Economic Development Of Burma

Bringing together their own intimate knowledge of the country's problems and the possibilities that lie ahead, scholars attempt to analyze the main factors that have stood in the way of Burma's participation in the worldwide surge of economic growth in the second half of the twentieth century, and to devise ways in which the country can overcome these obstacles in the future.

There are a number of excellent studies by eminent Myanmar economists as well as scholars from abroad covering different post-war periods and/or various aspects of development in Myanmar. What this book does is to bring them altogether, as it were, under one roof by recasting bits and pieces of their work according to the author’s own understanding. In doing so, a holistic approach was adopted in order to have a well-rounded account of developments over the past fifty years or more. In addition, an attempt has also been made to present the major developments at different periods of time between 1948 and 2000 in a simple, but not over simplified, reader-friendly format so as to reach as wide an audience as possible. It is the author’s ardent wish that not only students and policy-makers, but Myanmar people in all walks of life will read the book, discuss it, and work together for a better future.

A liberalization of economic policies has inspired considerable economic growth and encouraged the development of Burma's natural resources, but, according to David Steinberg, the current military government is akin to previous civilian governments in its commitment to socialism as a vehicle for development. The economic flexibility demonstrated by the government has not been matched by political liberalization, and as a result, economic growth remains a captive of administrative and policy constraints. Steinberg traces the origins and acceptance of socialist thought and planning in Burma and shows how socialist ideology has had to be tempered with pragmatism in order to make economic development possible. Looking to Burma's future, he also points out two central problems facing the country: strained minority relations, which have kept the nation from developing a sense of unity, and difficulties with political succession brought on by the military regime's preoccupation with perpetuating its own leadership.

This account and analysis of economic development in Burma since 1962 sheds light on the economics of socialism in a very poor inward-looking economy especially after the mid-1970s. The study examines the evolution of development planning, recent macroeconomic developments, and the composition, pattern and direction of foreign trade, including the balance of payments and external debt. It also analyses the principal economic sectors, especially agriculture and industry, and gives a brief assessment of social developments and future prospects.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1942. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived

For many years Myanmar operated an inward-looking economic system built on import substitution. Ultimately this policy failed, leaving behind inefficient state economic enterprises and widespread poverty. Political unrest in 1988 led a newly installed military government to liberalize the economy, opening it to foreign investment and private participation in trade. This move towards a market economy was in line with world-wide trends, but political instability forced the country to follow a course different from neighboring countries. By analyzing economic policies and performance across the economic spectrum, this book presents an overall picture of economic development in Myanmar between 1988 and the early 2000s. The authors synthesize both macro and micro level data to overcome some of the limitations of unreliable national statistics, and show how the government attempted to deal with two key issues it faced. The first was how to reform the inefficient socialistic economic system in conformity with a market economy, and the second was how to develop the agricultural and underdeveloped economy to alleviate mass poverty.

Many students of the Burmese economy have encountered difficulties in finding the necessary materials as statistical data on the economic history of Burma are limited and scarce. The main aim of this volume is to provide easier access for scholars who wish to monitor the economic development of Burma over the last two centuries. Much of the data are taken from J. S. Furnivall's laborious work, A Study of the Social and Economic History of Burma, which has never been published in an accessible form. To visualize the changes over a century, most of the tables have been converted into graphs. This volume will be useful for those in and out of the country who want to understand the economic progress of Burma.