ABSTRACT
Many Asian countries have been successful in catching up in labor productivity during the past five decades, experiencing substantial and prolonged economic growth. However, the catching up has been concentrated in Eastern, South-eastern, and Southern Asian nations. Even within these regions, there are large variations in the degree of backwardness. Japan and the Asian Tigers elevated their labor productivity to developed nations level, while others had labor productivity around 10 percent of the United States in 2019. A common factor in the successful Asian experiences was the formation of nation-states that implemented comprehensive development strategies. Yet, several countries in Western and Central Asia still grapple with problems related to the state-building and national identity, often compounded by external and internal conflicts. Asia is a complex continent, shaped by diverse economic, cultural, and institutional histories between its regions. Examining the economic history of Asia and its regions is undeniably complex, but an essential undertaking for gaining a deeper understanding of the dynamics behind catching up and falling behind. This chapter fulfills this investigation.
