Povert Alleviation in East Asia: A Review of Competing Approaches
Prior to the onset of the Asian financial crisis in 1997, many East Asian governments were optimistic that the problem of poverty would be tempered in the short run. They predicted the crisis would be short-lived and the whole region would get back on track towards rapid economic development. Yet, the impacts of the crisis endure and in many of the East Asian countries, poverty, along with income inequality, has emerged as a serious social problem. The East Asian governments are now urged to formulate a more coherent approach to poverty alleviation. Several approaches that provide a basis for social policy are being considered. These include neo-liberalism, social right, social movement and social development. In this presentation, we emphasize an important role for the state in poverty monitoring and alleviation efforts, contrary to the prevalent belief in small government and unbridled economic growth as a solution to poverty. Moreover, we suggest that the social development approach with its emphasis on the harmonization of economic and social policy offers a promising alternative to neo-liberalism.