Tat Yan Kong
Biographic Data
| ID | 223985 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Tat Yan Kong |
| GIVEN NAMES | Tat Yan |
| FAMILY NAME | Kong |
| SIGNATURE | KONG T Y |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of London |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-9644-5036 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 18 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 58 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 17 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1995 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2024 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
East Asian Varieties of Capitalism and Socio-Economic Inequality: South Korea and Hong Kong Compared
This article examines the deepening of socio-economic inequality manifested as dualisation in South Korea and deregulation in Hong Kong. It explains the extreme manifestations of inequality by reference to the nature of economic co-ordination, organised labour power and societal corporatism, and the politics of democratisation. It finds that South Korea's legacy of state-orchestrated co-ordinated market economy favoured the retention of a manufac…
The Advance of Marketization in North Korea: Between political rigidity and economic flexibility
North Korea is a unique regime that has not followed the 'mono-transition' path (economic reform under modified one-party rule) of other surviving communist regimes (China, Vietnam, Cuba) in the post-Cold War era. Debates over North Korea's unique features (reluctance in economic reform, absence of political modification, international troublemaking) have generated two contending interpretations. The mainstream interpretation attributes North Kor…
How China views North Korea’s readiness to reform and its influence on China’s North Korea policy in the post-Cold War era
China’s policy of restraint (avoidance of crippling economic sanctions) towards North Korean provocation is typically explained in terms of geopolitical concern with North Korean regime stability. The strategic and diplomatic costs of restraint would suggest the presence of non-geopolitical influences behind China’s approach. Ideational explanations emphasise the persistence of shared socialist identity as well as the traditional Sino-centric wor…
China's engagement-oriented strategy towards North Korea: Achievements and limitations
In response to the challenge of unstable North Korea (weak economy, weapons of mass destruction [WMD] development), China has followed an engagement-oriented strategy based on diplomatic persuasion, economic interaction and moderate economic sanctions. Intensified engagement (2009–2012) facilitated North Korean convergence with China in respect of economic reform but divergence has persisted over WMD development. Despite the widening of divergenc…
Between Late-Industrialisation and Globalisation: The Hybridisation of Labour Relations among Leading South Korean Firms
South Korea's (hereinafter Korea) labour relations illuminate the possibilities for the 'hybridisation' of non-liberal capitalism under globalisation. Unlike the well-known German and Japanese advanced non-liberal capitalisms, Korea appeared to be far less conducive to 'hybridisation'. First, inclusive labour practices were not well developed. Second, it had introduced comprehensive economic liberalisation following the financial crash of 1998. D…
The political obstacles to economic reform in North Korea: The ultra cautious strategy in comparative perspective
Unlike other surviving communist regimes (China, Vietnam, Cuba), North Korea has not been able to achieve sustained growth by reforming its economy. This article will trace the failure of economic reform in North Korea to the prevailing system of political governance based on Monolithic Leadership System (MLS) reinforced by Military First Politics (MFP). The political risk aversion of the MLS–MFP system permits only an ultra cautious reform strat…
Cooperation in Unlikely Settings: The Rise of Cooperative Labor Relations Among Leading South Korean Firms
The existence of cooperative labor relations within leading firms in South Korea (hereafter Korea), amid unfavorable national-level economic and political institutions, merits study by comparative political economists. Late industrializing Korea lacks the conditions that sustain cooperative labor relations in other nonliberal capitalist countries like Germany and Japan. More relevant, therefore, are debates over the emergence and practice of 'hig…
Pathways to cooperation: The transformation of labour relations among leading South Korean firms
The presence of cooperative labour relations based on partnership among leading South Korean firms challenges prevailing theories that emphasize the role of national-level economic institutions and political alliances in shaping firm-level institutions. Economic liberalization and the failure of societal corporatist initiatives during the past decade indicate the absence of macro conditions favourable to the development of micro or firm-level par…
Globalization and Labour Market Reform: Patterns of Response in Northeast Asia
