Political Economy of NE Asia

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

This course will explore the political origins and consequences of various economic outcomes in Northeast Asia. We will study some of the most compelling political and economic arguments that explain why and how the relationship between political and economic processes converged and diverged over time in China, Japan, and Korea. We will learn to develop our own answers to unanswered questions, such as whether authoritarianism was necessary for Northeast Asian economic growth. The course will also examine many challenges these countries currently face, including a slowdown in economic growth and productivity, the aggravation of inequality, and popular dissatisfaction with politics.