How Asia Works

Success and Failure in the World's Most Dynamic Region

By: Joe Studwell

Narrated by: Nigel Patterson

In the 1980s and 1990s, many in the West came to believe in the myth of an East-Asian economic miracle, with countries seen as not just development prodigies but as a unified bloc, culturally and economically similar, and inexorably on the rise. In How Asia Works, Joe Studwell distills extensive research into the economics of nine countries - Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, and China - into an accessible narrative that debunks Western misconceptions, shows what really happened in Asia and why, and for once makes clear why some countries have boomed while others have languished.

Impressive in scope, How Asia Works is essential listening for anyone interested in a region that will shape the future of the world.

©2013 Joe Studwell (P)2017 Tantor

Redistribution, exports, banking

I learned so much from this book and can honestly say I am rethinking some ideas/beliefs I previously had. learning about successful economies in Asia that succeed because of government regulation was surprising while others failed in part because entrepreneurs were allowed to willie nillie around focusing on short term profits rather than long term gains for the country. Very well explained, educational and challenged some of my beliefs which I always love!

Great book and narrator

Great book and narrator also in this interesting story on Asias economic development
Enjoy
Cheers

Great insight of the Asian economy and development

Being an Asian myself it is great to know how neighbouring nations succeed while others don't.

Excellent Primer for Asian Economics

I spent a number of years teaching myself macroeconomics and having a fairly solid foundation in international relations and political history, this book was right at the edge of my understanding.

There was nothing in the book that was drastically complicated and the framework for the three main idea's (agricultural reform, export oriented manufacturing and national economic control) culminate in how economic development, the transformation from developing to developed economies played out for most Asian countries.

Ranking the nation's by historical success shows one by one how leadership and competencies in applying principles occurred for the different nation's. The failures of leadership become very apparent and the difficulty in seeing the bigger picture for the few nation's that had little direction illustrate how the inequities have formed Asia as we see it today.

The authors prescription hints that there is little that can be done to reverse the courses that south Asian nations are currently in without severe radical reform, which is not likely as nation's seem to desire to grow within perceptions of the current global economy without changing the inhibiting factors.

a masterpiece

This was a fantastic examination of the different paths of development in Asia. A lot of attention is paid to the differences between the oft cited cases of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore. More importantly, the author brings together great man theory with structural determinism. His view is refreshing, and it's old enough to make checking his company and industry specific forecasts easy.

A roadmap for economic development

Excellent book. Well written and well narrated. My only complaint is that the volume is inconsistent. It can dip and rise without warning, and is often too quiet.

Insightful

Insights into some of the factors behind economic development in parts of Asia, some good lesions for other developing countries

kudos

This is an extraordinarily important book. Well researched well configured well written. Well narrated. Thank you.

Lessons in the quest for economic development

Excellent audiobook.. A must read for all those entrusted with economic policies in developing states..

Very Insightful

The books provides an unorthodox view on the success and failures of economic policies of Eastern Asian countries. The ideas on land reform, industrial policies, and financial regulation diverge significantly from those of IMF and the World Bank. It is interesting that in a few years after this book was published some approaches are being borrowed by regulators in the developed nations at the times of crisis. Unfortunately the author chooses just to touch on the importance of strong government institutions of successful nations and totally skips analysis of contribution of non-economic factors such as national morale and political stability of nations’ development stories.
But in any case the book is very interesting and provides much food for thought.