Japanese austerity fell hardest on the military budget

Evidence

The state had kept public spending in check throughout the 1920s, rising from only ¥1.2 to ¥1.4 billion over the course of the decade. The folks taking the brunt of this shrinkage in real terms were the military, who saw their spending cut from 47.8 percent to 28.4 percent of the budget over the same period. Amplifying Inoue’s austerity crusade, his party’s 1930 election slogan was “economy, disarmament, purification of politics, reform of China policy and removal of the gold embargo.” The military were none too pleased. Inoue pressed on regardless. — Mark Blyth, Austerity, 540

Categorization

• XREF: The military-takes-the-brunt, austerity-fuels-militarism arc connects to the broader fascism-and-austerity literature (and to post-WWI Germany reparations debates). — connects to: Japanese austerity produced depression, assassination, and militarism. — Mark Blyth, Austerity: The History of a Dangerous…, 544; Japan’s austerity decade radicalized the military and led to assassinations. — Mark Blyth, Austerity: The History of a Dangerous…, 543; Austerity-driven military cuts triggered an assassination and coup attempt — Mark Blyth, Austerity: The History of a Dangerous…, 541

Broader Connections

• Japanese austerity produced depression, assassination, and militarism. #expands (0.85) — Mark Blyth, Austerity, 544
• Austerity-driven military cuts triggered an assassination and coup attempt #expands (0.85) — Mark Blyth, Austerity, 541
• Japan’s austerity decade radicalized the military and led to assassinations. #expands (0.72) — Mark Blyth, Austerity, 543