ECON 377 – 70: ECONOMIES OF EAST ASIA

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

Consultant Report Topic Suggestions AdditionalArticles AdditionalArticlesContinued

Week 1

January 10, 12

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

Lecture 1: Introduction to East Asia (PPT)

Required Readings:

1). Does Asia’s superior response to COVID mean that the ‘Asian Century’ has begun?

2). 81 million jobs lost as COVID-19 creates turmoil in Asia-Pacific labour markets

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

Assignment 1 (Due January 31) - 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

January

17, 19

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

January

24, 25

The Economy of Vietnam

Lecture 4: Vietnam (PPT)

Required Readings:

1). VNExpress (2021) How Vietnam’s economy has changed over 35 years of reforms

2). Atradius (2020) Vietnam Country Report, November 2020

3). Bertelsmann Stiftung (2020). ‘Country Report - Vietnam.’Gütersloh: Bertelsmann Stiftung.

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

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

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

7). VnExpress International (2020) How Vietnam fought a pandemic and won

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

Week 4

January 31

February 2

Presentations on Countries

Vietnam Continued

Country Presentations

Week 5

February 7

Presentations on Countries Continued

Country Presentations Continued

Week 6

February

14, 16

Presentations on Countries Continued

Country Presentations Continued

Assignment 2 (Due February 23 – but if not, before March 7) - 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 7

February

21, 23

Presentations on Countries Continued

Ambiguous Role of the State and Economics of Corruption

Lecture 5: Ambiguous Role of the State and Economics of Corruption (PPT) Economic Rent

Required Readings:

1). Transparency International (2020). How Does Corruption Shape Asia

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

3). A Dream Deferred? The ‘Equitization’ of Vietnam’s State-Owned Enterprises

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

Videos: Hands How Corruption Starts

Midterm Take-Home Exam (Due March 14) (PDF) Video - Tonle Sap

Week 8, Sunday February 28, 2021 – Thursday, March 4, 2021

Spring Break, No Classes

WEEK 9

March

7, 9

Exploring the Chinese Economy

Lecture 6: Chinese Economy (PPT)

Required Readings:

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

2). 14 things you may not know about China's Economy

3). World Bank (2020). ‘China Economic Update’

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

Videos: China Economic Update Russia, China use COVID vaccines to increase global influence

WEEK 10

March

14, 16

Exploring the Chinese Economy Cont’d

March 9 – Tentative country report proposal due (please arrange for appointment)

Required Readings:

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

2). Atlantic (2021) The Chinese ‘Debt Trap’ Is a Myth

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 March 28) - 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).

On Your Own

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 11

March

21, 23

The Japanese Economy

Lecture 7: Japanese Economy (PPT)

Required Readings:

1). JAPANGOV (2018) ’ABENOMICS’ (PDF)

2). Japan's Economy, Abenomics, and Impact on U.S. Economy

3). Japan’s sharemarket finally emerges from three lost decades