Southeast Asia's Development

Reviews / Votes

This magisterial volume is a brilliant antidote to the casual triumphalism of most analysis of Southeast Asia. The authors document the violations of political and economic rights in the region with authoritarian governments catering to elites. It suggests the lack of freedom has not only hindered material progress but denied individuals the ability to define for themselves what is really progress. * William Easterly, Professor of Economics, New York University (NYU), and Co-Director, NYU Development Research Institute * Any novelty depends on an idea in a human head. The master idea for Southeast Asia, as it was for Britain in 1800, Japan in 1900, and India now, is not the State, but Liberty. Bryan Cheang shows so--elegantly, scientifically, crushingly. * Deirdre McCloskey, Distinguished Scholar, Isaiah Berlin Chair in Liberal Thought, Cato Institute * A brilliant collection that explores the role of Smithian liberal political economy in the development history of Southeast Asia. Bryan Cheang is not only one of the best scholars in this field, he also does an outstanding job in this volume of creating space for this important conversation. In the process, we learnt what has hindered development, namely, state interventionism and the entangled relationship between economics and politics, and what can be done to unleash the extraordinary creativity and resourcefulness of ordinary people through a transition to liberal principles of political economy and justice. All students of development and political economy will want to add this title to their must-read list. * Peter Boettke, Distinguished University Professor of Economics, George Mason University * This collection provides a unique perspective on Asian development, seeing it through the lens of liberal political economy. Its contributions are written in an engaging and accessible style, ensuring that it will be widely read. * Sir Tim Besley, School Professor of Economics and Political Science and W. Arthur Lewis Professor of Development Economics, London School of Economics *