Small Countries, Big Lessons

This work examines the governance of South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, showing how they have constructed reliable institutions. Political sovereignty, it argues, must be distinguished from economic ownership so that government service does not become a path to great personal wealth; economic and political activities of regime officials must be kept separate. With these fundamentals of governance in place, East Asian governments have established a secure foundation for economic property rights. Providing useful insights, this work considers how governments become accountable for the outcome of economic policy. The lessons in this book will help scholars and policy makers identify what is transferable from East Asia's rapid economic expansion, and link that expansion to the universal themes of social and economic development.