Department of Economics

Economics 311

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

The main objective of this course is to provide students with the appropriate perspectives, tools and information for the critical assessment of modern economic development in the Asian Pacific Rim.

Upon completion of Economics 311, students will be able to:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

1.        critically evaluate the development process in the Asian Pacific Rim;

2.        discuss the interplay of cultural, sociopolitical, religious, historical, demographic, institutional and economic factors and their effects on economic growth and modernization;

3.        make informed judgments on the consequences of rapid economic growth on the non-economic aspects of development;

4.        discuss future prospects in the Asian Pacific Rim and their implications for the U.S.; and

5.        complete independent research activities in which students will be asked:

           a.           to select and defend their choice of a development paradigm that, in their opinion, best explains economic growth and modernization in a Pacific Rim nation, and

           b.           assess the transferability of Asian Pacific Rim development strategies and policies to other developing areas.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

           Each requirement will be explained in class and explanatory handouts will be distributed.  Deadlines and presentation dates are indicated below each requirement. No grades of incomplete will be given.  Your final grade will be based on the work you have in as of 5:00 p.m. on the designated date.

           Midterm Exam                                                      25% of Final Grade

           (date to be specified)

           Policy Analysis Exercise                                       25% of Final Grade

           (date to be specified)

           Country Prospectus                                               20% of Final Grade

           (due date to be specified)

           Final Exam                                                           25% of Final Grade

           (on scheduled date and time)

           Attendance and Participation                                    5% of Final Grade

REQUIRED READINGS:

Dean Collinwood, Japan and the Pacific Rim (Connecticut:  Dushkin/McGraw-Hill Companies,

           5th edition, 1999).

Margaret Malixi, Power Point Slides and Notes for Economics 311, (2000), (available in the bookstore).

RESEARCH INFORMATION:

           1.           World Wide Web sites:  Collinwood, p.ix.

           2.           Bibliography:  Collinwood, pp. 218-224

           3.           Pacific Rim Home Page (for Econ. 311):

                          http://www.csub.edu/PacificRim

MAKE-UP EXAM AND PAPER SUBMISSION POLICIES:

Exams are scheduled at the beginning of the summer session.  As a rule, there are no make-up exams.  The research paper is to be submitted before 5:00 p.m. on the designated date.  Late papers will not be accepted.

COURSE SYLLABUS:

I.         Introduction to the Pacific Rim

           A.        Geography of the Pacific Rim:  Countries and Regions of the Pacific Rim

           B.        The "Asian Pacific Rim" Concept

           C.        An Overview of the Asian Pacific Rim as an Economic Region

                      1.        Economic Indicators of Growth and Success

                      2.        Common Threads:  The Fabric of Growth

                      3.        The Places

                                 a.        Japan's dominance and leadership in the region

                                 b.        The Region's Newly Industrializing Countries (NICs):

                                           (i)        Taiwan

                                           (ii)       Korea

                                           (iii)      Singapore

                                           (iv)      Hong Kong (and China)

                                 c.        The Next Generation of NICs, the ASEAN countries:  Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.