Abstract

Drawing on extensive interviews with the owner and mangers of Taiwanese firms that we have done during the last twelve years, we offer an alternative interpretation of Taiwanese industrialization. In contrast with economists and strong state theorists, we argue that the organization of Taiwan's economy has been powerfully shaped by networks of export manufacturers whose moneymaking activities have been only indirectly influenced by macro-economic incentives and the state's policy directives. These export producers have created a system of production that is highly responsive to global demand. We call this system of production "reflexive manufacturing in Taiwan and demonstrates the limited role the state played in shaping the organization of the Taiwanese economy.