Interview 180: East Asian Economies May Be Model for Central Asia
As an economist at the University of Applied Sciences in Goettingen, Manuel Stark studies development models. Stark, who has spent time in South Korea and Mexico, compares developing countries in terms of politics, culture, and administration, to see what factors contribute to their economic success. His current project focuses on comparing East and Central Asia, and on the lessons that the former Soviet states can learn from the now prosperous South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong, as well as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.
The rapid industrialization of the “Asian Tigers” and their neighbors in the last 50 years, says Stark, may hold the keys to economic growth elsewhere. Economic diversification; the development of technology and service sectors; and increased production are not just good, but realistic, strategies for Central Asia. Here, Stark shares his thoughts on the similarities between East and Central Asia that may make it possible to replicate the East Asian nations' success in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
'Interview 180' features roughly three-minute videos of one-on-one, Q&A sessions with decisions makers, politicians and analysts who provide focused insight on EurasiaNet's coverage region. Justin Burke is editor of EurasiaNet.
Justin Burke is Eurasianet's publisher.
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