Product Description

The extraordinary growth enjoyed over the last several decades by many East Asian countries has amounted to nothing less than an economic miracle. Employing unorthodox policies, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand have all produced dramatic results with far-reaching improvements in human welfare and income distribution, leading many to ask whether a similar achievement can be duplicated elsewhere. Written for the nonspecialist, this World Bank Policy Research Report--the first in an important new series--discusses in detail the means by which these high-performing Asian economies (HPAEs) realized their staggering success between 1965 and 1990. Examining how these countries stabilized their economies with sound development programs that led to fast growth, the book also shows how they shared the new prosperity by making income distribution more equitable. The book makes clear how the HPAEs promoted rapid capital accumulation by making banks more reliable and encouraging high levels of domestic savings, while universal primary schooling and better primary and secondary education quickly increased their skilled labor forces. Also included are illustrative examples of productive agricultural programs, modest tax policies, the modification of price distortions, foreign technology and investment, and the cooperation of government and private enterprise. Exposing to a broad audience the revolutionary process that transformed East Asia into the collection of economic juggernauts that it is today, this provocative World Bank report offers wisdom for today's up-and-coming markets, highlighting the policies that will make a difference as well as those that, despite their effectiveness in the Orient, could prove disastrous elsewhere.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #274725 in Books
• Published on: 1993-09-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 408 pages

Review
"Excellent review of material on economic growth in Asia. Well written and well illustrated with graphs."--Raj Aggarwal, John Carroll University

"A very informative volume on economic development in East Asia...Students found it helpful. It has many useful charts and figures, as well as some basic theoretical and policy arguments....I think the book offers a good text for courses in related areas. I recommend it to instructors who teach classes about East Asia and development."--Xiaobo Lu, Columbia University

"A thorough and comprehensive study of the economic performance of eight countries in East Asia...impressive graphs....Highly useful for both graduate and undergraduate students in economic development in general and Asian studies in particular."--Choice

"A most impressive work... And what makes it particularly impressive is the way it eschews any ideological baggage. It clinically and fairly analyses what actually happened."--The Weekend Australian

"An excellent and comprehensive overview of one of the world's greatest economic success stories."--Stephen D. Cohen, School of International Service, American University

"A comprehensive work, distilling decades of research on the most dynamic region in the world economy."--Morning Star

"The study is well-produced, in the style of the best American economics textbooks, and is well-linked to the academic literature; it will be useful for postgraduate teaching."--The Economic Journal

From the Publisher
42 color illus.

About the Author
The World Bank Group is a group of five international organizations responsible for providing finance and advice to countries for the purposes of economic development and poverty reduction, and for encouraging and safeguarding international investment. The group and its affiliates have their headquarters in Washington, D.C., with local offices in 124 member countries.