showed. I also present a basic characteristics of Zaibatsu and Keiretsu and their significance in Japanese economy. I studied the relationship between Keiretsu and Japanese foreign trade and concluded a simple analysis by collecting data of two Japanese Keiretsu and Japanese trade statistics. The results rejected the hypothesis I made earlier but consistent with a scholar idea that the relationship between Keiretsu and Japanese foreign trade was not irrelevant.