Begins a series that will present substantial research contributions dealing with current political and economic developments in Asia, the papers selected for quality, relevance, and timeliness. The nine contributions of the inaugural volume emphasize economics and trade. The topics include trade policies and dynamics in greater China, research and development activities and trade specialization in Japan, and confronting contradictions in the Indian economy. Reproduced from typescripts. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

"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 book introduces readers to the deep political tensions in the Asia-Pacific and offers classroom simulations designed to encourage students to delve deeper into the issues and dynamics of the region.

This book presents and discusses information on the contemporary politics and economics of Asia. The coverage is intended to deal with Asia, its political dynamics, economic policies, institutions, and its future. Topics discussed herein include the European Union and Asia; identity change and the emergence of regionalism; trading security in alliances; China's naval modernisation; education in China; the Australia-China economic relationship; and the capability for economic growth in Asia.

This collection of essays examines the case for and against globalization, the effects of U.S. economic and foreign policy, and numerous issues related to Asian economics and politics. Published in prominent journals and news media between 1996 and 2001, these cross-cutting essays are as relevant today as when they were first written. The author provides remarkable insight into the economic and military directions in which particular countries or regions are moving, and what these movements portend for the future.

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.