Perspectives on Korean Unification and Economic Integration

During the last decade of the twentieth century, the Korean peninsula was the stage for non-stop, dramatic political and economic events. This volume brings together an unusually broad range of perspectives on US policy towards North Korea, the North Korean economy, and North-South economic co-operation and unification. The year 2000 opened a new chapter on the Korean peninsula; the North-South summit in June was no doubt a historical milestone that could lead to major changes on the peninsula. But the fundamental issues herein addressed are still relevant and important. No overnight solutions or magic bullets exist. Essential ingredients for North-South economic co-operation, ranging from regional security matters to policy nuts and bolts, remain little changed. Assembled in this volume are a diverse group of economists and analysts from academia, government and think tanks in the US and South Korea. Topics range from philosophical to practical policy matters. Students, researchers and policymakers interested in Korea and in the broader issues of economic and political integration will find this volume fresh and insightful.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Foreword by Tony P. Hall Foreword by Donald Gregg Introduction 1. Security Outlook of the Korean Peninsula 2. Politics, Economics, and the Agreed Framework 3. Putting an Edge on Post-Perry Policy 4. Vietnam and Korea: Challenges of Opening up for Development 5. North Korea’s Economic Opening 6. Economic Cooperation between the Two Korea’s: An Historical Analysis 7. Can Reindustrialization of North Korea Support a Sustainable Food Supply? 8. North–South Korean Economic Cooperation in Telecommunications 9. Foreign Investment Regulation in North Korea: An Assessment 10. The Cost and Financing of Korean Unification 11. The Implications of Increased Economic Integration 12. Cost and Benefits of Unification Index

About the Author :
Edited by Young Back Choi, Associate Professor of Economics, St John’s University, US, Yesook Merrill, Assistant Director and Senior Economist, US General Accounting Office, US, Yung Y. Yang, Professor of Economics, California State University, Sacramento, US and Semoon Chang, Director, Gulf Coast Center for Impact Studies

Review :
'. . . this book does make a novel contribution to diversifying unification discussion. . . unification discussion has been incarcerated in political and emotional traps in the past, and this book challenges those approaches. This book will appeal to both scholars and policymakers who are interested in the costs and benefits of unification.'