Policy learning and transfer: the experience of the developmental state in East Asia

Abstract

As late industrialisers, East Asia's developmental states – Japan, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan – assimilated the front runners’ policy innovations and experience, taking advantage of lateness. This article examines policy learning and transfer in these countries’ developmental states and their characteristics in policy learning processes; explores the rationale for policy learning and transfer, focusing on Fukuzawa's paradox; investigates policy learning and transfer patterns, applying the ‘flying geese’ hypothesis to health insurance; and considers whether the three states will adapt future challenges to their own creative policy ideas, going beyond Fukuzawa's paradox. Although policy learning is effective for development, these states should now secure their own policy vision to meet the challenges ahead.