In the same way that no economy starts out with the best set of economic policies, no economy starts out with the best institutions to support the policy-making process. Instead, they inherit institutions that reflect their own unique culture and history. The task of structural reform has to be addressed, therefore, in the context of domestic economic and political institutions and processes. Examining the nature of structural economic reform and the institutional circumstances in which it succeeds or is inhibited, this volume is less about the content of structural reform and more about how to get there. The chapters develop principles governing the types of institutions that are likely to assist the structural reform process, and then examine the application of those principles within a number of case studies. Finally, the volume presents some ideas about how regional cooperation could help to build and support those institutions that in turn support domestic structural reforms. Consisting of theoretical chapters and country specific case studies, this book draws on experience with structural reform across a range of Asian economies at different stages of economic development. As such it will be of interest to students and scholars of Asian Economics and Development Economics.

Economic Reform in Asia compares and analyzes the reform and development patterns of China, India, and Japan from both historical and developmental perspectives. Sara Hsu specifically focuses on China’s reform and opening-up in 1979, India’s accelerated liberalization in 1991, and the outset of the Meiji Restoration in Japan in 1878. This detailed overview of growth patterns in Asia’s largest economies is invaluable, especially in its determination to understand which development policies work, what role institutions play in development, and what issues may arise during said development. The book first provides an overview of the countries’ development trajectories and introduces the theoretical constructs associated with them. The text focuses on key aspects of development for comparison, such as poverty and inequality, rural to urban migration, human capital, and the impact of development on the environment, trade, and economic future of these three countries. The relative success of reforms and their political and economic effects are also discussed. This comprehensive book will be of interest to students, as it provides an impressive overview of three Asian countries’ development, as well as for scholars in the field who are looking for a thoughtful and complex discussion of reform from different perspectives.

The countries of Central Asia are increasingly the focus of intense international attention due to their geopolitical and economic importance as well as their unsettled transition processes. The region faced enormous challenges when the Soviet Union disintegrated, and this book focuses on the reforms of the institutional environment that have been largely neglected. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the book explores key aspects of institution building as well as economic and political governance in Central Asia. Contributors from a variety of disciplines, such as economics, political economy, political science, sociology, law, and ethnology, investigate the challenges of institutional transition in a non-democratic region. The book discusses how the lack of effective institution building as well as rule enforcement in the economic and political realms represents one of the key weaknesses and drawbacks of transition, and goes on to look at how crafting market institutions will be of utmost importance in the years ahead. Making an important contribution to understanding of political-economic developments in Central Asia, this book is of interest to students and scholars of political economy, comparative economics, development studies and Central Asian studies.

This book explores the role of institutions in economic growth, looking in particular at specific Asian countries and at particular cities within those countries. It considers a wide range of factors besides institutions, including the law, cultural factors and overall government arrangements. The differences between the countries studied are highlighted, and the impact of these differences assessed: the impact of English common law on arrangements in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia; sharia law in Malaysia; the differing lengths of time of colonial rule; the extent to which Chinese family businesses control an economy. Also studied are the degree to which the law is effectively applied, and a range of other social, economic and cultural factors. The book’s conclusions as to which factors have the greatest impact will be of considerable interest to economists of Asia and those interested in economic growth more widely.

If South Asia is to survive and prosper in the global economic environment, its behind-the-border domestic reforms will be even more important than before. However, these reforms are much more difficult and complex than initial market opening. This timely book analyses what lessons can be learned about how South Asia can improve its policy efficiency.

Examines the dramatic transformation of Asian communist countries-China in particular-to vigorous market economies

Institutional Change in Southeast Asiaexamines the institutional changes taking place in, and challenges facing, the region since 1997. The book focuses on determinants to the adjustments and on implementations of the reforms. It also describes various differences in the reform process between countries in the region. Southeast Asia's economic development over the last decades has been impressive. Most of the region achieved consistently high growth rates accompanied by significant structural transformation and industrialization, poverty alleviation and improvements in their overall standard of living as indicated by such social indicators as greater longevity, more widespread delivery of basic education and lower infant mortality rates. However, the crisis that struck Southeast Asia in 1997 had severe economic, social and political consequences in the region. It also threw into doubt the future economic prosperity of the countries in Southeast Asia and raised intriguing questions about the quality of their institutions and their approach to economic development. Sjöholm and Tongzon argue that the economies of Southeast Asia need to reform their institutions if the previous rapid development is to continue. The institutional weaknesses have been addressed to different degrees and with different success in the affected countries. Against the backdrop of Southeast Asia's importance in the world economy, it is hardly possible to overestimate the need to understand this process of change.