活动

Democracy and Economic Development: the Asian Experiences

Date: October 31, 2014 (Friday)
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:15 pm
Venue: Loke Yew Hall, The University of Hong Kong

Guest Speakers

Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee
Minister of Energy and Founding Member and Director of Thailand Development Research Institute
Former Minister of Commerce and Senator of Thailand

Professor Yun-han Chu
Distinguished Research Fellow, Institute of Political Science, Academia Sinica
Professor of Political Science, National Taiwan University

Professor Simon S.C. Tay
Chairman, Singapore Institute of International Affairs
Associate Professor, National University of Singapore

Dr. Soogil Young
Professor, School of Public Policy and Management, Korea Development Institute
Director, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Korea
Distinguished Fellow
Thailand Development Research Institute

Synopsis

There has been a prolific literature on the relationship between democracy and economic development. It is however not always clear whether democracy as a political institution is a necessary condition for economic taking off or the economic development of a country will give rise to favourable conditions for a democratic government. It is likely that the direction of causation runs both ways. Asian experiences seem to suggest, and there are theories to support, that a strong, non-democratic government or a ‘hard’ state is often needed for economic development to begin. Four Asian experts (from Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand) will speak on this subject in general and from their country perspective in particular.

Programme

Welcoming Remarks by Professor Eric C. Chang
Dean, Quoin Professor in Finance, Chair of Finance
Faculty of Business and Economics, The University of Hong Kong

Introduction of Speakers by Profressor Frederick Si-Hang Ma
Honorary Professor
School of Economics and Finance, The University of Hong Kong

Presentation by Guest Speakers
Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee
Minister of Energy and Founding Member and Director of Thailand Development Research Institute
Former Minister of Commerce and Senator of Thailand

Professor Yun-han Chu
Distinguished Research Fellow, Institute of Political Science, Academia Sinica
Professor of Political Science, National Taiwan University

Professor Simon S.C. Tay
Chairman, Singapore Institute of International Affairs
Associate Professor, National University of Singapore

Dr. Soogil Young
Professor, School of Public Policy and Management, Korea Development Institute
Director, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Korea
Distinguished Fellow
Thailand Development Research Institute

Panel Discussion

Closing Remarks by Professor Edward K Y Chen