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This book puts the spotlight on the Chinese and South-East Asian welfare systems, providing an up-to-date assessment of their character and development. In particular it examines the underlying assumptions of these systems and how the processes of globalisation are impacting on them. As well as specific country case studies, there is a valuable comparative analysis of Eastern and Western welfare states.

An Agenda for Economic Reform in Korea looks at Korea's economic problems from the perspective of the American experience with economic reforms and sheds new light on the problems of economic reform facing nations all over the world. The authors examine such issues as corporate governance, social welfare, labor relations, and other pressing challenges, and suggest a new vision for the Korean economy.

Foreword Acknowledgements Acronyms and Abbreviations Why Japan Can't Reform: inside the system PART I: THE SYSTEM Introduction The Development of the System The Elite Bureaucracy: the image of reform Amakudari: the ties that binds the bureaucracy with the private and public sectors and politics Interpersonal Networks in the 'Ruling Triad' PART II INSIDE THE SYSTEM The Elite Bureaucracy: prisoners of the system The Interviews Conclusion Bibliography

In 1986, Viet Nam began to introduce sweeping liberalization in all sectors of its previously hardline, centrally planned, and closed economy. Referred to as doi moi, this "renovation" has produced dramatic changes in the lives of Vietnamese farmers, workers, and their households. Agricultural production has soared. The country now welcomes foreign trade, investment, tourists, business people, students, and scholars. Personal incomes have increased, and Viet Nam is a new member of the Association ofSouth East Asian Nations (ASEAN). In this book, Vietnamese scholars describe the origins and impacts of these changes. They examine how the policy shift of doi moi has affected rural development, urban housing, household economy, and social welfare. Collaborating with Canadian scholars, they draw upon original field surveys, historical documents, and census material to study the evolution of doi moi and its implications for the future development of Viet Nam. Socioeconomic Renovation in Viet Nam illuminates the key questions and issues that policy advisers and decision-makers must wrestle with to ensure Viet Nam's successful emergence into the global family of nations. It will also appeal to development professionals; students and scholars in Asian studies, economics, and rural development; and businesses considering new investment in Viet Nam

Front Cover; Economic Reforms in Eastern Europe and Prospects for the 1980s; Copyright Page; Preface Eastern Europe: Current Reforming Trends Determine Future Economic Prospects; Table of Contents; Synopses of Papers; PART I:ECONOMIC REFORMS IN EASTERN EUROPE; Chapter 1. Economie Reform in Bulgaria: Coping with the kj Problem -- Introduction; Economic Reform; Economic Reform in Bulgaria; The kj Problem and its Resolution; Evaluating the Bulgarian Model; Further Evaluation; Conclusions; Notes; References; Chapter 2. Romanian Economic Reforms; 1. Introduction.

"This book examines the relationship between free markets and democracy. It demonstrates how the implementation of even very painful free market economic reforms in Chile and Mexico have helped to consolidate democratic politics without engendering a backlash against either reform or democratization."--Jacket

China's explosive economic growth since 1988 has not resulted in an equal increase of income among all Chinese citizens. The authors explore a range of reasons for the disparity and base their conclusions on strong empirical evidence--especially the 1996 survey conducted by the State Statistical Bureau.

'With the end of the Cold War, the International Monetary Fund emerged as the most powerful international institution in history. But how much influence can the IMF exert over fiercely contested issues in domestic politics that affect the lives of millions? In Lending Credibility, Randall Stone develops the first systematic approach to answering this question. Deploying an arsenal of methods from a range of social sciences rarely combined, he mounts a forceful challenge to conventional wisdom. Focusing on the former Soviet bloc, Stone finds that the IMF is neither as powerful as some critics fear, nor as weak as others believe, but that the answer hinges on the complex factor of how much credibility it can muster from country to country. Stone begins by building a formal, game-theoretic model of lending credibility, which he then subjects to sophisticated quantitative testing on original data from twenty-six countries over the 1990s. Next come detailed, interview-based case studies on negotiations between the IMF and Russia, Ukraine, Poland, and Bulgaria. Stone asserts that the IMF has exerted startling influence over economic policy in smaller countries, such as Poland and Bulgaria. However, where U.S. foreign policy interests come more heavily into play, as in Russia, the IMF cannot credibly commit to enforcing the loans-for-policy contract. This erodes its ability to facilitate enduring market reforms. Stone's context is the postcommunist transition in Europe and Asia, but his findings carry implications for IMF activities the world over.' from publisher's description.