ECON 377 – 70: ECONOMIES OF EAST ASIA

Syllabus (PDF) Country Report (PDF) Grading Scale Websites

Country Report Topic Suggestions AdditionalArticles

Week 1

August

25, 27

Introduction to East Asia- Finding Out What We Know and Don't Know

Lecture 1: Introduction to East Asia (PPT)

Resources on Websites: Asian Development Bank Atradius Country Report Asia Pacific Country Reports CountryWatch Human Development Indicators Familiarization IMF Country Information World Bank East Asia Pacific World Factbook

Assignment 1 (Due September 15) - Construct a short (no more than 10 slides) presentation introducing a country in East Asia other than China, Japan, or Vietnam. Do not simply present statistics and be sure to note the major current economic and\or political issues. You will be asked to make a presentation during Week 4. You may do this assignment in a group of 2 or 3.

Week 2

September

1, 3

A Little History - East Asian Miracle

A Little History - East Asian Crisis

Lecture 2: East Asian Miracle (PPT)

Lecture 3: East Asian Crisis (PPT)

Required Readings:

1). Bhagwati, Jagdish (1996). ‘The Miracle That Did Happen: Understanding East Asia in Comparative Perspective,’ Keynote speech delivered at Cornell University.

2). Krugman, Paul, (1994). ‘The Myth of Asia's Miracle,’ Foreign Affairs

3). Stiglitz, Joseph, (2000). ‘What I Learned at the World Economic Crisis,’ New Republic.

Additional Reading: World Bank (2003). ‘The East Asian Miracle : Economic Growth and Public Policy:’ Main report (English)

Week 3

September

8, 10

The Economy of Vietnam

Lecture 4: Vietnam (PPT)

Required Readings:

1). IMF (2019) ’Five Charts Explain Vietnam's Economic Outlook’

2). IMF (2018) ’The Story of Viet Nam's Economic Miracle’ (Vietnam Rising Video)

3). Bertelsmann Stiftung (2018). ‘Country Report - Vietnam.’Gütersloh: Bertelsmann Stiftung.

4). Foreign Policy (2019). ‘Vietnam Can’t Be the Next China’

5). McCornac, D. C. (2013). ‘Vietnam’s Foreign Policy Tightrope,’ East Asian Forum.

6). World Bank (2018) ‘Doing Business 2018, Reforming to Create Jobs: Economy Profile – Vietnam.’

Resources on Websites: The Diplomat Vietnam Express International Vietnam Investment Review VietnamNet Vietnam News World Bank-Vietnam

Videos: Best Places to Visit in Vietnam Old Quarter Food Traffic Vietnam Rising Why McDonald’s Flopped In Vietnam Why Vietnam Could be the New China as US-China Trade Tensions Continue

Week 4

September

15, 17

The Economy of Vietnam Cont’d

Presentations on Countries

Country Presentations

Assignment 2 (Due October 1) - Examine some of the websites dealing with a country other than the one you did for your presentation (you can include Vietnam). Submit a 2-3 page report discussing a current issue that is particularly relevant to the country you choose. Reference at least 5 sources (Internet sites are fine). This is not a group assignment.

Week 5

September

22, 24

Presentations on Countries

Country Presentations Continued

Week 6

September 29

October 1

Ambiguous Role of the State

Lecture 5: Ambiguous Role of the State (PPT)

Required Readings:

1). Transparency International (2019). ‘Asia Pacific: Little to No Progress on Anti-Corruption.’

2). Stromseth and Hunter Marston (2019). ‘Democracy at a Crossroads in Southeast Asia: Great Power Rivalry Meets Domestic Governance’ Foreign Policy at Brookings Institution.

3). McCornac, D.C. (2012). ‘The Challenge of Corruption in Higher Education: The Case of Vietnam,’ Asian Education and Development Studies.

Resources on Websites: Capitalism vs. Socialism Human Rights Watch Index of Economic Freedom Transparency International

Video: Hands How Corruption Starts

Week 7

October

6, 8

Looking at the Missing Pieces

Exam 1

Exam 1 (October 8)

The Khmer Rouge

Video: Tonle Sap: Saving Cambodia's Great Lake

Additional Material: China Reshapes The Vital Mekong River To Power Its Expansion

Week 8, October 13 - 17 (Mid-term Break)

Week 9

October

20, 22

Exploring the Chinese economy

Lecture 6: Chinese Economy (PPT)

Required Readings:

1). Factsanddetails.com, ‘Communes, Land Reform and Collectivism in China.‘

2). Congressional Research Service (2018). ‘China’s Economic Rise: History, Trends, Challenges, and Implications for the United States.’

3). World Bank (2013). ‘China 2030: Building a Modern, Harmonious, and Creative High-Income Society’ (look at overview).

Resources on Websites: China Economic Review Xinhuanet People’s Daily Online

Videos: What's going on with China's economy? - BBC News Global Investment Outlook – New Year 2019 – China’s economy slowing

WEEK 10

October

27, 29

Exploring the Chinese Economy Cont’d

March 12 – Tentative country report proposal due (please arrange for appointment)

Required Readings:

1). World Bank (2018). ‘China Economic Update’

2). Baker and McKenzie (2018). ‘Belt & Road: Opportunity & Risk The prospects and perils of building China’s New Silk Road.’

3). Peter Cai (2017). ‘Understanding China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Additional Lecture Materials: Made in China 2025 (PPT) A brilliant plan, One Belt, One Road

Videos: Chinese Environment Part 1 Chinese Environment Part 2 Made in China 2025 IphoneSkit

Assignment 3 (Due November 12) - Write a 2-3 page paper detailing what is generally perceived as the most important challenge facing the Chinese economy. Do the opinions in China differ from those outside China? This is not a group assignment. Reference at least 5 sources (Internet sites are fine).

WEEK 11

November

3, 5

To Live

To Live, is a film directed by Zhang Yimou, provides an overview of key events in twentieth-century China, moving from the 1940s to the 1970s.

WEEK 12

November

10, 12

The Japanese Economy

Lecture 7: Japanese Economy (PPT)

Required Readings:

1). 1). Ohno, Kenichi (2005), ‘The Path Traveled by Japan as a Developing Country: Economic Growth from Edo to Heisei’, Yuhikaku Publishing Co. Ltd., Tokyo. (Chapters 11, 12 and 13)