Joe Studwell Knihy

A provocative look at what has worked--and what hasn't--in East Asian economics. It explores how policies ridiculed by economists created titans in Japan, Korea and Taiwan, and are now behind the rise of China, while the best advice the West could offer sold its allies in south-east Asia down the economic river.

40 or 50 families control the economies of Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia. Their interests range from banking to property, from shipping to sugar, from vice to gambling. This book lifts the lid on a world of staggering secrecy and shows that the little most people know is almost entirely wrong.

A provocative, in-depth look at China - potentially the world's largest market - and the hopes and disappointments of politicians and companies in their search for new riches.

In the 1980s and 1990s, many in the West believed in the myth of an East-Asian economic miracle, viewing Japan and then China as dominant forces. Countries were labeled "tigers" or "mini-dragons," seen as culturally and economically unified and on the rise. Joe Studwell, a seasoned reporter in the region, aims to debunk these misconceptions. His extensive research on the economies of nine countries—Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, and China—reveals the truth behind their economic trajectories. Studwell's analysis emphasizes three key areas: land policy, manufacturing, and finance. He argues that land reform has been crucial for economic success, enabling the use of a large workforce and providing necessary capital. Regarding manufacturing, he asserts that mere industrial development is insufficient; countries must enforce "export discipline" to ensure global competitiveness. Effective financial regulation is also vital for fostering and sustaining growth. Through compelling examples, from a Philippine sugar baron's resistance to reform to the rapid expansion of a Korean steel mill, Studwell presents a thorough exploration of these themes. His work is essential for understanding the development of these dynamic nations, which will significantly influence the future of the global landscape.

Until the catastrophic economic crisis of the late 1990s, East Asia was perceived as a monolithic success story. But heady economic growth rates masked the most divided continent in the world - one half the most extraordinary developmental success story ever seen, the other half a paper tiger. Joe Studwell explores how policies ridiculed by economists created titans in Japan, Korea and Taiwan, and are now behind the rise of China, while the best advice the West could offer sold its allies in south-east Asia down the economic river. The first book to offer an Asia-wide deconstruction of success and failure in economic development, Studwell's latest work is provocative and iconoclastic - and sobering reading for most of the world's developing countries. How Asia Works is a must-read book that packs powerful insights about the world's most misunderstood continent.