Traps Embraced Or Escaped: Elites In The Economic Development Of Modern Japan And China : 9789814287524 : 15 Feb 2011 : This book explores economic development in East Asia between 1870 and 1953 in terms of escaping or succumbing to four interrelated traps: demographic; political; economic; and cultural. Demographic traps include Malthusian traps and poor health and longevity (measured by anthropometric indicators and life expectancy). Political traps include both domestic traps ? corruption, internal conflict ? and external traps, namely geopolitical traps involving foreign powers. Economic traps include poor infrastructure (banks, harbors, roads, railroads, steam shipping, hydroelectric power) or raw materials, or glaring regional variation in per capita income ? all significant barriers to industrialization. Cultural traps include restrictions on ?permissible knowledge?, and linguistic barriers to the culture of discourse in science and engineering which restrained the absorbing and