The ‘varieties of capitalism’ literature identifies the labour market and labour relations system as an institutional feature by which liberal market economies (LMEs) and co-ordinated market economies (CMEs) of advanced countries may be distinguished. This literature argues for the resilience of CME institutional features to the allegedly convergence-inducing or homogenizing effects of globalization. Resilience to convergence has also revealed di…
Labour and globalization: Locating the Northeast Asian newly industrializing countries
Globalization is closely associated with the turn towards neo-liberal economic strategies. One defining feature of neo-liberalism is labour market liberalization. The experiences of labour market reform in the Northeast Asian Newly Industrializing Countries of South Korea (hereafter Korea) and Taiwan exhibit differences from both the neo-liberal and alternative capitalist patterns commonly identified in the political economy literature. Using a c…
Labour and Neo-Liberal Globalization in South Korea and Taiwan
As they increasingly embrace neo-liberal economic policies (especially since the 1997-8 Asian financial crisis), the Northeast Asian NICs of South Korea and Taiwan are now said to be losing their uniqueness as alternative capitalist models. Central to the neo-liberal project is labour flexibility. This entails the reform of employment legislation and of the wider social settlement between state, business and labour. This article will argue agains…
Corruption and the effect of regime type: The case of Taiwan
Neo-Liberalization and Incorporation in Advanced Newly Industrialized Countries: A View from South Korea
Historically closely associated with interventionist growth strategies, the demise of corporatism was widely predicted as neo-liberalism became the dominant economic paradigm from the late 1970s. The experience of social dialogue and social pacts in continental Europe during the 1980s and 90s, however, suggests that corporatism may have found a new economic purpose in the era of neo-liberalism. Similarly, in the developing world, the intellectual…
The Politics of Economic Reform in South Korea: A Fragile Miracle
This comprehensive and authoritative account of the development of the Korean economy combines an historical approach with a substantial treatment of the new economy. Its fresh analysis of the recent transition and systematic treatment of labour issues represent a significant contribution to the scholarship on the politics of development. It is an essential resource for students of comparative political economy and East Asian development
Power Alternation in South Korea
Despite the dramatic final breakthrough in summer 1987, the democratization of South Korea (hereinafter Korea) displayed the hallmarks of a gradual or continuous transition from authoritarianism. These included: liberalization emanating from within the regime; continuity of personnel from the authoritarian ruling elite; continuity in economic and foreign policy; and the exclusion from power of the representatives of the economically disadvantaged…
The Korean Peninsula in Transition
Since the 1980s the Korean peninsula has been in a state of transition. Forged by the Cold War, the politico-economic systems of North and South Korea as well as the international system of Northeast
Corruption and its Institutional Foundations: The Experience of South Korea
In spite of the reformist rhetoric of South Korea's first post?military administration inaugurated in 1993, the institutional foundations of corruption remain intact ? the government?big business relationship in which donations are exchanged for favourable official consideration of the business sector. Recent measures to accelerate economic liberalization have strengthened the bargaining power of the business sector in relation to the government …
From Relative Autonomy to Consensual Development: The Case of South Korea
The success of the autonomous state in promoting rapid industrialization in South Korea from 1961 to 1987 is usually seen in terms of the state's capacity to coerce reluctant societal actors into productive economic pursuits. The economic sluggishness associated with some autonomous states suggests that any explanation of Korean economic success also needs to mention the factors that constrained bureaucratic abuse and the methods by which societa…
Globalization and Labour Market Reform: Patterns of Response in Northeast Asia
The ‘varieties of capitalism’ literature identifies the labour market and labour relations system as an institutional feature by which liberal market economies (LMEs) and co-ordinated market economies (CMEs) of advanced countries may be distinguished. This literature argues for the resilience of CME institutional features to the allegedly convergence-inducing or homogenizing effects of globalization. Resilience to convergence has also revealed di…
Neo-Liberalization and Incorporation in Advanced Newly Industrialized Countries: A View from South Korea
