For many years Myanmar operated an inward-looking economic system built on import substitution. Ultimately this policy failed, leaving behind inefficient state economic enterprises and widespread poverty. Political unrest in 1988 led a newly installed military government to liberalize the economy, opening it to foreign investment and private participation in trade. This move towards a market economy was in line with world-wide trends, but political instability forced the country to follow a course different from neighboring countries. By analyzing economic policies and performance across the economic spectrum, this book presents an overall picture of economic development in Myanmar between 1988 and the early 2000s. The authors synthesize both macro and micro level data to overcome some of the limitations of unreliable national statistics, and show how the government attempted to deal with two key issues it faced. The first was how to reform the inefficient socialistic economic system in conformity with a market economy, and the second was how to develop the agricultural and underdeveloped economy to alleviate mass poverty.

There are a number of excellent studies by eminent Myanmar economists as well as scholars from abroad covering different post-war periods and/or various aspects of development in Myanmar. What this book does is to bring them altogether, as it were, under one roof by recasting bits and pieces of their work according to the author’s own understanding. In doing so, a holistic approach was adopted in order to have a well-rounded account of developments over the past fifty years or more. In addition, an attempt has also been made to present the major developments at different periods of time between 1948 and 2000 in a simple, but not over simplified, reader-friendly format so as to reach as wide an audience as possible. It is the author’s ardent wish that not only students and policy-makers, but Myanmar people in all walks of life will read the book, discuss it, and work together for a better future.

The political upheavals in the Union of Myanmar in 1988/89 precipitated many changes in the political, social, and economic sectors. The country is now at a critical crossroad in its history and development. This study on Myanmar's options in terms of restructuring its economy is therefore useful and timely. The papers in this volume attempt to identify the major issues concerning the role of the state and economic management, the new directions in resource, agricultural and industrial development and the challenges arising from the opening up of the economy to the stimuli of external trade and capital movements.

This chapter situates the current expansion of law and development initiatives in Myanmar within the broader history of the field of law and development. It introduces the themes in the volume by sketching out the contours of the business of transition, with a focus on local engagement and responses to law reform and rule of law promotion. It begins by situating Myanmar within the history of law and development, and focuses on the need to pay attention to the meaning local actors make of development projects. In light of this emphasis on local actors, it then looks at 'Who's Business', that is, who are the actors involved in the business of law reform and who has a stake in these developments. This starting point is intentional, as so often the focus is on structure or institutions, which can obscure the people who inhabit and animate these institutions. It then turns 'Back to Business', which is a reference to the failed attempt in Myanmar to shift from a socialist to market-based economy after 1988. Many of the economic and business reforms since 2011 have built on these earlier foundations in some way. This section emphasizes the importance of understanding current reforms in light of historical trajectories and past political and economic practices. In the final section on 'Business Matters', the chapter identifies some of the distinctive features or characteristics of debates on law and development as it is playing out in relation to Myanmar. At a time when aid and business interests are closer than ever, there is an increasing emphasis on greater transparency, participation, distribution of resources, and the use of model laws and recourse to best practice. It is these concerns that arise as themes throughout the chapters in this volume.

Focuses on the state's efforts to industrialize Myanmar, first through direct intervention and planning under a socialist economic framework as interpreted by the state leaders (1948-88) and lately (1989 onwards) through state-managed outward orientation.

The central focus of the book is the state's efforts to industrialize Myanmar, first through direct intervention and planning under a socialist economic framework as interpreted by the state leaders (1948-88) and lately (1989 onwards) through state-managed outward orientation. In examining developments during the 1948-88 period, this study situates the Myanmar case within the developmental state paradigm, whereby a critique of the investment-driven-pathway of Myanmar's political economy under socialist ethos is provided. On the other hand, in examining the post-1988 period, the focus is on drawing attention to continuities regarding the states crucial role, despite attempts to introduce market-conforming policies and practices, in economic development in general and industrialization in particular.

With motivated human resources and a rich natural bounty, Myanmar is expected to take off with sustained growth and eventually attain a unique welfare state. On the basis of the authors’ field surveys and innumerable dialogues with public officials, private professionals, scholars, and others, in addition to intensive desk studies since around 2000, the present volume lays out the essential ingredients for drawing a roadmap to realise the above-mentioned objective. That goal is, specifically, financial development, adequate social capital, indigenous modern manufactures and closer international tie-ups, among others, but above all, sound agrarian development. An effort has been made to place the required ingredients in their historical contexts, as historical experiences constitute an important sociopolitical condition in which development takes place. Myanmar nationals and readers concerned with the country’s economic progress are encouraged to give serious, sustained thought to coming up with a socially supportable roadmap for the country's development path. The present volume provides valuable hints for that purpose.