ECON 377 – 70: ECONOMIES OF EAST ASIA

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Week 1

January 4 (T) January 6 (R)

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

Lecture 1: Introduction to East Asia (PPT)

Required Readings:

1). Covid Tracker1 Covid Tracker2

1). Collapse of tourism cost five Asian nations 1.6 million jobs: UN

2). (An older article) Does Asia’s superior response to COVID mean that the ‘Asian Century’ has begun?

Resources on Websites: Asian Development Bank Atradius Group Publications CountryWatch Human Development Indicators 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

9, 11

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

16, 18

The Economy of Vietnam

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

Required Readings:

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

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

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

4). Atradius (2021) COVID vaccinations key to Vietnam's GDP growth for 2021

5). World Bank (2021) Digital Vietnam: The Path to Tomorrow. Taking Stock

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

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

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

Week 4

January

23, 25

The Economy of Vietnam

Presentations on Countries

Country Presentations

Week 5

January 30

February 1

Presentations on Countries Continued

Country Presentations Continued

Week 6

February

Presentations on Countries Continued

Country Presentations Continued

Assignment 2 (Due February 20) - 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

13, 15

Additional Country Information – Filling in the Blanks

Ambiguous Role of the State and Economics of Corruption

Additional Country Information – Filling in the Blanks (TBD)

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

Required Readings:

Transparency International (2020). 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 (Due March 13) (PDF)

WEEK 8

February

20, 22

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 (2021). ‘China Economic Update’

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

Videos: China Economic Update

February 22 – Tentative country report proposal due (please arrange for appointment)

Week 9, Sunday February 27, 2022 – Thursday, March 3, 2022

Spring Break, No classes

WEEK 10

March

6, 8

Exploring the Chinese Economy Cont’d

Required Readings:

1). Chatham House (2021) What is China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)?

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

3) CSET (2020) China’s 14^th Five-Year Plan

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 What is China’s Belt and Road Initiative?

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

13, 15

The Japanese Economy

Lecture 7: Japanese Economy (PPT)

Required Readings:

1). JAPANGOV (2020) ’ABENOMICS’

2). Japan Economy Today (2021)

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