Anis Chowdhury - Böcker

This edited volume documents the intellectual influence of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) through its flagship publication, the World Economic and Social Survey (WESS) on its 70th Anniversary. First published in 1948, as World Economic Report, WESS is the oldest continuous post-World War II publication recording and analysing the performance of the global economy and social development trends. It offers relevant policy recommendations and highlights how well the United Nation's (UN) annual report has tracked global economic and social conditions, and how its analyses influenced and were influenced by the prevailing development discourse during the past seven decades. It also critically reflects on its policy recommendations and their influence on actual policy-making and the shaping of the world economy. The World Economy through the Lens of the United Nations reflects on this report, amongst others, to provide valuable insights on global economic challenges and their differential impacts on different groups of countries requiring global policy coordination as well as context specific policy responses. It demonstrates that UN reports have often been ahead of the curve and played a critical role in policy debate, especially in the area of international policy coordination and coherence for balanced global development, and offers rich and path-breaking analyses of contemporary problems of growth, development, trade and stabilization.

The phenomenal success of the East Asian Newly Industrializing Economies (NIEs) of Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore is now well-known and documented. Their success has been discussed to such an extent that it has become entrenched as part of the folklore of development economics. The Newly Industrializing Economies of East Asia takes a fresh look at the relevant literature and sifts the rhetoric from the reality. In the course of surveying the vast range of writing two competing paradigms become clear: the neo-classical approach which interprets the East Asian economic miracle as the predictable outcome of `good' policies; and the statist perspective which draws attention to the central role of the government in guiding East Asian economic development. Throughout the book the authors mix country-specific experiences with broader trends.

Reorientation from economic controls to a market-based approach led to significant changes in the economic policy of developing countries in the 1980s. Yet, with governments continuing to exercise economic management to accelerate growth beyond that achieved by market forces, techniques and models of development planning are still an integral feature of development policy management.Development Policy and Planning provides a non-technical explanation of the main techniques and models used for economic policy formulation. Each technique is illustrated in application through practical examples.

Reorientation from economic controls to a market-based approach led to significant changes in the economic policy of developing countries in the 1980s. Yet, with governments continuing to exercise economic management to accelerate growth beyond that achieved by market forces, techniques and models of development planning are still an integral feature of development policy management.Development Policy and Planning provides a non-technical explanation of the main techniques and models used for economic policy formulation. Each technique is illustrated in application through practical examples.

Islam and Chowdbury provide an overview of the major economic issues in the Asia Pacific region, as well as individual country case studies. The book is divided into 2 parts: Part I offers new insights into the core issues, the topics discussed include:* macroeconomic management* financial systems and domestic resources* growth, poverty and income distribution* third wave democratizationPart II provides case histories of Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and China. Each country is treated systematically, with a brief history, followed by a political and economic analysis.Non-technical and accessible, this book is supplemented by a substantial bibliography.

The issue of economic development and monetary stability has produced one of the most passionate debates in economic literature. Yet, much of the evidence employed in this debate is contradictory. Monetary and Financial Policies in Developing Countries: Growth and Stabilization brings together diverse views on the subject within a coherent framework. The work includes: * a balanced assessment of empirical findings and their theoretical foundations on the role of money and growth* a discussion of financial liberalization reform in developing countries* an analysis of monetary policy as an instrument of economic stabilization* an examination of the monetary supply and demand process in developing countries* a study of the relationship between money, credit, the balance of payments, inflation and the exchange rate system* a reflection on market failures and the role of government.

The topics of unemployment, underemployment, wage trends and patterns, and the relationship between poverty and the labour market are of interest to all policy makers, researchers, academics and journalists concerned with economic development. This book traces the evolution of the Indonesian labour market between the early 1970s and late 2000s. This entails a (a) review of macroeconomic policies and their employment impact; (b) review of unemployment and underemployment trends; (c) review of wage trends and living standards; (d) relationship between poverty, inequality and the labour market; and (e) labour market regulations, employment and the business environment. The book comes up with a number of policy-relevant findings. Macroeconomic policies, particularly inflation targeting in the 2000-2007 period, have not been conducive to employment generation. The assumption that unemployment is an appropriate indicator of labour market performance and, more importantly, that it is closely aligned with poverty, is shown to be inaccurate. Sustained real wage growth in the twenty-year period before the 1997 financial crisis is contrasted with the lack of improvement since then, a period otherwise of respectable economic growth by international standards. The predicted adverse consequences of sweeping labour market regulations in 2000-2007 on properly measured employment, unemployment and labour costs did not materialize, mainly because of low compliance. It seems that a restrictive macroeconomic framework has been more constraining for employment growth than the perceived labour market rigidity during the post-crisis period. The book concludes with an evaluation of several ‘reactive’ and ‘proactive’ labour market policies. Though these are complementary, policy makers in Indonesia have probably put too much emphasis on reactive policies such minimum wage and severance pay, and not enough on proactive policies aimed at creating an adaptable and skilled workforce.

This book studies the challenges for Indonesia, once a miracle economy, as it faces premature deindustrialisation, rising inequality and domestic and external factors impacting its export-oriented industrialization.

