Colonial legacies : economic and social development in East and Southeast Asia It is well known that Taiwan and South Korea both former Japanese colonies achieved rapid growth and industrialization after 1960. The performance of former European and American colonies (Malaysia Singapore Burma Vietnam Laos Cambodia Indonesia and the Philippines) has been less impressive. Some scholars have attributed the difference to better infrastructure and greater access to education in Japans colonies. Anne Booth examines and critiques such arguments in this ambitious comparative study of economic development in East and Southeast Asia from the beginning of the twentieth century until the 1960s. Jacket It is well known that Taiwan and South Korea both former Japanese colonies achieved rapid growth and industrialization after 1960. The performance of former European and American colonies (Malaysia Singapore Burma Vietnam Laos Cambodia Indonesia and the Philippines) has been less impressive. Some scholars have attributed the difference to better infrastructure and greater access to education in Japans colonies. Anne Booth examines and critiques such arguments in this ambitious comparative study of economic development in East and Southeast Asia from the beginning of the twentieth century until the 1960s.