Historically closely associated with interventionist growth strategies, the demise of corporatism was widely predicted as neo-liberalism became the dominant economic paradigm from the late 1970s. The experience of social dialogue and social pacts in continental Europe during the 1980s and 90s, however, suggests that corporatism may have found a new economic purpose in the era of neo-liberalism. Similarly, in the developing world, the intellectual…
China's engagement-oriented strategy towards North Korea: Achievements and limitations
In response to the challenge of unstable North Korea (weak economy, weapons of mass destruction [WMD] development), China has followed an engagement-oriented strategy based on diplomatic persuasion, economic interaction and moderate economic sanctions. Intensified engagement (2009–2012) facilitated North Korean convergence with China in respect of economic reform but divergence has persisted over WMD development. Despite the widening of divergenc…
East Asian Varieties of Capitalism and Socio-Economic Inequality: South Korea and Hong Kong Compared
This article examines the deepening of socio-economic inequality manifested as dualisation in South Korea and deregulation in Hong Kong. It explains the extreme manifestations of inequality by reference to the nature of economic co-ordination, organised labour power and societal corporatism, and the politics of democratisation. It finds that South Korea's legacy of state-orchestrated co-ordinated market economy favoured the retention of a manufac…
The Advance of Marketization in North Korea: Between political rigidity and economic flexibility
North Korea is a unique regime that has not followed the 'mono-transition' path (economic reform under modified one-party rule) of other surviving communist regimes (China, Vietnam, Cuba) in the post-Cold War era. Debates over North Korea's unique features (reluctance in economic reform, absence of political modification, international troublemaking) have generated two contending interpretations. The mainstream interpretation attributes North Kor…
Labour and Neo-Liberal Globalization in South Korea and Taiwan
As they increasingly embrace neo-liberal economic policies (especially since the 1997-8 Asian financial crisis), the Northeast Asian NICs of South Korea and Taiwan are now said to be losing their uniqueness as alternative capitalist models. Central to the neo-liberal project is labour flexibility. This entails the reform of employment legislation and of the wider social settlement between state, business and labour. This article will argue agains…
The political obstacles to economic reform in North Korea: The ultra cautious strategy in comparative perspective
Unlike other surviving communist regimes (China, Vietnam, Cuba), North Korea has not been able to achieve sustained growth by reforming its economy. This article will trace the failure of economic reform in North Korea to the prevailing system of political governance based on Monolithic Leadership System (MLS) reinforced by Military First Politics (MFP). The political risk aversion of the MLS–MFP system permits only an ultra cautious reform strat…
Pathways to cooperation: The transformation of labour relations among leading South Korean firms
The presence of cooperative labour relations based on partnership among leading South Korean firms challenges prevailing theories that emphasize the role of national-level economic institutions and political alliances in shaping firm-level institutions. Economic liberalization and the failure of societal corporatist initiatives during the past decade indicate the absence of macro conditions favourable to the development of micro or firm-level par…
Corruption and its Institutional Foundations: The Experience of South Korea
In spite of the reformist rhetoric of South Korea's first post?military administration inaugurated in 1993, the institutional foundations of corruption remain intact ? the government?big business relationship in which donations are exchanged for favourable official consideration of the business sector. Recent measures to accelerate economic liberalization have strengthened the bargaining power of the business sector in relation to the government …
Cooperation in Unlikely Settings: The Rise of Cooperative Labor Relations Among Leading South Korean Firms
The existence of cooperative labor relations within leading firms in South Korea (hereafter Korea), amid unfavorable national-level economic and political institutions, merits study by comparative political economists. Late industrializing Korea lacks the conditions that sustain cooperative labor relations in other nonliberal capitalist countries like Germany and Japan. More relevant, therefore, are debates over the emergence and practice of 'hig…
Power Alternation in South Korea
Despite the dramatic final breakthrough in summer 1987, the democratization of South Korea (hereinafter Korea) displayed the hallmarks of a gradual or continuous transition from authoritarianism. These included: liberalization emanating from within the regime; continuity of personnel from the authoritarian ruling elite; continuity in economic and foreign policy; and the exclusion from power of the representatives of the economically disadvantaged…
