Industrial processing and location: A study of tin

This paper finds no economic case for greater processing to be carried out in the tin-producing less developed countries (LDCs). First, tin constitutes a necessary but insignificant part in the production of most of the tin-using intermediate products so that the domestic availability of tin per se does not confer an important advantage to the tin-producing LDCs in the production of the intermediate goods. Second, the demand for the final products, which use the tin-using intermediate goods, is strongly related to the level of economic development so that this demand, and so the demand for tin, is not likely to be high in the tin-producing LDCs.     

The emergence of Third World multinationals: Indian joint ventures overseas

The more industrialized LDCs are emerging increasingly as exporters of capital (or of technology in several forms). This paper draws on the recent experience of Indian MNCs to reexamine the factors which give rise to Third World multinationals. The author summarizes the current state of research in the analysis of LDCs MNCs, drawing upon specific MNC literature and other related literature on trade and technology. He deals with the evidence on Indian capital exports, placing it in the broader context of technology exports, discussing some examples of interest and drawing comparisons with foreign investment by some other LDCs. He assesses the Indian experience, using the distinctions drawn by Dunning's ‘eclectic’ theory but concentrating on the processes of technical change that underline the growth of its MNCs. The final section draws some tentative conclusions.     

Non-multinational firms and transfer of technology to less developed countries

Importing technology from multinational corporations (MNCs) has certain disadvantages for the less developed countries (LDCs) and there is a need for such countries to seek alternative sources of technology. One such source might be non-multinational firms but little is known of the relative merits of non-multinationals. This paper describes a comparison of non-multinational with multinationals in 47 transfers of technology from the UK to India.For a number of important factors, we found little difference between the roles of MNCs and non-MNCs. It is suggested that this lack of difference may be due to the non-MNCs in the sample having some of the same advantages in negotiation as the MNCs — namely a high prestige in the Indian market and possession of some specialist technological expertise. In other words, the multinationality of MNCs may not be as important as is sometimes suggested. Other factors, such as prestige, may be of greater importance. This makes the search for alternative suppliers of technology more difficult since non-MNCs with no prestige are, almost by definition, not known to the LDC.     

Parental locus of control and early childhood development: Evidence on parent and grandparent caregivers in rural China

This study investigates the relationship between caregivers' internal or external parental locus of control (PLOC) orientation and child development outcomes. We surveyed 995 children under age 3 and their primary caregivers in a rural study site in Western China. The empirical results show that a more internal PLOC orientation is reflected in higher levels of intergenerational investment in a stimulating home environment and improved child development outcomes. Grandparent caregivers have, on average, a more external PLOC orientation than do parent caregivers, which is associated with reduced engagement in interactive caregiver-child activities. This study provides evidence that PLOC orientation plays an important role in intergenerational human capital investment and early child development in non-Western, low-to-middle income settings.     

Why is the Inter-firm Credit Market in Korea Special? An Agency View of Trade Credit Use by Chaebols

Abstract

China and India (Chindia) have begun in recent years to enjoy growing measures of economic success, reversing centuries of structural poverty and negligible rates of economic growth. This article examines the influence of varying cultural propensities—Hinduism in India and Confucianism in China—and their impact on each country's economic turnaround. It discusses the historical circumstances that shaped Chindia's perspectives on foreign direct investment and how external forces contributed to domestic policy-making. It also addresses three ways in which culture can affect economy and two major events that cemented the direction of Chindian economic growth. Finally, the paper presents a comparative analysis of China and India and their respective impact of culture on development. It asserts that the forces of culture and its historical development do matter, especially when it comes for a nation to reverse its deprived and stagnated situation and to achieve a status of economic powerhouse.     

Are Asian least developed countries sidelined in advanced manufacturing production networks?

The production of parts for high‐technology final products can play an important role in advancing economic development. This appears a particularly attractive outcome for least developed countries (LDCs). But due to data constraints, analysis has been based largely on middle‐income economies. We seek to address this gap by using proxy data to explore the position of Asian LDCs in electronics and automotive production. Our analysis shows that there has been a surprising amount of LDC trade activity in these sectors over the past decade. In addition, a group of LDCs has succeeded in what appears to be successful engagement with these production networks. We discuss the forms of participation we observe and ask whether they might enable countries to attain development outcomes that might otherwise be out of reach.     

我国村镇银行发展模式探索与政策建议

作为新型农村金融机构,村镇银行对于农村金融建设和经济发展有着重要的促进作用,然而在实际运作中,村镇银行的发展面临诸多困境。本研究从制约村镇银行可持续发展内外部因素入手,通过三家村镇银行的案例分析及国外发展模式对比研究就我国村镇银行发展的有效模式进行了探讨与总结。在此基础上,就政府如何帮助村镇银行实现可持续性发展给出了进一步的政策建议。     

The metamorphosis of development economics

The scientific paradigm of Development Economics is not dead nor is it declining in importance. Instead, it has desynthesized into more than 30 analytical and specialized subparadigms which deal with the complex economic phenomena in LDCs. The great number of sub-disciplines of Development Economics is a verification of the dynamic evolution of the discipline and shows its trend towards increased specialization which seems to be the true index of the scientific progress of the subject. For those who complain that “the current output of new development theories…is smaller” (W. A. Lewis), we remind them that Development Economics is a discipline which has more of a praxeological-concrete orientation than a theoretical-abstract one. It seems that the world today needs more the exercise of development praxeology by the activist than the abstract theorizing of the purists. However, the study and empirical research of development phenomena in the context of the 30 or more specialized sub-disciplines offers an opportunity for improving the quality of our knowledge on these phenomena by the recurrent validation and consolidation of development theories.     

