Abstract
The concept of this paper and all its findings came about from rigorous research across many sources as well as personal research conducted in Japan. I traveled to Japan in the summer of 2024 on a faculty-led study abroad program through the University of Michigan-Flint. I intended to note how hospitality was perceived and implemented in varying business structures throughout Japan. While there I found that Japanese people, not just business owners and employees, are some of the kindest, nicest, and most hospitable people on earth. This takeaway raised the question which would become the foundation for my thesis. How can two countries with such similar economic structures, Like America and Japan, differ so widely in cultural standards? Further research enabled me to identify a potential reason American and Japanese cultures differ in societal standards and economic structures: Throughout history, certain individuals changed the structure of their country to the extent that modern day cultural norms can be traced back to their direct influence. Individuals like Japanese economist Shibusawa Eiichi and American banker J.P. Morgan were particularly interesting due to how they were capitalists from similar economic environments yet in the end used their social status to prioritize vastly different goals. With roughly twenty different cited sources, my own personal research, and the input of Professor Gregory Laurence, I share my understanding of just how significant a role individuals play in changing their nation’s economy and society.
Presenters
Cooper BrownStudent, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, University of Michigan-Flint, Michigan, United States Greg Laurence
Professor of Management, Management and Marketing - School of Management, University of Michigan-Flint, Michigan, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Civic, Political, and Community Studies
KEYWORDS
Culture, History, Change, Impact, Economy
