Organizer and Chair: Jeffrey G. Williamson, Harvard University
Discussants: A. J. H. Latham, Swansea University, Wales; Peter H. Lindert,
University of California, Davis; C. Peter Timmer, Harvard University; Yasukichi
Yasuba, Osaka Gakuin University; Jeffrey G. Williamson, Harvard University
Quantitative economic research on East and Southeast Asian long run growth over the past two centuries or so are uncommon, and even more so for comparative research. If economic history is going to play the role it should in developing policy in the next century, the time is ripe to start a collective debate about questions concerning long run growth in the region. This round table will offer exactly the kind of forum where these issues, and an agenda for attacking them, can be discussed. The questions include: What determined the evolution of living standards? How strong is the connection between international financial capital requirements from abroad and demographic events at home? What have been the sources of Asian growth in the long run? How have world economic events influenced the evolution of rice agriculture? How have property rights influenced performance in agriculture? What have determined soil use and soil quality trends? Has the role of government in Japanese development since the Restoration been misunderstood? The half dozen scholars gathered for this discussion should be well prepared for a lively public debate since related papers will have been presented to a conference and a panel immediately preceeding this AAS Roundtable. One is a day-long meeting on April 11 organized by Jeffrey Williamson (Harvard) and the other is the proposed AAS panel organized by Yasukichi Yasuba (Osaka Gakuin).