---
product_id: 52861329
title: "How Asia Works: Success and Failure in the World's Most Dynamic Region Paperback – 2 Jan. 2014"
brand: "joe studwell"
price: "170 zł"
currency: PLN
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 5
url: https://www.desertcart.pl/products/52861329-how-asia-works-success-and-failure-in-the-worlds-most
store_origin: PL
region: Poland
---

# How Asia Works: Success and Failure in the World's Most Dynamic Region Paperback – 2 Jan. 2014

**Brand:** joe studwell
**Price:** 170 zł
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** How Asia Works: Success and Failure in the World's Most Dynamic Region Paperback – 2 Jan. 2014 by joe studwell
- **How much does it cost?** 170 zł with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.pl](https://www.desertcart.pl/products/52861329-how-asia-works-success-and-failure-in-the-worlds-most)

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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Brilliant summary of the benefits and of a proper application of industrial policy with Asian case studies
*by A***K on 8 January 2015*

The book covers the economic development of both North-East and South-East Asian economies in the 20th and early 21st centuries in a compare and contrast fashion, in order to create a better understanding why some made giant leaps in development, while others made gains altogether far less impressive, largely irrespective of their starting levels.The author is a staunch defender of state guided industrial policy - a view not particularly popular with neo-liberal economists, which nevertheless does a much better job of explaining the success of economic catching up to the developed world than any alternative explanation offered in the classical economics literature.The main thrust is a three phase explanation model, namely agricultural land redistribution towards small scale yield intensive agriculture, an export driven manufacturing development, and finally a financial system geared towards supporting these two goals.Covered examples, where these steps have been effectively followed followed and are presented in detail, are Japan (from the Meiji restoration onwards), South Korea, Taiwan and China. On the other hand, there are cases of South East Asian economies, which decided to liberalize their economies sooner - in the author's opinion prematurely - and were thereby not capable of following the three policies effectively. These include the outright dire example of the Philippines, the moderately better one of Thailand and the best of the lot - Malaysia - which still lags significantly behind the successes of the North-East model countries.Before the author is labelled a big government supporter, or a 'statist' in the widest sense, he makes a clear distinction between the needs of the catching up / development phase (where even currently free market supporters such as the UK and the US used the same mechanisms in their early development phases) and the later phase, when the first world level has been achieved. In the latter case, many of the tools needed for success in the catch-up phase become hindrances to further development and further reforms become necessary, something that some countries managed better (South Korea) than others (Japan or Taiwan).The analysis is brilliant, the case studies very compelling, and crucially, the framework does an excellent job of describing and predicting the developmental success. The comparison between different policy choices in both the successful and less successful groups give the reader further insight and provide a more differentiated picture of what is important for development and what not.Furthermore, the framework also wonderfully explains why industrial policy worked in North-East Asia, and less well in other regions where it has been applied (such as SE Asia, the Soviet Union, or Latin America), showing which levers have a real positive impact, which are highly detrimental to development, and which are of no real consequence. This is not about creating protected state champions but much more about relentless pruning of the low performers, first through export discipline and subsequently also at home.If you look at it from the perspective of a manager / owner of an individual company, you may well wish for governments not following the advice, since they may well force you to earn your money in a more difficult fashion than is strictly necessary. Especially export led growth, leading both to a knowledge build-up and a quality requirement through free competition on world markets (while being protected at home) will in the short run be much more laborious than investing in gambling, tourism or real estate but is a proven method of improving the well-being of the country as a whole, rather than the wealth of an individual or profitability of a single company. As long as the government leaves little leeway for circumventing its aims, while at the same time allowing the entrepreneurs to generate adequate profits while serving the developmental needs, a win-win can be produced.Even if not all managers would like the lessons applied by the government of the country where they operate, there are excellent learnings for them, as there are for politicians. Many of the lessons can be applied in a business set-up, too - if you are looking at expansion into new markets or product areas, or trying to catch up with more dominant competitors.The book is perhaps not something for the very casual reader, as it takes some effort, and is written from an expert's point of view (even if the writing is far from ponderous). If you are looking for an easier but less profound read, Kaplan's Asia's Cauldron: The South China Sea and the End of a Stable Pacific is probably the better start. If the topic is of serious interest, not reading this book would be an unfortunate omission, though.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ quickly gets a little dull but I suppose that's what you expect when buying ...
*by P***N on 22 January 2018*

Starts well, quickly gets a little dull but I suppose that's what you expect when buying a history of economics in the South East Asian market. Splits the categories up well for easier understanding. Enjoyed it overall. If you want to understand the history of the areas you're living/travelling in, instead of a 'beach book' (YAWN) then go for this. It will definitely make you the knowledgably geek at the party.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Interesting insight into modern history of the region
*by P***R on 26 June 2024*

It's good read, left me wanting more. Author did good job balancing out accessibility for the reader without shallowing it.

## Frequently Bought Together

- How Asia Works: Success and Failure in the World's Most Dynamic Region
- Asian Godfathers: Money and Power in Hong Kong and South East Asia

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*Last updated: 2026-01-25*