Final answer:
The false claim regarding the East Asian Development Model is that it requires governments to take a hands-off approach to economic policy. In reality, East Asian governments have often been actively involved in guiding economic development through policies and investments.
Step-by-step explanation:
When looking at the lessons of the East Asian Development Model, it's important to evaluate which claims align with the model's characteristics. The claim that is not true with respect to the East Asian Development Model is: The East Asian development model requires governments to take a hands off approach to economic policy.
Economic growth in East Asia, particularly in the countries known as the East Asian Tigers, has been attributed to a mix of government-led policies, including market-oriented economic reforms and investments in human capital development. Governments in East Asia typically played a proactive role in guiding economic policy, rather than taking a hands-off approach. In these countries, government involvement included directing finance to certain industries, managing trade policies, and maintaining currency exchange rates favorable for export-led growth.
While democracy and economic growth are sometimes related, it's important to recognize that rapid economic growth in East Asia happened in various political contexts. Some East Asian nations developed economically without transitioning to democratic systems. Moreover, East Asian cultures do value saving and investment, which have been essential components of their economic strategies.