From Relative Autonomy to Consensual Development: The Case of South Korea
The success of the autonomous state in promoting rapid industrialization in South Korea from 1961 to 1987 is usually seen in terms of the state's capacity to coerce reluctant societal actors into productive economic pursuits. The economic sluggishness associated with some autonomous states suggests that any explanation of Korean economic success also needs to mention the factors that constrained bureaucratic abuse and the methods by which societa…
Labour and globalization: Locating the Northeast Asian newly industrializing countries
Globalization is closely associated with the turn towards neo-liberal economic strategies. One defining feature of neo-liberalism is labour market liberalization. The experiences of labour market reform in the Northeast Asian Newly Industrializing Countries of South Korea (hereafter Korea) and Taiwan exhibit differences from both the neo-liberal and alternative capitalist patterns commonly identified in the political economy literature. Using a c…
From Relative Autonomy to Consensual Development: The Case of South Korea
The success of the autonomous state in promoting rapid industrialization in South Korea from 1961 to 1987 is usually seen in terms of the state's capacity to coerce reluctant societal actors into productive economic pursuits. The economic sluggishness associated with some autonomous states suggests that any explanation of Korean economic success also needs to mention the factors that constrained bureaucratic abuse and the methods by which societa…
Corruption and its Institutional Foundations: The Experience of South Korea
In spite of the reformist rhetoric of South Korea's first post?military administration inaugurated in 1993, the institutional foundations of corruption remain intact ? the government?big business relationship in which donations are exchanged for favourable official consideration of the business sector. Recent measures to accelerate economic liberalization have strengthened the bargaining power of the business sector in relation to the government …
The Korean Peninsula in Transition
Since the 1980s the Korean peninsula has been in a state of transition. Forged by the Cold War, the politico-economic systems of North and South Korea as well as the international system of Northeast
Power Alternation in South Korea
Despite the dramatic final breakthrough in summer 1987, the democratization of South Korea (hereinafter Korea) displayed the hallmarks of a gradual or continuous transition from authoritarianism. These included: liberalization emanating from within the regime; continuity of personnel from the authoritarian ruling elite; continuity in economic and foreign policy; and the exclusion from power of the representatives of the economically disadvantaged…
The Politics of Economic Reform in South Korea: A Fragile Miracle
This comprehensive and authoritative account of the development of the Korean economy combines an historical approach with a substantial treatment of the new economy. Its fresh analysis of the recent transition and systematic treatment of labour issues represent a significant contribution to the scholarship on the politics of development. It is an essential resource for students of comparative political economy and East Asian development
Corruption and the effect of regime type: The case of Taiwan
Neo-Liberalization and Incorporation in Advanced Newly Industrialized Countries: A View from South Korea
Historically closely associated with interventionist growth strategies, the demise of corporatism was widely predicted as neo-liberalism became the dominant economic paradigm from the late 1970s. The experience of social dialogue and social pacts in continental Europe during the 1980s and 90s, however, suggests that corporatism may have found a new economic purpose in the era of neo-liberalism. Similarly, in the developing world, the intellectual…
Labour and globalization: Locating the Northeast Asian newly industrializing countries
Globalization is closely associated with the turn towards neo-liberal economic strategies. One defining feature of neo-liberalism is labour market liberalization. The experiences of labour market reform in the Northeast Asian Newly Industrializing Countries of South Korea (hereafter Korea) and Taiwan exhibit differences from both the neo-liberal and alternative capitalist patterns commonly identified in the political economy literature. Using a c…
Labour and Neo-Liberal Globalization in South Korea and Taiwan
As they increasingly embrace neo-liberal economic policies (especially since the 1997-8 Asian financial crisis), the Northeast Asian NICs of South Korea and Taiwan are now said to be losing their uniqueness as alternative capitalist models. Central to the neo-liberal project is labour flexibility. This entails the reform of employment legislation and of the wider social settlement between state, business and labour. This article will argue agains…
Globalization and Labour Market Reform: Patterns of Response in Northeast Asia
