"Over the last four decades, Asian countries have experienced a substantial increase in their global competitiveness. While some of this is due to their economic activity, politics are also a contributing factor. Technological advances, particularly concerning the internet and social media, have also contributed, as have many other factors. We expect information and communication technology led by the development of the internet to make the transformation of knowledge easier and more efficient, thus contributing to faster economic growth worldwide. Sound macroeconomic policy and political conditions facilitate this process. Many Asian countries have learned from the experience of the Asian Crisis of 1987 when the Thai baht lost its value due to a shortage of reserves by the Central bank of Thailand, and capital outflow spread throughout the region. Asian countries now know that to avoid such a run on foreign currencies, they must hold enough reserves to support their own currency. Sound fiscal and monetary policies, as well as an exchange rate policy combined with an efficient banking system, are required to enhance the reserve policy. Another requirement for the effectiveness of macroeconomic policies is desirable political conditions to enhance international confidence in these countries. Strong political stability requires sound rules, laws, and democratic institutions that must be transparent. Granting excessive power to any one ruler has proved to lead to corruption which is an impediment to growth. This book addresses the issues above by providing theoretical and empirical evidence using data from some countries in Asia"--

For students of international political economy, it is hard to ignore the growth, dynamism, and global impact of East Asia. Japan and China are two of the largest economies in the world, in a region now accounting for almost 30 percent more trade than the United States, Canada, and Mexico combined. What explains this increasing wealth and burgeoning power? In his new text, Ming Wan illustrates the diverse ways that the domestic politics and policies of countries within East Asia affect the region’s production, trade, exchange rates, and development, and are in turn affected by global market forces and international institutions. Unlike most other texts on East Asian political economy that are essentially comparisons of major individual countries, Wan effectively integrates key thematic issues and country-specific examples to present a comprehensive overview of East Asia’s role in the world economy. The text first takes a comparative look at the region’s economic systems and institutions to explore their evolution—a rich and complex story that looks beyond the response to Western pressures. Later chapters are organized around close examination of production, trade, finance, and monetary relations. While featuring extended discussion of China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, Wan is inclusive in his analysis, with coverage including Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, and the Philippines. The text is richly illustrated with more than fifty tables, figures, and maps that present the latest economic and political data to help students better visualize trends and demographics. Each chapter ends with extensive lists of suggested readings.

This study not only examines the countries most severely affected by the Asian financial crisis, but also draws lessons from those whose economies escaped the worst problems. The author focuses on the political economy of the crisis, emphasizing long-standing problems and crisis management tactics.

It is predicted by some observers that the 21st century will be remembered as the 'Asian Century'. Many of the countries in the region seem to be able to take the economic and trade baton when one of the others experience problems. The region, in general, continues to grow economically, politically and militarily. The articles presented in this book examine the current political and economic situations in nations across Asia, particularly focusing on economic developments. Contents: Preface; The Challenge of Removing Administrative Barriers to FDI in China; Negative Externality, Tacit Bargaining and Cigarette Demand: The Case of Environmental Tobacco Smoke in Japan; Modelling Development Control of Residential Development: A Probit Analysis of Rent Seeking and Policy Autonomy in Town Planning in Hong Kong; Social(ist) Capital: Does it Pay? The Institutional Impact on Conditions and Consequences of Access to Social Capital: the Case of the Former GDR; The Role of Foreign Investment in Guangdong's Economic Development; Natural Disasters and Long-run Economic Growth in Asia and Around the World; The Role of Urban Policy in the Battle against Poverty: The Experience of the Philippines;

This new edition updates its precedessor and uses the Asian economic crisis to indicate how theoretical differences identified in the South-East Asian boom were brought into even sharper relief in the analysis of the crisis and recovery strategies.

It is predicted by some observers that the 21st century will be remembered as the Asian Century. Many of the countries in the region seem to be able to take the economic and trade baton when one of the others experiences problems. The region, in general, continues to grow economically, politically and militarily. The articles presented in this book examine the current political and economic situations in nations across Asia, particularly focusing on economic developments.

This work focuses on the challenges facing the newly independent states of Central Asia - Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kirgizia and Tadjikistan. It examines the political events and socio-economic changes which followed the disintegration of the Soviet Union.