Economic Policy

Reining in Rent-Seeking: How North Korea Can Survive

By | July 02, 2013

Peter Ward proposes that the North Korean regime can reconcile the seemingly contradictory concepts of “state rule” and “market economy” by reining in rent-seeking from low- and mid-level bureaucrats and harnessing the power of the markets.

Growth Prospects and the Potential for Progress in the DPRK’s Agricultural Sector: Infrastructure and Incentives

By | June 23, 2013

Matthew Bates completes his discussion with agronomist Tom Morrison on the prospects of food self-sufficiency in North Korea. In the final installment of a three part series, Morrison finishes his discussion of agricultural reforms and delves into a dialogue about the geography of rice and potato production.

Growth Prospects: Tom Morrison on the Potential for Progress in the DPRK’s Agricultural Sector

By | June 16, 2013

Matthew Bates continues his discussion with agronomist Tom Morrison on the prospects of food self-sufficiency in North Korea. In part two of a three part series, Morrison discusses the effectiveness of previous aid and reform efforts and the prospects of further agricultural reform.

The Limits to Marketization: State and Private in Kimist North Korea

By | June 14, 2013

Andrei Lankov takes issue with the idea that North Korea has a command economy, and explains the myriad ways private capital reproduces itself in the dog-eat-dog world of modern business north of the 38th parallel.