The ‘varieties of capitalism’ literature identifies the labour market and labour relations system as an institutional feature by which liberal market economies (LMEs) and co-ordinated market economies (CMEs) of advanced countries may be distinguished. This literature argues for the resilience of CME institutional features to the allegedly convergence-inducing or homogenizing effects of globalization. Resilience to convergence has also revealed di…
Pathways to cooperation: The transformation of labour relations among leading South Korean firms
The presence of cooperative labour relations based on partnership among leading South Korean firms challenges prevailing theories that emphasize the role of national-level economic institutions and political alliances in shaping firm-level institutions. Economic liberalization and the failure of societal corporatist initiatives during the past decade indicate the absence of macro conditions favourable to the development of micro or firm-level par…
Cooperation in Unlikely Settings: The Rise of Cooperative Labor Relations Among Leading South Korean Firms
The existence of cooperative labor relations within leading firms in South Korea (hereafter Korea), amid unfavorable national-level economic and political institutions, merits study by comparative political economists. Late industrializing Korea lacks the conditions that sustain cooperative labor relations in other nonliberal capitalist countries like Germany and Japan. More relevant, therefore, are debates over the emergence and practice of 'hig…
Between Late-Industrialisation and Globalisation: The Hybridisation of Labour Relations among Leading South Korean Firms
South Korea's (hereinafter Korea) labour relations illuminate the possibilities for the 'hybridisation' of non-liberal capitalism under globalisation. Unlike the well-known German and Japanese advanced non-liberal capitalisms, Korea appeared to be far less conducive to 'hybridisation'. First, inclusive labour practices were not well developed. Second, it had introduced comprehensive economic liberalisation following the financial crash of 1998. D…
The political obstacles to economic reform in North Korea: The ultra cautious strategy in comparative perspective
Unlike other surviving communist regimes (China, Vietnam, Cuba), North Korea has not been able to achieve sustained growth by reforming its economy. This article will trace the failure of economic reform in North Korea to the prevailing system of political governance based on Monolithic Leadership System (MLS) reinforced by Military First Politics (MFP). The political risk aversion of the MLS–MFP system permits only an ultra cautious reform strat…
China's engagement-oriented strategy towards North Korea: Achievements and limitations
In response to the challenge of unstable North Korea (weak economy, weapons of mass destruction [WMD] development), China has followed an engagement-oriented strategy based on diplomatic persuasion, economic interaction and moderate economic sanctions. Intensified engagement (2009–2012) facilitated North Korean convergence with China in respect of economic reform but divergence has persisted over WMD development. Despite the widening of divergenc…
How China views North Korea’s readiness to reform and its influence on China’s North Korea policy in the post-Cold War era
China’s policy of restraint (avoidance of crippling economic sanctions) towards North Korean provocation is typically explained in terms of geopolitical concern with North Korean regime stability. The strategic and diplomatic costs of restraint would suggest the presence of non-geopolitical influences behind China’s approach. Ideational explanations emphasise the persistence of shared socialist identity as well as the traditional Sino-centric wor…
The Advance of Marketization in North Korea: Between political rigidity and economic flexibility
North Korea is a unique regime that has not followed the 'mono-transition' path (economic reform under modified one-party rule) of other surviving communist regimes (China, Vietnam, Cuba) in the post-Cold War era. Debates over North Korea's unique features (reluctance in economic reform, absence of political modification, international troublemaking) have generated two contending interpretations. The mainstream interpretation attributes North Kor…
East Asian Varieties of Capitalism and Socio-Economic Inequality: South Korea and Hong Kong Compared
This article examines the deepening of socio-economic inequality manifested as dualisation in South Korea and deregulation in Hong Kong. It explains the extreme manifestations of inequality by reference to the nature of economic co-ordination, organised labour power and societal corporatism, and the politics of democratisation. It finds that South Korea's legacy of state-orchestrated co-ordinated market economy favoured the retention of a manufac…
Political science (18 works) · Politics (18 works) · Economics (17 works) · Political economy (16 works) · Asian Industrial and Economic Development (13 works) · Development economics (12 works) · Law (9 works) · Market economy (9 works) · Economic system (8 works) · Labor Movements and Unions (8 works)