Origins of the East Asian Developmental States: Rethinking the East Asian Development Model

• In Event: 571 - Section on Economic Sociology Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 09. The Political Economy of Liberalization and Development

Abstract

This study has two purposes. First, using Japan and China as examples, it demonstrates that the East Asian development model has a long history that dates back to the late nineteenth century, the first stage of East Asian industrialization. The essence of the East Asian model, state intervention in economic development, appeared at the time in a broad and deep fashion. Since then a historical pattern of government behavior has existed. Second, I discuss the implications of this study in relation to the East Asian development model. I examine the influence of the early developmental states on present-day East Asian economic systems, and further explore the source of the early developmental states. I argue that the East Asian model has its roots in traditional Asian political-economic structure and thus it is both historical and structural. Hence the model may not be readily replicated in other regions.

Author

• Wei Li, Frostburg State University