This timely volume presents a critical analysis of the industrialization process in Malaysia, which has one of the fastest growing economies in Asia. Since 1987, Malaysia has experienced a sustained economic boom based on export-oriented manufacturing. The essays in "Industrializing Malaysia" consider Malaysia's experiences with foreign investment, technology transfers, free trade zones, industrial linkages, and labor flexibility in the manufacturing sector. The volume includes case studies of the Malaysian automobile, electronics, and textile industries.
Despite growing concerns over environmental damage and the sustainability of economic growth, many developing countries continue to associate industrialization with progress. By focusing on Malaysian industrialization, the essays in this volume assess the strengths and weaknesses of such an approach. The contributors, most of whom have served as consultants to the Malaysian government, suggest policy changes that would ensure more balanced, coherent, equitable, and sustainable industrialization under national auspices.
Contributors: Jomo K. S., Chris Edwards, Guy Standing, Anuwar Ali, Wong Poh Kam, Rajah Rasiah, Leslie O'Brien, Ashwani Saith, Anuwar Ali, David C. O'Connor, and S. Jayasankaran.

Drawing on a wide range of sources, this volume addresses fundamental issues surrounding industrialization in Southeast Asia, which are particularly pressing now that the region's miracle has been transformed into a debacle, and the world seeks to draw lessons from the experience. The contributors address crucial questions such as: How did Southeast Asia industrialize? What have been the consequences of domination by foreign investment? Did the region's resource wealth weaken its imperative to industrialize? Why else has Southeast Asia's industrialization been inferior to the rest of the East Asian region? Did the countries' financial systems help industrialization? Was this industrialization sustainable? The volume includes detailed studies of Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

Both globalization and development are contested terms. Establishing their meaning and exploring how the two interact in the real world are crucial to understanding the expansion of the global economy. Globalization Versus Development addresses the implication of recent globalization for economic development prospects in the South in general, including references to the relatively open economies of Southeast Asia. The contributors take a critical perspective on the effects of trade liberalization; explore the challenges for development in the face of globalization; and focus on financial liberalization and its likely implications for sustaining development with reference to the aftermath of the financial crisis.

This important collection is a timely contribution to the debate on the Asian financial crisis. With chapters written by well-established international experts in Asian economics, this book constitutes a finely judged example of the varying opinions on the matter.

The role of ethnic Chinese business in Southeast Asia in catalyzing economic development has been hotly debated - and often misunderstood - throughout cycles of boom and bust.
This book critically examines some of the key features attributed to Chinese business: business-government relations, the family firm, trust and networks, and supposed 'Asian' values. The in-depth case studies that feature in the book reveal considerable diversity among these firms and the economic and political networks in which they manoeuvre.
With contributions from leading scholars and under the impressive editorship of Jomo and Folk, Ethnic Business is a well-written, important contribution to not only students of Asian business and economics, but also professionals with an interest in those areas.

This important collection is a timely contribution to the debate on the Asian financial crisis. With chapters written by well-established international experts in Asian economics, this book constitutes a finely judged example of the varying opinions on the matter.

Since the beginning of the 1990s, Malaysia's remarkable economic performance has attracted attention around the world and been subject to much study and enthusiastic acclaim. However, in the wake of the late-1990s financial crisis, the debate has centred on whether this impressive growth rate can be sustained. As the economy moves beyond growth based on low labour costs and other factor-endowed advantages, industrial technology development becomes increasingly critical to continued growth. This volume, and its companion, "Industrial Technology Development in Malaysia", examine and evaluate Malaysian industrialization in terms of its experience of and prospects for industrial technology development. The focus is on the role played by state-sponsored innovation in the process economic development and in the context of national development strategies. The work provides an analysis of the technological development of a newly industrializing country and reflects on whether existing development strategies can be maintained in the wake of the financial crises sweeping the East Asian economies

Since 1988, Malaysia's remarkable economic performance has attracted attention around the world and been subject to much study and enthusiastic acclaim. However, in the wake of the financial crisis of 1998, the debate has centred on whether this impressive growth rate can be sustained. As the economy moves beyond growth based on low labour costs and other factor-endowed advantages, industrial technology development becomes increasingly critical to continued growth. This volume, and its companion, "Technology, Competitiveness and the State", examine and evaluate Malaysian industrialization in terms of its experience of and prospects for industrial technology development. The focus is on the development of Malaysia's technological-industrial base from a sector and firm-specific perspective, including the role of foreign multinationals in this process. The text reflects on whether existing development strategies can be maintained in the wake of the financial crises sweeping the East Asian economies.

The Japanese presence in Southeast Asia is treated variously with either suspicion or encouragement. Japan and Malaysian Development critically assesses different dimensions of Japan-Malaysia economic relations. The work presents a balanced collection of essays examining Japanese involvement in Malaysia. The volume also discusses the impact and consequences of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir's 'Look East' policy, which advocated greater emphasis on trading relations with Japan.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203022092

This 1997 book is an insightful and accessible analysis of contemporary Malaysian business and politics. Using the concepts of rent and rent-seeking as tools to study the Malaysian political economy, the authors explore how political patronage influences the accumulation and concentration of wealth. The book considers the impact of party politics and economic development on the relationship between politics and business in Malaysia, and provides discussions of government-led change in Malaysia's business community, including the emergence of a Malay business class. In this revised edition, the authors examine how the 1997 Asian currency, liquidity and financial crises have impacted on Malaysia's economy. Their discussion canvasses various economic policy responses, including capital control measures, as well the ensuing economic recession and political turmoil.

Both globalization and development are contested terms. Establishing their meaning and exploring how the two interact in the real world are crucial to understanding the expansion of the global economy. Globalization versus Development addresses the implication of recent globalization for economic development prospects in the South in general, including references to the relatively open economies of Southeast Asia. The contributors take a critical perspective on the effects of trade liberalization; explore the challenges for development in the face of globalization; and focus on financial liberalization and its likely implications for sustaining development with reference to the aftermath of the financial crisis.

The global Islamic resurgence of the last two decades has spawned parallel intellectual efforts to articulate an alternative Islamic way of life. This volume critically assesses much of what is said to be Islamic economics today - its theories, assumptions, concepts and the alternatives it claims to offer. While critical of much of contemporary Islamisation and the interests such economic policies protect, the current relevance of progressive policy alternatives inspired by Islamic economic morality is also analyzed.

The role of ethnic Chinese business in Southeast Asia in catalyzing economic development has been hotly debated - and often misunderstood - throughout cycles of boom and bust. This book critically examines some of the key features attributed to Chinese business: business-government relations, the family firm, trust and networks, and supposed 'Asian' values. The in-depth case studies that feature in the book reveal considerable diversity among these firms and the economic and political networks in which they manoeuvre. With contributions from leading scholars and under the impressive editorship of Jomo and Folk, Ethnic Business is a well-written, important contribution to not only students of Asian business and economics, but also professionals with an interest in those areas.