The World Bank’s views on the Asian development model

Abstract

The article analyses the discursive elements of the main regional documents of the World Bank about East Asia, in order to identify the perspective that prevails in this influential institution. Though with some exceptions—like in 2007—we recognize a fundamentally neoclassic view that confronts, sometimes explicitly, the bank’s theses with those of developmental approaches. From a broad perspective, the institution hasn’t been successful in identifying the distinct characteristics of what would constitute an Asiatic development model. Pointing out such alternative developmental interpretations can correct the limits of the understanding of the bank’s views.