Globalization And Development In The Mekong Economies

‘The book will provide good source material for political and economic university courses in development and is an important addition to the bookshelf for both academics and professionals interested in and/or working the Mekong region.’
– Herb Thompson, Journal of Contemporary Asia

‘A very topical book.’
– Organiser Weekly

Since the late 1980s, Vietnam, Cambodia, PDR Lao, and Myanmar have been opening their economies to international trade and investment. With the exception of Myanmar, the reforms have yielded impressive results, but the process is far from complete. In this enlightening book, a group of leading scholars outline the continuing reform efforts needed to survive the current global recession and place these economies in a competitive position on the recovery of the world economy.

In the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2008, this topical book analyses the opportunities and threats to continued globalization for the Mekong 4, particularly in relation to rapid industrialization through joining the production networks of East Asia. It then assesses the political will for sustaining the reform process.

This book will be an important resource for national government agencies, such as the department of foreign affairs and aid agencies that have significant bilateral relationships with the Mekong 4 – namely, Australia, Canada, Japan, Scandinavia, and the USA. International financial institutions that have existing (or potential) business links with the Mekong 4 as well as universities with courses in development economics will warmly welcome this book.

Contents:

Preface

PART I: DEVELOPMENTS IN EAST ASIA AND THE WORLD ECONOMY
1. Globalization and Development in the Mekong Economies: Vietnam, Lao PDR, Cambodia and Myanmar
Suiwah Leung, Ben Bingham and Matt Davies

2. Innovation and Economic Development: The Role of Production Networks
Ben Bingham

3. The Rise of China: Implications for the Mekong Countries
Matt Davies

4. Finance, Trade and Development in East Asia: Opportunities for Mekong Economies
Suiwah Leung

5. How Can Regional Public Expenditure Stimulate FDI in the Mekong?
Pritha Mitra

6. Proliferation of PTAs in East Asia: What Does it Mean for the Mekong Countries?
David Robertson

PART II: CASE STUDIES OF MEKONG COUNTRIES
7. Vietnam: Country Case Study
Ben Bingham and Suiwah Leung

8. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Growth, Reform and Prospects
Kotaro Ishi

9. The Impact of Globalization on Economic Development in Myanmar
Trevor Wilson, Leslie Teo and Masahiro Hori

10. Cambodia: Country Case Study
Matt Davies

PART III: POLITICAL ECONOMY OF REFORM IN THE MEKONG
11. Historical and Cultural Constraints on Development in the Mekong Region
Martin Stuart-Fox

12. The Political Economy of Policy Reform: The Future of Reforms for the Mekong 4?
Hal Hill, Suiwah Leung and Trevor Wilson

Index