Industrializing Malaysia

Despite growing concern over environmental issues and the sustainability of economic growth, industrialization is still generally associated with progress and development. This is particularly true of developing countries where industrialization is often the nation's top priority. Industrializing Malaysia presents a critical analysis of the experience of industrialization in Malaysia, examining the role, impact and efficacy of post-independence industrialization policies. The author refocuses attention on some major intended as well as unintended implications and consequences of policies and performance. A wide range of issues is covered: in addition to general historical commentaries and sectoral studies, there are analyses of direct foreign investment, technology, linkages, free trade zones, industrial estates, and rural development.

This book examines foreign capital's role in stimulating industrialization. Using both conventional and unconventional approaches, the author finds foreign capital to have played a positive role in Malaysia's industrialization. The branch- and industry-level analyses show generally strong pecuniary effects by foreign capital. Local-dominated branches and industries, however, show strong linkages with the domestic economy. The firm-level analysis tends to reveal strong technological spillovers from foreign capital. The book closes with regulatory prescriptions to enhance positive spillovers.

Some of the most successful growth economies in the Pacific Rim have combined protectionist Import Substitution Industrialisation policies with export-oriented policies. This study provides a systematic rethinking of relationships between strategies within the Malaysian context.

Malaysian Industrial Policy argues that selective government promotion efforts have been successful and crucial for Malaysias industrialisation despite some disastrous consequences associated with the Mahathir governments heavy industrialisation programme. The authors present evidence to show that direct and indirect government interventions have induced and supported investments, accelerating the structural transformation of the Malaysian economy. However, industrial development in Malaysia has been modest compared with that in Northeast Asia because of weaknesses in industrial policy andexcessive reliance on foreign investments.

Despite growing concern over environmental issues and the sustainability of economic growth, industrialization is still generally associated with progress and development. This is particularly true of developing countries where industrialization is often the nation's top priority. Industrializing Malaysia presents a critical analysis of the experience of industrialization in Malaysia, examining the role, impact and efficacy of post-independence industrialization policies. The author refocuses attention on some major intended as well as unintended implications and consequences of policies and performance. A wide range of issues is covered: in addition to general historical commentaries and sectoral studies, there are analyses of direct foreign investment, technology, linkages, free trade zones, industrial estates, and rural development.

Malaysia. Industrialization, with information on occupational structure and unemployment. Economic development is stressed. Industrial policy assessed. Production of industries, with detailed list of industrial products. Problems connected with fiscal policy and tariffs. Foreign investment and banks.

Until recently Malaysia has been dependent on technology transfer through direct foreign investment. In 1986 the Industrial Master Plan was passed. This work examines the objectives of this Plan which highlights the fact that future industrial development must be propelled by domestic technological capabilities. The book also explores strategic options for public and private interaction in development.

Industrialization supported by industrial hubs has been widely associated with structural transformation and catch-up. But while the direct economic benefits of industrial hubs are significant, their value lies first and foremost in their contribution as incubators of industrialization, production and technological capability, and innovation. The Oxford Handbook of Industrial Hubs and Economic Development adopts an interdisciplinary approach to examine the conceptual underpinnings, review empirical evidence of regions and economies, and extract pertinent lessons for policy reasearchers and practitioners on the key drivers of success and failure for industrial hubs. This Handbook illustrates the diverse and complex nature of industrial hubs and shows how they promote industrialization, economic structural transformation, and technological catch-up. It explores the implications of emerging issues and trends such as environmental protection and sustainability, technological advancement, shifts in the global economy, and urbanization.