Economic Development of Burma, a Vision and a Strategy: A Study by
Burmese Economists

The Journal of Asian Studies; Ann Arbor; Feb 2001; David I Steinberg;

Volume: 60
Issue: 1
Start Page: 296-298
ISSN: 00219118
Subject Terms: Nonfiction, Economic development, Agriculture, Industry, Economic policy, International trade
Geographic Names: Burma
Personal Names: Kyi, Khin Maung; Findlay, Ronald; Sundrum, R M; Maung, Mya (1933-98); Nyunt, Myo
Oo, Zaw

Abstract:
"Economic Development of Burma, a Vision and a Strategy: A Study by Burmese Economists" by Khin Maung Kyi, Ronald Findley, R. M. Sundrum, Mya Maung, Myo Nyunt, Zaw Oo, et al is reviewed.

Full Text:
Copyright Association for Asian Studies, Inc. Feb 2001

Economic Development of Burma, a Vision and a Strategy: A Study by Burmese Economists. By
KHIN MAUNG KYi, RONALD FINDLEY, R.M. SUNDRUM, MYA MAUNG, MYO
NYUNT, ZAW Oo, et al. Singapore: Singapore University Press, 2000. xiv, 233 pp. $25.00
(paper); $42.50 (cloth).

In the political turmoil of the summer of 1988, the Burma Socialist Programme Party formally
abandoned its doctrinaire approach to Burmese development and advocated an opening of the
economy to market forces. For a long period, this was uncharted intellectual territory in that country,
where any nonsocialist approach to the economy was anathema. Many eminent Burmese economists
had moved abroad during the period of military repression and socialist ideology since 1962, and it
seemed to this writer that they might be brought together in a conference to consider future and more
liberal directions of that economy under a new (but at that time as yet unknown) political regime.
Under the auspices of the Rockefeller Foundation, initial inquiries were made and the reaction was
positive until the coup of September 18, 1988, when political rigidity and repression returned to
Burma, and the possible participants in such a meeting understandably were no longer prepared to
be involved.

The present volume, although unrelated to that earlier aborted effort, is the logical fruition of such a
process and need; it is a measured expression of the views of some of the most prominent Burmese
economists of the economic conditions and problems facing that state at this time. It is a needed,
important, and thorough work. The tragedy is that in the intervening dozen years of military rule
under the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) and the State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC), little progress has been made in addressing the fundamental
problems facing that economy. The economic problems are well outlined in this work.

The volume itself is composed of thirteen chapters. In addition to dealing with the usual sectoral
issues of agriculture, industry, monetary policy, international trade and investment, natural resources
and environment, education, and infrastructure, it covers the policy framework, poverty and income
distribution, and the issues of institutional development and priorities for implementation.

The volume endorses a strong market system with a dominant private sector with a high degree of
competition. It argues that the role of government should be the provision of infrastructure, support
for an appropriate educational system, fostering conditions to enable the private sector to contribute
to growth, regulating the exploitation of natural resources and protecting the environment, and
avoiding conditions and policies leading to economic inequality. It should also provide an appropriate
transparent legal framework, protect property rights, and develop a competent bureaucracy.

The book argues that the first priority for implementation should be macroeconomic stability,
improving market openings, directing foreign investment, and assisting local businesses, followed by
restoring infrastructure. These measures should be supplemented by exploiting the readily available
potential of the state-- essentially agricultural resources-and transforming the basic competitive
structure of the economy.

This is a volume without economic jargon, which should be accessible to students and others who
are not specialists and thus should encourage broader readership. It is by its nature optimistic and
tinged with altruism and hope. Although one cannot fault its goals and intent, reality may intrude. The
volume recognizes implementation problems, such as a recurring budget deficit, the overly large
military establishment, and the redundancy of many employees in the public sector. But all Burmese
regimes have subordinated economics to politics and since independence have been highly dirigiste.
It is unlikely, even under the best of scenarios, that this will change. Further, the military, through their
control over such important conglomerates such as the Myanmar Economic Holdings Corporation
and the Myanmar Economic Corporation, will likely continue to play critical roles in the economy of
the country no matter what its size, what future government may evolve, or how democratic it may
be.

Although passions and polarization on Burma-Myanmar issues run high, this work is a careful and
important consideration of its economic problems and needs. It is recommended reading for anyone
seriously concerned about that society, is a welcome addition to the meager body of literature on that
beleaguered country, and can be assigned as reading on surveys of Southeast Asia or Asian
economies.