## Ha-Joon Chang on Infant Industry Protection

_IMF Podcasts_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Ha-Joon Chang on Infant Industry Protection](https://www.imf.org/en/news/podcasts/all-podcasts/2026/08/10/ha-joon-chang-2026)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/news/podcasts/all-podcasts/2026/08/10/ha-joon-chang-2026/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/news/podcasts/all-podcasts/2026/08/10/ha-joon-chang-2026/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/news/podcasts/all-podcasts/2026/08/10/ha-joon-chang-2026/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Guest: HA-JOON CHANG

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### Episode summary
- The economist and best-selling author Ha-Joon Chang describes South Korea’s transformation from a largely agrarian society into an industrial powerhouse.
- Chang frames his experience of the country’s “economic miracle” as akin to “riding a time machine.”
- The episode notes the contrast between South Korea’s economic development and the political context during much of that period, identifying that transformation as occurring “albeit under a military dictatorship.”
- The episode is associated with Finance & Development (F&D) Magazine under the theme “Economic growth.”
- A transcript of the episode is available.
- A related Cafe Economics article is available in Finance & Development.

### Key themes and framing
- Industrialization and structural transformation:
  - South Korea’s shift from an agrarian to an industrial economy.
  - The role of state policy and historical context implied by the episode’s focus on “infant industry protection.”
- Personal and historical narrative:
  - Chang uses personal recollection to illustrate broad economic change, describing living through the country’s transformation.
- Political context:
  - The episode emphasizes that economic modernization occurred “albeit under a military dictatorship,” linking political conditions to the development narrative.

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## Content in this bundle

- [Ha Joon Chang Mix 2 Imf Page (MP3)](/-/media/files/news/podcasts/mp3/english/2026/ha-joon-chang-mix-2-imf-page.mp3){rel="external" type="audio/mpeg"}

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## References

- [Cafe Economics](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/fandd/categories/cafe%20economics)
- [Finance & Development](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/fandd)
- [Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas on the Story Behind the Number](https://www.imf.org/en/news/podcasts/all-podcasts/2026/06/30/pierre-olivier-gourinchas-2026)
- [Jeffry Frieden: The Cost of Geoeconomic Coercion](https://www.imf.org/en/news/podcasts/all-podcasts/2026/06/23/jeffrey-frieden-coercion)
- [Trade among Geopolitical Rivals: Michele Ruta](https://www.imf.org/en/news/podcasts/all-podcasts/2026/06/11/michele-ruta-trade-cooperation)
- [Dani Rodrik on Rethinking Development](https://www.imf.org/en/news/podcasts/all-podcasts/2026/09/10/dani-rodrik-sep-2026)
- [Krishna Srinivasan on Asia’s Next Chapter](https://www.imf.org/en/news/podcasts/all-podcasts/2026/09/01/krishna-srinivasan-sept-2026)

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/news/podcasts/all-podcasts/2026/08/10/ha-joon-chang-2026_