The topics of unemployment, underemployment, wage trends and patterns, and the relationship between poverty and the labour market are of interest to all policy makers, researchers, academics and journalists concerned with economic development. This book traces the evolution of the Indonesian labour market between the early 1970s and late 2000s. This entails a (a) review of macroeconomic policies and their employment impact; (b) review of unemployment and underemployment trends; (c) review of wage trends and living standards; (d) relationship between poverty, inequality and the labour market; and (e) labour market regulations, employment and the business environment. The book comes up with a number of policy-relevant findings. Macroeconomic policies, particularly inflation targeting in the 2000-2007 period, have not been conducive to employment generation. The assumption that unemployment is an appropriate indicator of labour market performance and, more importantly, that it is closely aligned with poverty, is shown to be inaccurate. Sustained real wage growth in the twenty-year period before the 1997 financial crisis is contrasted with the lack of improvement since then, a period otherwise of respectable economic growth by international standards. The predicted adverse consequences of sweeping labour market regulations in 2000-2007 on properly measured employment, unemployment and labour costs did not materialize, mainly because of low compliance. It seems that a restrictive macroeconomic framework has been more constraining for employment growth than the perceived labour market rigidity during the post-crisis period. The book concludes with an evaluation of several ‘reactive’ and ‘proactive’ labour market policies. Though these are complementary, policy makers in Indonesia have probably put too much emphasis on reactive policies such minimum wage and severance pay, and not enough on proactive policies aimed at creating an adaptable and skilled workforce.

As Southeast and Northeast Asia recover from the Asian crisis and return to a state of growth, the authors of this book assess the lessons to be learned from the crisis to achieve sustainable development in the future. While the importance of each factor contributing to the crisis varies from country to country, their collective experience has created unprecedented turmoil in current thinking on development policy.The authors argue that the major schools of thought need paradigm changes in the wake of the crisis. Those who believe that a 'strong state' or system of semi-democracy is essential for economic growth have been disproved by the sudden collapse of these economies. These countries must now adapt to the fact that society must be open to ideas and democratise its polity to achieve innovation-driven sustainable development. Those who used the success of East Asian economies as a vindication of the neo-classical orthodoxy, referred to as the 'Washington consensus', must now see the follies of progressive withdrawal of the government from the economic sphere and of unfettered flows of short-term capital.This book offers a timely and reflective analysis of the Asian financial crisis and brings together a detailed overview of the different and often competing responses within the countries of the region. It will be welcomed by students and scholars with an interest in Asian economics, development studies, international political economy, and international relations.

Open-Economy Macroeconomics for Developing Countries focuses on fiscal, monetary and exchange rate issues of importance to less developed economies. The book argues that the dichotomy between the short-term macroeconomic stabilization goal and the long-term economic growth objective commonly found in developing countries' policy framework is inappropriate. The authors report empirical evidence to support the proposition that macroeconomic stability is a pre-requisite for sustained economic growth and the root of macroeconomic instability in developing countries lies in the government budget deficits. The book discusses the stabilization tools available to deal with capital flows, supply shocks and the effects of financial deregulation. It opens with a discussion of macroeconomic policy problems for open developing economies and an historical overview of the international institutions such as IMF, GATT and UNCTAD. The authors then provide a comprehensive review of macroeconomic models which are popularly used to analyse policy dilemmas related to internal and external balances of open economies.Having reviewed the institutional and theoretical framework, the authors assess the macroeconomic impact of financial deregulation, capital flows and foreign investment. They address the debt crisis, financial instability, capital flight, currency substitution and exchange rate arrangements. The authors also consider more general issues such as the political economy of macroeconomic management and the institutional framework that may enhance credibility and effectiveness of macroeconomic policy. In conclusion, they stress that the openness of an economy itself acts as a constraint on macroeconomic mismanagement and hence may enhance economic growth.This comprehensive book will be an important addition to the literature, and will be of use to advanced undergraduates and graduates of development economics, development studies and financial and monetary economics.

This Handbook on the South Asian Economies (a companion to the Handbook on the Northeast and Southeast Asian Economies) is a comprehensive and unique collection of original studies on the economic and social development of countries in South Asia. The analytical narratives draw upon a wide range of extant literature in an easily accessible way, whilst highlighting the impact of socio-political factors on economic outcomes. The introductory chapter by the editors provides a comprehensive survey of the main features of South Asian economic development, especially in respect of the policy reforms since the late 1970s. The Handbook seeks to understand the varying degrees of achievements in economic transformation and social development in various parts of South Asia, and ponders whether these experiences indicate alternative pathways of socio-economic progress or provide a unique framework for a South Asian development model. The experiences of economic reforms across the South Asian countries, with their distinctive socio-economic settings and public cultures, may thus provide fresh perspectives on the emerging development paradigms. The Handbook is indeed based on the premise that development economics and South Asia have a lot to learn from each other.As with the Handbook on the Northeast and Southeast Asian Economies, this latest Handbook will be an invaluable reference work for many years to come for researchers, academics and students of Asian studies and economics. Policymakers interested in learning more about the background and future opportunities and challenges posed by these economies will also find much to engage them.

This original Handbook on the Northeast and Southeast Asian Economies provides a broad overview of economic and social developments in the countries covered (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, North Korea, The Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Viet Nam). The analytical narratives on the economic transformation of these economies draw on existing literature, and highlight the interactions of socio-political factors. They examine the role of economic policies and the influence exerted by historical and political circumstances.Each chapter, written by leading country experts, begins with a brief discussion of the political history of the country and ends with a discussion of future prospects and challenges. The editors' introduction provides a comprehensive survey of the political economy of Northeast and Southeast Asian economic transformation with a particular emphasis on post-Asian crisis issues.The editors have ensured that this Handbook will be an invaluable reference work for many years to come for researchers, academics and students of Asian studies. Policymakers interested in learning more about the background and future opportunities and challenges posed by these economies will also find much to engage them.

This book evaluates development progress using the lens of structural transformation in four groups of developing countries: Africa’s least developed countries (LDCs), Asia’s LDCs, landlocked Central Asian countries, and Pacific small island states.