ECON 3077 – 70: ECONOMIES OF EAST ASIA

Syllabus  (PDF)     Consultant Report     Grading Scale     Websites     

Consultant Report Topic Suggestions     AdditionalArticles         

 

 

 

Week 1

January

4, 6

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

Lecture 1: Introduction to East Asia     (PPT)

Suggested Readings: Asian Development Outlook     Asia’s Economic Growth Is Weathering Tariffs and Uncertainty    

The Economic and Political Situation in South East Asia     Asia as a window into the future of global politics

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

Assignment 1 (Due January 25) - Construct a presentation (between 10 and 15 slides) 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

11, 13

A Little History - East Asian Miracle

 

A Little History - East Asian Crisis

Lecture 2: East Asian Miracle     (PPT)

 

Lecture 3: East Asian Crisis     (PPT)

 

Suggested Readings: The Miracle That Did Happen: Understanding East Asia in Comparative Perspective     The Myth of Asia's Miracle     What I Learned at the World Economic Crisis     The Political Economy of East Asia at a Time of Crisis

   

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

Week 3

January

18, 20

The Economy of Vietnam

 

Lecture 4: Vietnam   (PPT)     (Vietnam Monetary Policy)

 

Suggested Readings: How Vietnam’s economy has changed over 35 years of reforms     The Story of Viet Nam's Economic Miracle     (Vietnam Rising Video)     Vietnam Economic Update Report     Taking Stock: Viet Nam Economic Update     Vietnam’s Foreign Policy Tightrope     Vietnam's 'Bamboo' Diplomacy Hailed for Balancing Between US, China

 

Resources on Websites: The Diplomat     Vietnam Express International   Vietnam General Statistics Office     VietnamNet     Vietnam News     World Bank-Vietnam   

 

Videos: Best Places to Visit in Vietnam     Old Quarter Food     Traffic   Traffic1   Pics

Week 4

 January

25, 27

Presentations on Countries

Country Presentations

Week 5

February

1, 3

Presentations on Countries

Country Presentations Continued

 

 

Week 6

February

8, 12

 

Additional Country Information – Filling in the Blanks (TBD)

Week 7

February

15, 17

Ambiguous Role of the State and Economics of Corruption

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

 

Suggested Readings: Corruption and Democracy in Asia     Corruption Perceptions Index     How Does Corruption Shape Asia   

 

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

 

Videos: Hands     How Corruption Starts

 

Midterm Take-Home Exam   (PDF)     (Due March 8)

Week 8, Sunday, February 22, 2026 – Thursday, February 26, 2026

Spring Break, No classes

WEEKS 9 and 10

 

 March

1, 3, 6, 10

Exploring the Chinese Economy

Lecture 6: Chinese Economy     (PPT)

 

Suggested Readings: China's Political System - How Does the CCP Work?     Communes, Land Reform and Collectivism in China     Key Indicators of China’s Economy     World Bank – China Overview     The Chinese economy: Stimulus without rebalancing     The State of China's Belt and Road Initiative

 

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

WEEK 10

 March

8, 10

Exploring the Chinese Economy Cont’d

Lecture 6: Chinese Economy     (PPT)

 

Suggested Readings:

 

1).  How Has China’s Belt and Road Initiative Impacted Southeast Asian Countries?

 

2). China’s economy is slowing. But its old-age market is booming

 

5). Chinese Economist's Dire Forecast for China's Birth Rate Crisis

 

6). China’s Economic Facade is Cracking

 

Additional Lecture Materials: Made in China 2025 (PPT)  

 

Videos: Chinese Environment     What is China’s Belt and Road Initiative?     Evergrande: the end of China's property boom

Inside a Chinese Ghost Town of Abandoned Mansions

 

Assignment 2 (Due March 25) - Write an 800-1000-word paper detailing what is generally perceived as the most important challenge facing the Chinese economy. Look at both Western and Chinese sources. 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).

 

March 15 – Tentative country report proposal due (please arrange for appointment)

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

15, 17

The Japanese Economy

Lecture 7: Japanese Economy   (PPT)

 

Required Readings:

 

Understanding Japan’s Demographic ‘Crisis’: An Alternative Perspective on Population Decline

 

Japan is no longer the world's third-largest economy as it slips into recession

 

Additional Readings:

 

1). McCornac, D. C. (2014) ‘New Nationalism’ in Japan

 

2). Japanese Foods Not Eaten in Japan

 

3). Japan OCED Economic Survey  

 

4). Japan quietly and politely hates its tourism boom

 

5).  Japan’s Labor Market Has a Lesson for the Fed: Women Can Surprise You

 

Resources on Websites: Asia Pacific Journal: Japan Focus     Nikkei Asian Weekly     The Diplomat

 

Videos: Ageing Japan | The Burden of a Graying Planet | 101 East     Ten Best Places in Japan       

Sunday, March 22 - Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Eid Al fitr break – no classes

WEEK 12

 

March 25

(Sunday Schedule)

South China Dispute Maritime Disputes

 

Intro to Regional Organizations and Issues

 

 

Lecture 8 – Maritime Disputes

 

Resources on Websites: Asian Development Bank     APEC     ASEAN     Asian Economic Integration Monitor 

 

Videos: ASEAN explained in 5 minutes   Tensions Escalate in The South China Sea: Why China Build Islands to Claim The Sea     What’s behind the South China Sea dispute? | Start Here   

WEEK 13

March

29, 31

Catching up time

Catching-up time

 

There will be no formal Class on March 31. Please meet with your group to prepare the consultant report. I will be available in the classroom to answer any questions.

WEEK 14

April

7

Consultant Report Presentations

WEEK 15

April 

12, 14

Consultant Report Presentation

 

WEEK 16

April

19, 21

Consultant Report Presentation

 

Exam Period 

Take-Home Final Exam (available on Canvas)