The analysis shows how financial development has occurred in two distinct phases. Initially, interest rates were regulated to remain below market levels, entry of new financial institutions was restricted, financial markets were segmented, and domestic finance was insulated from world financial markets. The second phase has seen a steady, if sometimes slow, removal of these restrictions.
Economic Development of Emerging East Asia presents economic studies of Taiwan and South Korea, compares them chiefly with Japan and the United States and finds that these East Asian countries are still in the process of emerging in the world economy. A timely quantitative and econometric analysis of the regional economies of emerging East Asia, the volume examines development indicators, effects of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, productivity growth, catching up and convergence of long run real GDP per capita growth, the time required for a country to catch up, colonialism and economic development in Taiwan and India. Arranged in increasing complexity of economic analyses, the chapters in this book provide a comprehensive understanding of emerging East Asian economies. In addition to serving as a handy reference for regional economists, policy analysts and researchers, Economic Development of Emerging East Asia can also be used as a textbook on economics and business.
'This is a very good piece of research. As a book, it is important because it focuses on important conceptual and empirical issues, namely the role of government and industrial policy in promoting rapid economic growth; and particularly the case of Taiwan as an exemplar of rapid industrial development. The author convincingly refutes the view that sector-specific industrial policy was an important source of Taiwan's rapid industrial growth in the 1980s.' - Hugh T. Patrick, Columbia University, US 'Dr Smith takes Taiwan and Korea as case studies to address fundamental questions concerning the rapid growth and subsequent financial crisis in East Asia: * were the Taiwan and Korean governments interventionist in the 1980s? * did industry policy play a role in the financial crisis of 1997-1998? Heather Smith has put together a comprehensive discussion of strategic industry policy. She analyses at length the fascinating connection between the growth of the chaebol in Korea, its links to the government and to the financial sector, and the unravelling of the financial crisis in Korea. Her analysis throws light on the fundamental strength that Taiwan has shown throughout the crisis. These are fascinating and important questions vital to the economics profession and of interest to the enormous contingent of economic commentators following the East Asian crisis.' - Ron Duncan, Australian National University, Australia The growth in global competitiveness and interdependence has led to an increased interest in the role of industrial policy in achieving economic growth objectives. Heather Smith reignites the contentious debate of the role of the state using East Asian economic development in general with particular emphasis on Taiwan and Korea. Using quantitive techniques, the author analyses the view that industry policy interventions were a necessary factor explaining Taiwan's economic performance in the 1980s.
Recently, real and artificial barriers to international transactions have fallen sharply, causing a rise in the overall volume of international trade. East Asia has been particularly affected by the economic stresses and gains derived from deregulation. Deregulation and Interdependence in the Asia-Pacific Region explores the broadly similar experiences of certain economies in the region—China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea—in dealing with the potentially volatile process of deregulation, and examines the East Asian response to a rapidly transforming economic environment.
Nicholas Eberstadt presents an impressive compilation of hard-to-find comparative data on economic performance for North Korea and South Korea over two critical generations.
In Policy and Economic Performance in Divided Korea during the Cold War Era: 1945–91, Eberstadt presents an impressive compilation of hard-to-find comparative data on economic performance for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK, or North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (ROK, or South Korea) over two critical generations. By a number of indicators, Eberstadt argues, Kim Il Sung's North Korea actually outperformed South Korea for much of this period—not only in the years immediately following partition, but perhaps also into the 1970s.
This exciting sequel to East Asia in Crisis offers a completely up-to-date assessment of the progress of East Asian recovery and provides a detailed review of the experience of the region's economies.
The two case studies in this paper suggest that poor and low-income people strongly prefer private, fee-based health care to free public health-care services. The studies use household data from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and San Salvador, El Salvador. These data show how the demand for health care is shaped by price, convenience, quality of care, and the consumer's level of education. Important findings from household data compare the degree to which private care providers, public sector providers, and social security facilities are used. Also reviewed is the degree to which ineligible consumers exploit social security services. Policy recommendations for government officials discuss ways to deliver better health care to various economic groups.
Progress towards economic and monetary union in Western Europe has highlighted the importance of regional policies, while events in Eastern Europe have focused attention on the role of finance in development and may lead to a substantial diversion of capital flows. This volume from the Centre for Economic Policy Research addresses the relationships between growth, convergence, and capital market imperfections. Theoretical papers shed light on the debates over the role of financial structure in economic development and the scope for government intervention to promote regional development. Highly topical empirical papers examine the relationship between international lending and economic development in a historical perspective; the experience of regional policies in the European Community, and of financial liberalization in high-growth East Asian economies; and the development of financial markets in Eastern Europe.
