The Co-Prosperity Sphere is a massive Socio-Cultural-Military-Economic alliance encompassing most of Asia and significant parts of Africa and the Americas. While the alliance represents a general 'capitalist' alternative to the more Syndicalist alliance of the Syndietern. The development level of the countries within the Sphere is much more significant than those throughout the Syndietern. While this is caused by many factors, such as the Syndietern having all of Europe acting as an economic engine to develop their more underdeveloped African and Latin American members, the Pacific Proximity effect, and the sheer size and population of the people living within the Co-Prosperity Sphere, throughout the decades, there have been several economic movements throughout the Alliance. While the vast majority of countries within the alliance are still comparatively poor compared to countries such as France, Britain and Japan. The disparity between these countries are slowly being mended via a concerted effort by the Japanese, and to a lesser extent other, newly developed CPS countries to lift up the economic productivity of this region.
Here are some of the Developed Countries that currently exist within the CPS:
Japan
By far the largest economy and the Economic and Military locus within the Alliance. Japan is an incredibly prosperous country with a massively diversified economy and is home to numerous international companies, the likes of Sony, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, Mitsui, NEC, Tokyo Electron, Kawasaki, Komatsu, and many, many others. While the population of Japan is sufficient to support a mostly self-sufficient economy with some oil imports to compensate for their lack of energy. Japan has a vested interest in making sure that other countries in the CPS manages to become developed as well, since a populace with increased purchasing power outside of Japan would, naturally, buy more Japanese products, therefore increasing Japan's export profile and boosting their economic productivity. This, and various other factors political and strategic generally make Japan by far the largest investor nation in the CPS, with JICA projects big and small dotting all around the Co-Prosperity Sphere.
Korea
One of the newer developed economies, formally reaching the sufficient development threshold by 1977. Korea is by far one of the newest entries into the club of developed economies. With a wide variety of industries such as Automobiles, Shipbuilding, Finance, and Banking. The Korean economy is a story of unlikely success and sheer perseverance. A Japanese colony throughout the majority of the early 20th century, Korea gained independence in 1937 after circumstances inside and outside Japan forced the Japanese to give the Koreans independence. While the Japanese initially desired to keep Korea as a poor, servile country, the rigors of the 2nd Weltkrieg and later northern Russian campaign would force the Japanese to rely heavily on Korean industry, and the Koreans was provided a big boost as companies like Kia, Samsung, and Hyundai were given licenses and cheap loans by the Japanese and Korean governments to make as much military vehicles and weapons to supply Japanese soldiers in the front throughout the world. This boost in investment would be capitalized by future Korean Prime Ministers, propelling the country to focus itself on being an export-oriented economy.
East Russia
The East Russian economy is an interesting beast, with their main economic engines comprising two major regions. The Amur River region, where the older, now defunct Transamur Republic used to be, and the Volga River basin area, where cities such as Volgograd and Astrakhan are located. Following the northern campaign, where the CPS invaded Savinkovist Russia after numerous threats to Transamur's territorial integrity by Savinkov's Russian government. The East Russian government would embark on a two-pronged program to transform the country and legitimize its rule over the entirety of Eastern Russia. Firstly, by instituting democratic reforms and desavinkovisation. Effectively consigning National Populism in Russia to the history books, and secondly, an intense economic redevelopment program aided by Japanese money to improve the living standards of the average Russian. Economists would later dub it 'The Miracle on the Amur and Volga', and the country would later develop a specialized economy around Aerospace parts, heavy machinery, and timber products. Mainly exporting their products to China, Central Asia, and India through massive overland railways.
Burma
An interesting country with an equally interesting economic history. Burma, instead of being an economy with it's own significant industrial sector, primarily acts as a trade node between China, Siam, and India, and less so as an economic engine in itself. The Burmese government pre and post-Weltkrieg realized their important position in the geopolitical chessboard and constructed numerous roads and railways to facilitate more efficient commerce between the three countries, acting as a country-sized interchange between the three massive economies. This allows Burma to develop an intense service-based economy, focusing on banking and other high-level service jobs such as consulting and translation-based services. While they are growing their industrial base, especially in light industrial machinery, Burma is an interesting case where their geopolitical position allows them to leapfrog from the more traditional economic development model. Allowing them to become rich via other means.
Siam
One of the larger economies in Southeast Asia, Siam is a highly diversified and developed country, with industries such as Automobiles, Traincar manufacturing, Heavy and light industrial machinery, and various other manufacturing sectors being its main growth drivers. The country was one of Japan's earliest allies in the 2nd Weltkrieg, and as such, enjoyed the fruits of victory pretty early on, exporting their products to Japan, and various other countries liberated by their forces. This, coupled with a growing consumer base within the Kingdom, effectively created a virtuous cycle that never really stopped and made Siam one of the most advanced economies by 1977. This allowed for a larger government budget, which allowed them to fund a larger military, a military that, consequently, contributed to Japanese efforts to man up the East Russian border with West Russia as a contingent force, supplementing the massive Japanese, Chinese, and Indian presence there. This decision by Siam is commonly cited by Japanese strategic thinkers as the primary reason why Japan should invest more in the other CPS members' economies.
