Growth with Equity in East Asia ?

Rapid growth and structural change have reduced poverty in East Asian economies. Income inequality has been low in Korea and Taiwan, but has risen in recent years with economic liberalization. In the Southeast Asian economies of Th ailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, poverty has declined, while income inequality trends have varied, rising most clearly in Th ailand. With its strengthened (private) property rights, market liberalization and sustained rapid growth, China has also experienced increased inequality despite considerable poverty reduction. Hence, the common claim of egalitarian growth in East Asia may have been exaggerated, especially since the 1990s. JEL Classifi cation: D31 (Personal Income, Wealth, and Th eir Distributions), D63 (Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement), F02 (International Economic Order; Economic Integration: General).