Jon Woronoff
Encyclopedia
Jon Woronoff is an American
author and editor and previously an interpreter and translator. His full name is Arthur Jon Woronoff, although he normally uses only Jon Woronoff. He was born in New York City in 1938, and lived there until the age of about twenty, after which he studied and worked in Europe (with numerous visits to Africa) for about fifteen years, Hong Kong
and Japan
(with visits to other Asian countries) for about ten years, again five years in the U.S. in Washington, D.C. and since 1991 in France
.
He studied at the Bronx High School of Science
and New York University
, where he received a B.A. in 1959. He obtained a diploma of translator-interpreter at the Interpreter’s School of the University of Geneva
in 1962. He then studied at the Graduate Institute of International Studies
in Geneva until 1965, when he was granted a licence en sciences politique et economique.
From 1962 and into the early 1990s Woronoff worked as a simultaneous interpreter or translator for numerous international organizations, including the United Nations
, World Health Organization
, World Meteorological Organization
, Organization of African Unity, Economic Commission for Africa, and the U.S. State Department. During the period 1973-79, he founded and managed Interlingua Language Services, with offices in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Manila
and New York
.
As of 1970, he was also a free-lance journalist for various newspapers and magazines including Asian Business, Oriental Economist, Nikkei
, Toyo Keizai
, South China Morning Post, Financial Times
Syndication, Asian Wall Street Journal Weekly, etc. He was a special columnist for Mainichi Daily News and Japanalysis. Most of his reporting was devoted to East Asia, especially Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and China, but other places as well, and in the earlier part Africa.
Since 1973, Woronoff has been an external editor for Scarecrow Press http://www.scarecrowpress.com/ of Lanham, Maryland. All his work has dealt with “historical dictionaries” or roughly encyclopedias of countries or broad topics. The first series he initiated was the African Historical Dictionaries, but these were joined over the years by other series, including on Asia and Europe, on literature and the arts, wars, historical periods, U.S. diplomacy and history, professions and industries, and others. At present there are roughly 400 historical dictionaries in print.
Periodically Jon Woronoff wrote his own books, first on Africa
, then on Asia
. Most notable among these are the books on Japanese economics, business, and society. His critical approach clashed with conventional wisdom in the 1980s and 90s when Japan was often considered a ‘miracle’ economy. He argued that Japanese management systems were far from ideal, suffering from inefficiency and rigidity. He also insisted that actual living standards in Japan were much lower than the impression given by statistics such as per capita GDP. It could be argued that Japan’s sluggish economic growth in recent decades has vindicated many of his views. Despite controversy when they were first published, many similar ideas are now part of mainstream orthodox opinion on the Japanese economy and society.
His books on other parts of Asia, especially Hong Kong, Korea
, Taiwan
, Singapore
and China
, were equally controversial, but for the opposite reason. When written, the common opinion was that they were “basket cases” with no hope whatsoever of economic development
. Yet, they were already in their takeoff phase and this was emphasized in several hundred newspaper and magazine articles as well as several books. Going against the pundits here also resulted in considerable criticism and refusal by some of the better known periodicals to publish his material. By now, of course, there is no question but that these views were by-and-large correct and paved the way for a better understanding of the dynamics of East Asia
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author and editor and previously an interpreter and translator. His full name is Arthur Jon Woronoff, although he normally uses only Jon Woronoff. He was born in New York City in 1938, and lived there until the age of about twenty, after which he studied and worked in Europe (with numerous visits to Africa) for about fifteen years, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(with visits to other Asian countries) for about ten years, again five years in the U.S. in Washington, D.C. and since 1991 in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
He studied at the Bronx High School of Science
Bronx High School of Science
The Bronx High School of Science is a specialized New York City public high school often considered the premier science magnet school in the United States. Founded in 1938, it is now located in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx...
and New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, where he received a B.A. in 1959. He obtained a diploma of translator-interpreter at the Interpreter’s School of the University of Geneva
University of Geneva
The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
in 1962. He then studied at the Graduate Institute of International Studies
Graduate Institute of International Studies
The Graduate Institute of International Studies, best known as HEI , was founded in 1927 as one of the first institutions in the world dedicated to the study of international relations...
in Geneva until 1965, when he was granted a licence en sciences politique et economique.