The Philippines
One of the more interesting economies throughout the CPS, the Philippines is famous because, generally. There are no standout industries at all! Sure there are several companies with a global presence, but in terms of their scale, none of them really match up to Japan, Korea, and even Siam. But what the Philippines does possess however, is a massive network of various medium to small businesses that collaborate with each other, and sometimes negotiate as one when things need to be done. The actions done by subsequent Filipino Presidents during, and after the 2nd Weltkrieg ensured that the Philippines would be the middleman for nearly all business activities in Southeast Asia, companies that want to set up shop and expand their operations into the SE Asian region would generally like to open their regional SE Asian headquarters in Manilla or Davao respectively. The country also has a surprisingly good agricultural sector as well, making the Philippines a net exporter of various small to medium sized goods throughout the CPS.
Australia
The unusual economy in the CPS. Mainly focused on resource extraction of minerals such as iron to fuel the growing Japanese and Asian economies. Australia is a unique case of a developed economy that grew primarily due to resource exports and not much else. While they do have a relatively solid banking sector, said sector is mostly focused in investing into their own domestic operations, and barely has a presence abroad. Nonetheless, with the growth of the economies throughout the Pacific Region, there is plenty demand for Australian raw materials, but it is unknown if Australia could distinguish itself in any other way should outside factors kick in. Australian economists have strongly argued for the government to diversify it's economy, with tourism and education being chief areas where Australia could really distinguish itself.
New Zealand
One of the smaller, more out there economies, but nonetheless highly developed. New Zealand has developed an interesting specialty, focusing in the Agriculture sector and it's banking sector. New Zealand agricultural products have come a long way ever since it got invaded by Japan during the 2nd Weltkrieg, with their milk, wool, and other foodstuffs being seen in many high end restaurants throughout the CPS. The country is also positioning itself as a Tax Haven, where Millionaires could park it's money and know that due to New Zealand's relative position in the world map. It should be mostly a secure place where they can see their assets grow. These two are relatively significant sectors within the New Zealand economy, but, like most developed countries, the country is incredibly developed and has a wide variety of other sectors that makes it a highly developed Free Market economy.
Malaya
An often overlooked Developed economy. Malaya does have a history of being a trading nation. But with it's liberation from German Colonialism during the 2nd Weltkrieg, the country has experienced a period of unprecedented economic growth. Propelling the country to developed status in 1977. This was partly due to a combination of factors, relatively competent and active government regulation, it's strategic positioning in the Strait of Malacca, and having Singapore as an economic engine. Nonetheless, the country has a strong petroleum processing industry, and a lively, if somewhat controversial, Palm Oil and other extractive agricultural industry. The country is currently investing itself in Biotechnology, promoting investment in it's small, but burgeoining pharmaceutical sector and make Malayan medicine, and to a lesser extent, beauty products, the go to brands within the CPS. Due to the country's Muslim majority though, Malaya also has an advantage most other countries within the CPS does not have, easy access to the Middle East markets, it is within the Middle Eastern market that Malayan products really shine, forming a sizeable chunk of it's exports.
Somalia
By far one of the most unexpected growth stories within the CPS, Somalia quickly became a trading economy not to dissimilar to Malaya following the Middle Eastern war, while on one hand, the country didn't suffer as much infrastructural damage as other members of the Cairo pact. Somalia nonetheless has to adapt into a massively changed geopolitical reality, and decided that building regional power blocs to form a sort of 'counterweight' to the Pacific powers is the way to go. And to this extent, it has mostly succeeded. Somalia nowadays is a highly developed Market economy, achieving developed status in 1976, but there are two main sectors that the country shines the most.
Sharia banking, and events. Somalia has been focusing itself into becoming THE place for Sharia banking, sending it's best talents to the best universities abroad, bringing them back home, and have them work in the small, but rapidly growing Sharia Banking sector, their skill and relative trustwortiness has made Somalia by far the country with the most developed Sharia banking sector in the world (even beating Malaya!), but the other economic sector that is helping Somalia grow, is Event Management, namely music concerts and football events. Somalia has been slowly gaining the reputation as an unexpected tourism hotspot within the Muslim world, and an assortment of secondary sectors such as Halal fine dining restaurants, halal fashion brands, and other Sharia compliant tourism is making the country distinguish itself in the world. This has propelled economic growth in the country, making it one of the most developed, and richest countries in Africa at the moment.
