Date of Award

2025

Degree Type

Open Access Dissertation

Degree Name

Political Science, PhD

Program

School of Social Science, Politics, and Evaluation

Advisor/Supervisor/Committee Chair

Melissa Rogers

Dissertation or Thesis Committee Member

Yi Feng

Dissertation or Thesis Committee Member

Tanu Kumar

Terms of Use & License Information

Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Rights Information

© 2025 Kunchun Chu

Keywords

Belt and Road Initiative, Economic impact, Exchange rate regimes, Political factors

Subject Categories

Political Science

Abstract

This dissertation explores the relationship among political regimes, regional initiatives, and exchange rate regimes in East and Southeast Asian countries, with a particular focus on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The work is structured around three interrelated essays, each addressing a critical aspect of the relationship.

The first essay examines how the political regime of a country influences its choice of exchange rate regime. Focusing on East and Southeast Asian countries, this study utilizes a comparative analysis to determine the extent to which political regime type shape monetary policy decisions. The findings provide new insights into the political economy of exchange rate determination, highlighting the significant role of political factors in shaping economic strategies.

The second essay investigates the impact of participation in the Belt and Road Initiative on a country's exchange rate regime choice. By analyzing countries from essay one involved in the BRI, the research assesses whether and how engagement in this major international development strategy influences monetary policy autonomy and exchange rate regime decisions. The results reveal the economic and geopolitical implications of BRI participation, shedding light on how such international collaborations can direct domestic economic policies.

The third essay explores the effects of different exchange rate regimes on key economic performance indicators in East and Southeast Asian countries. This analysis further research on the consequences of adopting different exchange rate regimes on economic growth. By evaluating the performance of selected countries under various exchange rate regimes, this study provides empirical evidence on the optimal exchange rate policies for achieving sustainable economic development.

Together, these essays contribute to a deeper understanding of the political and economic dynamics influencing exchange rate policies in East and Southeast Asia, with broader implications for international economic cooperation and policy-making in the context of global development projects.

ISBN

9798293811199

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