From 1962 and into the early 1990s Woronoff worked as a simultaneous interpreter or translator for numerous international organizations, including the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
, World Meteorological Organization
World Meteorological Organization
The World Meteorological Organization is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 189 Member States and Territories. It originated from the International Meteorological Organization , which was founded in 1873...
, Organization of African Unity, Economic Commission for Africa, and the U.S. State Department. During the period 1973-79, he founded and managed Interlingua Language Services, with offices in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
As of 1970, he was also a free-lance journalist for various newspapers and magazines including Asian Business, Oriental Economist, Nikkei
Nihon Keizai Shimbun
is one of the largest media corporations in Japan. Nikkei specializes in publishing financial, business and industry news. Its main news publications include:* Nihon Keizai Shimbun , a leading economic newspaper....
, Toyo Keizai
Toyo Keizai
is a book and magazine publisher specializing in politics, economics and business, based in Tokyo, Japan.The company is famous for established in 1895, one of three Japanese leading business magazines ranked with published by Nikkei Business Publications and published by DIAMOND.- External...
, South China Morning Post, Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
Syndication, Asian Wall Street Journal Weekly, etc. He was a special columnist for Mainichi Daily News and Japanalysis. Most of his reporting was devoted to East Asia, especially Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and China, but other places as well, and in the earlier part Africa.
Since 1973, Woronoff has been an external editor for Scarecrow Press http://www.scarecrowpress.com/ of Lanham, Maryland. All his work has dealt with “historical dictionaries” or roughly encyclopedias of countries or broad topics. The first series he initiated was the African Historical Dictionaries, but these were joined over the years by other series, including on Asia and Europe, on literature and the arts, wars, historical periods, U.S. diplomacy and history, professions and industries, and others. At present there are roughly 400 historical dictionaries in print.
Periodically Jon Woronoff wrote his own books, first on Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, then on Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. Most notable among these are the books on Japanese economics, business, and society. His critical approach clashed with conventional wisdom in the 1980s and 90s when Japan was often considered a ‘miracle’ economy. He argued that Japanese management systems were far from ideal, suffering from inefficiency and rigidity. He also insisted that actual living standards in Japan were much lower than the impression given by statistics such as per capita GDP. It could be argued that Japan’s sluggish economic growth in recent decades has vindicated many of his views. Despite controversy when they were first published, many similar ideas are now part of mainstream orthodox opinion on the Japanese economy and society.
His books on other parts of Asia, especially Hong Kong, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, were equally controversial, but for the opposite reason. When written, the common opinion was that they were “basket cases” with no hope whatsoever of economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
. Yet, they were already in their takeoff phase and this was emphasized in several hundred newspaper and magazine articles as well as several books. Going against the pundits here also resulted in considerable criticism and refusal by some of the better known periodicals to publish his material. By now, of course, there is no question but that these views were by-and-large correct and paved the way for a better understanding of the dynamics of East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
.
Books
- Organizing African Unity (1971)
- West African Wager (1973)
- Hong Kong: Capitalist Paradise (1978)
- Japan: The Coming Economic Crisis (1980), also published in Japanese
- Japan: The Coming Social Crisis (1982), also in Japanese
- World Trade War (1985), also in Japanese
- The Japan Syndrome (1985)
- Japan’s Commercial Empire (1986), also in Japanese
- Politics, The Japanese Way (1989), also in Japanese
- Asia’s “Miracle” Economies (1991)
- Unlocking Japan’s Market with Michael Czinkota (1991)
- Japan As – Anything But – Number One (1991)
- The Japanese Management Mystique (1992)
- Japanese Targeting: Successes, Failures, Lessons (1992)
- The “No-Nonsense” Guide to Doing Business in Japan (1992)
- The Japanese Economic Crisis (1993)