construction state; country dominated by the construction industry
Refers to a nation whose economy and politics are heavily influenced by the construction and civil engineering sectors, often implying public works dependency.
Japan has long been called a construction state.
Policies aimed at moving away from a construction-dominated state are being discussed.
Compound of 土建 (civil engineering/construction) and 国家 (state/nation). The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely emerged in political and economic discourse to describe countries with heavy reliance on construction industries.