How did East Asia become rich in a single generation?

[fromthbottomofmyheart]

It's always perplexed me as to how several disparate economies with disparate strengths (and economic models, it seems) managed to develop so rapidly. I could ask the same question about the West, but we have popular explanations for that (first to industrialise, colonialism, etc.)

How about East Asia? How did the economies of Japan, HK, Taiwan and S. Korea develop so fast? And with China catching up apace? I don't think they are abudant in natural resources. Either, unlike the Gulf states.

@onefinemess you put it more succinctly than I did. Two things have happened to me this week that illustrates somewhat - I import from China my suppliers came over last week they took me for lunch in China Town I mentioned my MOQ from an English supplier is up from 1 MOQ to 5000 they took great interest in this and have asked for the item so they can replicate for me they also took great interest in my rock and roll sweater I asked can you make this - yes we can make/copy anything. Then my lovely guest from Zimbabwe leaving her children to make a better life for them she’s so beautiful and positive. Lastly in covid I had to take a job with the CS after being self employed for 25 years and my 3 unrelated businesses crashing in lockdown my god I’ve never experienced such laziness such lack of critical thinking ever in my life it was unbelievable. So yes I sadly do think a lot of British have a negative mindset an inertia that they can’t be bothered trying to find a cleaner/catering person/ retail at the moment is impossible. We have no national pride

How much might wealth inequality ( or lack of ) affected that ?

From a short rummage

In Japan the perception is of low wealth inequality

In much of east Asia it's only started growing in the last 10 to 20 years

The counties with the highest wealth inequalities include South Africa , Norway is at the other end

My suggestion is that if it's lower people feel part of the same team, feel they will benefit from working hard

So it might be interesting to watch if east Asia gains start tailinh off as inequality starts to be noticed ?

Maybe but it's not an untruth.

The west need to be more concerned about how much China is buying up and "investing" in. They have bought into local authorities, health services, tech, aviation, retail, property... There isn't much of our society that doesn't rely on China in some way shape or form. That in itself is hugely worrying.

Search Japan’s lost decade. It’s now Japan’s two lost decades.

China’s open door policy and limited imperialism and regimes have ensured rapid growth. Along with its loans to Africa (search China’s China) have sped up China’s economic growth

Sorry but what China is doing in Africa, and indeed globally, is very much imperialism. They are doing what they've always done and empire building.

Interesting responses

Quite. I'm sure the UK would be a wealthier nation (as a whole, not across the population) if we had zero working conditions regulations. Much like China has become an economic success.

The impression I have is that Japan is now staring into the abyss because of population decline, no one there wants to have babies anymore!

This is the ultimate end result of extensive education programmes and industrialisation though. A well educated population, especially women, (as a rule) doesn't reproduce.

I agree, but where does that leave humans as a species?
Does it mean we can only continue if women are subordinated and kept as slaves for the purpose of creating new humans?
The writing is finally on the wall that no one in their right mind would want to be a parent, it's too hard, too stressful takes too much out of you especially if you're a woman.
Maybe if we could guarantee that men would do their fair share but they don't, they expect to dominate, have the upper hand.
I can't see them ever accepting en mass that they have to fully do their share when it comes to the creating and rearing of new humans 👀

Lower birth rates aren't just a symptom of increased education, economics is a factor too

China had the 3 child policy now but it's not working.

There are 2 culture wars in the world at the moment addressing this. The one you see in Japan (and many developed nations) where birth rates are decreasing and we are seeing the potential extinction of some nations (if you want to be dramatic). The other is the cultures where women are completely subjugated and the societal norm is to have double figure sized families.

Which is the better one for the species?

I see a lot of threads on here where people are told that it's irresponsible to have a child when renting, as you'll then never be able to afford to buy a home of your own.

The average first time buyer age for the UK is 34, and much higher for those who do not have money from family.

Add to that the cost of childcare here meaning that families who have done all the things MN tends to advise (buy home first, don't have children too early in life, think carefully about your career when it comes to working out the domestic arrangements) still can't afford or have the space to have more than one, and we're going to see it in the US and other Western countries pretty damned soon.

I like to think that there are more options available to humanity than the two you have described ☝️😬

The global property bubble has numerous very negative consequences ☹️

I would too, but there isn't really. Even developing nations will go the way of the developed ones eventually.

So does your man treat you fairly?

The British wouldn't accept it, and neither would the French, Italians etc. Your example is ridiculous.

There must be cultural traits that unite the people of these economies, despite their 'differences'