JOHN H. DRABBLE has extensive experience in Malaysia, having worked there from 1958-63 with the oldest of the British agency houses, and as a Lecturer in History at the University of Malaysia from 1968-74. From 1974-94 he taught Economic History at the University of Sydney, retiring as Reader, and is currently an Honorary Research Associate. He is the author of two standard books on the Malayan rubber industry prior to World War II.

'I commend this book to all scholars of modern Southeast Asian history. For the first time, we have a book which places Malaysia's successful transition to modern economic growth within a longer historical perspective.' - Wang Gungwu, Director, East Asian Institute

• List of Tables List of Figures and Maps Currency, Weights, Measures Geographical Note Abbreviations Glossary Preface Maps Introduction The Premodern Economy Part I: THE FORMATION OF A COLONIAL EXPORT ECONOMY (c.1800-1920) The Transition to Modern Trade The Growth of Production The Infrastructure The Growth of a Plural Society Overview: The Export Economy c.1920 PART II: DEPRESSION, WAR, AND THE ADVENT OF INDEPENDENCE (1920-63) The Interwar Years (1920-41) War, Reconstruction and the Advent of Independence (1942-63) PART III: TOWARDS A NEWLY-INDUSTRIALISED COUNTRY (1963-90) The Economy in Review The Primary Sector Industry The Distribution of the Benefits The Perspective from History Bibliography Index

JOHN H. DRABBLE has extensive experience in Malaysia, having worked there from 1958-63 with the oldest of the British agency houses, and as a Lecturer in History at the University of Malaysia from 1968-74. From 1974-94 he taught Economic History at the University of Sydney, retiring as Reader, and is currently an Honorary Research Associate. He is the author of two standard books on the Malayan rubber industry prior to World War II.

'I commend this book to all scholars of modern Southeast Asian history. For the first time, we have a book which places Malaysia's successful transition to modern economic growth within a longer historical perspective.' - Wang Gungwu, Director, East Asian Institute

• List of Tables List of Figures and Maps Currency, Weights, Measures Geographical Note Abbreviations Glossary Preface Maps Introduction The Premodern Economy Part I: THE FORMATION OF A COLONIAL EXPORT ECONOMY (c.1800-1920) The Transition to Modern Trade The Growth of Production The Infrastructure The Growth of a Plural Society Overview: The Export Economy c.1920 PART II: DEPRESSION, WAR, AND THE ADVENT OF INDEPENDENCE (1920-63) The Interwar Years (1920-41) War, Reconstruction and the Advent of Independence (1942-63) PART III: TOWARDS A NEWLY-INDUSTRIALISED COUNTRY (1963-90) The Economy in Review The Primary Sector Industry The Distribution of the Benefits The Perspective from History Bibliography Index