Income Doubling Plan

Japanese history

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

The Income Doubling Plan was a policy launched by Japanese Prime Minister Ikeda Hayato in 1960. Its primary goal was to double Japan's national income within 10 years. This ambitious plan fueled Japan's phenomenal economic growth in the post-World War II era.

The strategy involved expanding public-sector spending, reducing taxes, and maintaining low inflation and interest rates. It also emphasized breaking down international trade barriers for Japanese goods. This plan was a significant factor in Japan's transformation into a consumer society and a global economic leader, shifting its focus to high-quality, high-technology products.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Japan
Economic transformation
…significant boost by Ikeda Hayato’s Income Doubling Plan of 1960. This plan reaffirmed the government’s responsibility for social welfare, vocational training, and education, while also redefining growth to include consumers as well as producers. The second was the new industrial policy that emerged out of the Ministry of Trade and…
Read More
…significant boost by Ikeda Hayato’s Income Doubling Plan of 1960. This plan reaffirmed the government’s responsibility for social welfare, vocational training, and education, while also redefining growth to include consumers as well as producers. The second was the new industrial policy that emerged out of the Ministry of Trade and…
Read More