'Henry C.K. Liu' is an independent commentator on
culture,
economics and
politics. He was born in
Hong Kong and educated at
Harvard University in
architecture and
urban design. Liu developed an interest in economics and
international relations while working as a professor at
UCLA, Harvard and
Columbia University on interdisciplinary work on urban and regional development. Liu is currently the
chairperson of a
New York-based private investment group and a contributor to
Asia Times Online. He is a Visiting Professor of Global Development in the Department of Economics in the University of Missouri at Kansas City.
The term "
dollar hegemony" was coined by Liu in an extensively quoted April 2002 article:
''US Dollar Hegemony has to go'' in Asia Times Online to describe how he sees the
dollar, a
fiat currency since
1971 that yet continues to play the role of the major
reserve currency distorts global
trade and
finance. Liu is a critic of the
United States and the policies of its government and also a critic of
central banking. Liu calls for the use of
sovereign credit in lieu of foreign
capital for financing domestic
development in developing countries. In a series of articles titled ''The Abduction of Modernity'', Liu has developed his idea that
modernity is not synonymous with
Westernization. Liu's critics contend that he turns a blind eye to the failings of
China compared to his critique of the United States. Others observe that Liu's criticism is focused on US policies that are disconnected to values and ideology set out by the Constitution, and not on US values as such. Liu has also been vocal in his critique of Chinese economic policy, particular on China's excessive dependence of export, developmental imbalances that result in severe income disparity and environmental neglect. Liu is openly unsympathetic to Western liberal criticism of China that he considers as cultural imperialism in disguise.
In February 2006, in a series of articles in Asia Times On Line, Liu proposes the establishement of an international cartel for labor to be known as Organization of Labor-Intensive Exporting Countries
(OLEC) to restore balance of market power between capital and labor in the globalized economy.
His father is Liao Chengzhi, one of the Chinese Communist Party revolutionary leaders. His grandfather is
Liao Zhongkai, one of the
Kuomintang early leaders.
External links
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The Complete Henry C.K. Liu - all articles for Asia Times Online
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US Dollar Hegemony has to go by Henry C.K. Liu
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The Curse of Dollar Hegemony by Henry C.K. Liu
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China and a New International Finance Architecture by Henry C.K. Liu
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OLEC proposal by Henry C.K. Liu
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Henry C.K. Liu Web site