Ha-Joon Chang
Ha-Joon Chang: A Critical Voice on Globalization and Economic Development
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Ha-Joon Chang is a South Korean economist known for his work on the history of economic development, globalization, and the critique of neoliberal policies. His full name is Ha-Joon Chang, although he is often referred to as H.J. Chang in academic circles.
Birth and Death Dates
Ha-Joon Chang was born on August 23, 1953, in Seoul, South Korea.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Chang holds dual citizenship of South Korea and the United Kingdom, and his professional affiliations include being a professor of economics at Cambridge University's Centre of Development Studies. He is also an honorary research fellow at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in Seoul during the tumultuous 1960s and 1970s, Chang witnessed firsthand the rapid economic growth and industrialization of his country. His experiences shaped his perspective on development economics, which emphasizes the importance of state-led industrial policies and institutions in achieving sustained economic growth. Chang's academic interests were influenced by the work of economists such as Albert Hirschman and Gunnar Myrdal.
Major Accomplishments
Chang's research has focused on the history of economic development, trade policy, and the critique of neoliberalism. He is perhaps best known for his 2007 book Bad Samaritans: The Guilty Secrets of Rich Nations & the Threat to Global Development, which argues that developed countries have exploited developing nations through unfair trade policies and intellectual property rights.
Other notable works include:
Kicking Away the Ladder (2002), a comprehensive study on how industrialized countries developed their economies, highlighting the role of state intervention and protectionism.
23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism (2010), which challenges conventional wisdom on free market economics and offers alternative perspectives.
Notable Works or Actions
In addition to his books, Chang has been an active public intellectual. He is a frequent commentator in international media outlets such as the BBC, Al Jazeera, and The Guardian. His critiques of globalization and neoliberal policies have made him a prominent voice among progressive economists and policymakers.
Chang's work has also inspired numerous academic and policy discussions on development economics, trade policy, and economic history. His ideas have influenced scholars and policymakers worldwide, contributing to a growing debate about the role of the state in economic development.
Impact and Legacy
Ha-Joon Chang's contributions to development economics have been significant, offering an alternative perspective on globalization and neoliberal policies. His work has:
Challenged conventional wisdom on free market economics, highlighting the importance of state-led industrial policies and institutions.
Inspired a new generation of scholars and policymakers interested in understanding the complexities of economic development.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Ha-Joon Chang is widely quoted and remembered for his incisive critiques of globalization and neoliberalism. His work has:
Offered an alternative perspective on economic development, emphasizing the role of state intervention and protectionism.
Influenced policymakers and scholars worldwide, contributing to a growing debate about the role of the state in economic development.
In summary, Ha-Joon Chang is a renowned economist whose critiques of globalization and neoliberal policies have made him a prominent voice among progressive economists and policymakers. His work has challenged conventional wisdom on free market economics and inspired a new generation of scholars and policymakers interested in understanding the complexities of economic development.
Quotes by Ha-Joon Chang
Ha-Joon Chang's insights on:
In the 19th century, a lot of people were against outlawing child labour, because to do so would be against the very foundations of a free market economy: 'These children want to work, these people want to employ them... what is your problem? It's not as if anyone has kidnapped them...'
In fact, most successful people are those who have been well supported, financially and emotionally, by their parents when they were children. Likewise, as I discussed in chapter 2, the rich countries liberalized their trade only when their producers were ready, and usually only gradually even then. In other words, historically, trade liberalization has been the outcome rather than the cause of economic development.
It is a law of competition that people who can do difficult things which others cannot will earn more profit.
The most important assumption underlying HOS is that all countries have equal productive capabilities – that is, they can use any technology they want.3.
I would go one step further and say that the willingness to challenge professional economists – and other experts – should be the foundation of democracy. When you think about it, if all we have to do is to listen to the experts, what is the point of having a democracy at all? Unless we want our societies to be run by a body of self-elected experts, we all have to learn economics and challenge professional economists.
Even in the richer countries, what happens at work can make people fulfilled, bored, valued or stressed. At the deepest level work shapes who we are.
Gore Vidal, the American writer, once famously described the American economic system as ‘free enterprise for the poor and socialism for the rich’.
Breaking away from the illusion of market objectivity is the first step towards understanding capitalism.
