Statistics On The Burmese Economy

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.

Myanmar is emerging from decades of military rule, central planning and economic isolation as it implements political and economic reforms and, as a result, faces fewer international sanctions. The country has great potential for rapid development due to its vast natural resources, abundant labour force and geostrategic location. To assist efforts, ESCAP and OECD conducted a multi-dimensional policy review of Myanmar from the end of 2012 in coordination with the Government of Myanmar. During the review, the lack of information on the business conditions on the ground was found to be a serious impediment to the development of appropriate polices. To address this, a joint business survey with the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) was conducted, providing a rich dataset of 3 000 firms in all sectors and regions to help in understanding characteristics and the challenges they face. This publication explores the results in depth, in order to develop policies that address challenges and promote private sector development in Myanmar.

The grim state of the Myanmar economy in the second half of the 1980s forced the previous government of the Burma Socialist Programme Party to liberalize its external and internal trade. Since the military coup following political chaos in the later part of 1988, Japan, the European Community and the United States have suspended new economic aid to Myanmar. This has led to the present military government, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), to work towards closer cooperation in diplomatic and trade relations with other Southeast Asian countries and to further liberalize its trade sector. This study explores and analyzes Myanmar's external trade and its trade relations with Southeast Asian nations, many of which are members of the Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN), and raises issues and prospects of economic cooperation with neighbouring countries in the region, including the option for active participation in ASEAN.

This paper reviews economic developments in Myanmar during 1990–95. The rapid economic growth of 1992/93–1994/95, which averaged more than 7 percent per year, has allowed the economy to recoup much of what it lost in 1988/89 and 1991/92. However, on a per capita basis, neither GDP nor agricultural output has yet recovered to the levels reached in the mid-1980s. The strong GDP growth achieved in 1994/95 essentially reflected continued good performance of the agricultural sector and a further rapid expansion of the financial sector.

Despite deteriorating economic and developmental conditions, worsening environmental problems, and troubles arising from the unresolved status of its ethnic minorities, Myanmar seems no closer to a political resolution. Myanmar's economy continues to stagnate, with severe implications for its people. Low levels of international assistance have exacerbated the situation. Myanmar-the state, community and the environment examines the missed opportunities by government and opposition groups to find a way out of the political impasse and improve the standard of living of the people of Myanmar. This collection provides insights into the country's economic development, in particular the vital rice-marketing sector and the attempts to expand existing industrial zones. It focuses, for the first time, on Myanmar's environmental governance with in-depth case studies, and on the increasing need for effective environmental protection and sustainability.

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.