Unlocking Productive Entrepreneurship in Africa's Least Developed Countries*

Abstract: In Africa's least developed countries (LDCs), escape from poverty and convergence to living standards of more advanced economies depends critically on structural transformation and the emergence of productive entrepreneurship that would accelerate growth and job creation. So far, however, subsistence agriculture has been the main source of employment in these countries, while a dynamic private sector in industry or high value‐added services has remained elusive. Utilizing the flow approach to labor markets, this paper complements the empirical literature and numerous surveys on small and medium enterprise (SME) constraints and develops a theoretical framework that examines the main obstacles to entrepreneurship in Africa's LDCs. The paper posits that given the persistent frictions in product and labor markets as well as skill shortages that characterize these economies, development of productive entrepreneurship cannot be left to markets alone. The policy analysis suggests that the state has an important role to play. Well‐targeted government interventions including training of potential entrepreneurs and workers can help to establish more modern and highly productive SME clusters that Africa's LDCs need.     

可持续发展背景下的国际贸易与生态环境关系分析

生态环境对可持续发展的影响,虽然经历了一段相当长的认识过程,但随着人们对可持续发展的认识增强,重视生态环境保护也已经成为全世界的共识。理清经济发展中国际贸易与生态环境之间的既相互促进又互为制约的关系是确保可持续发展战略不可或缺的部分。在全球化助推国际贸易大幅发展的背景下如何保护生态环境促进可持续发展,避免人类因生态环境的破坏"吞食各种悲剧而又无可挽回的恶果"的目标依然任重而道远。     

African religion and development

Development must be seen as a response to the total context of a given community. This response is determined by external factors ‐ the context ‐ and by internal factors, such as the world‐view, the thought structures, the pattern of meaning, and the basic religious convictions of the community. These internal factors are also influenced by the context ‐ there is a process of interaction between internal and external factors — but their effect on the context is often underestimated.

Traditional African culture is deeply religious, and the central motive in this culture has often been described as the search for unity, harmony, balance, continuity, synthesis and community. The effect of this basic religious motive can be seen in the impact of group consciousness, the relation to the earth, the reaction to the Western city, and the conception of time. In each instance, it has a profound effect on African development perceptions, and it can often explain the negative response to Western culture that can be observed, for example, in many works of modem African writers.     

Redefining the Human Development Index to Account for Sustainability

Earlier measures of growth like Gross Domestic Product per capita, or even more recent measures like the Human Development Index (HDI), failed to consider the ‘environmental’ aspect of development. Currently, countries that have accepted the sustainability challenge are finding ways to determine if they are making progress in a sustainable way by addressing the environmental aspect of development. This paper attempts to improve the HDI by adding an ‘ecological footprint to total bio-capacity ratio’ as an indicator of environmental resource use. This new index, the Environmentally Stressed Human Development Index (ESHDI) while trying to account for sustainable development, dramatically alters the original HDI rankings of countries. Some ‘high’ and ‘medium’ income countries are enduring excessive environmental stress to sustain economic development.     

内部制约与外部挤压下的北部湾港口发展策略研究

随着经济全球化和区域经济一体化的发展,港口已经成为带动区域经济发展的战略资源与重要增长点。广西北部湾经济区地处东盟、华南、西南三大经济圈的结合地带,是我国西部大开发区域中唯一的沿海地带,也是我国与东盟国家陆地接壤、海上相通的唯一西部港口。在此背景下,环北部湾港口的发展就显得尤为关键。但是与我国其他沿海港口相比,北部湾港的发展面临着内部制约与外部挤压的双重压力。这让北部湾港口的发展压力更为沉重。     

CUBA'S SOCIAL POLICY AFTER THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE SOVIET UNION: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AS LEGITIMACY OF THE REGIME AND ITS ECONOMIC EFFECTIVENESS

Since the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Cuba has experienced a severe economic crisis, and the country's social policy has played an important role in showing the people a raison‐d'ětre for the revolution. This role has become even stronger in recent years, as internal and external actors demand political reforms and economic liberalization. This article first examines the Cuban government's use of social development to counter the demands for changes. It then looks at the extent that government social policy contributes economically to improving the Cuban living standard. The article demonstrates empirically how the leadership emphasizes their social accomplishments whenever demands for change come, and then shows that after the suspension of Soviet aid, Cuban social policy has been able to provide services mainly by relying on human capital and reducing quality materially because of the shortage of foreign reserves. This has limited the economic effectiveness of the services.     

科技进步贡献率的测算与预测——以宁波市2003-2023年的时间序列模型为例

推动经济增长的因素有很多,技术进步是其中重要一环。目前,中国的GDP总量已经位居世界第二,但经济增长与由此产生的发展不平衡、不协调、不可持续的矛盾日益加剧。要素驱动的老路难以为继,科技创新将成为未来经济增长的新动能。以宁波市2003年至2023年间的时间序列模型为例,对宁波的科技进步贡献率进行测算和预测,并在此基础上提出对科技进步贡献率的一些看法。     

Egypt's economic relations with the socialist countries

The economic relations between Egypt and the socialist countries (1948-73) are discussed and appraised in the context of the political, economic and historical factors which brought them about and maintained them. It is argued that, because of special circumstances, Egypt had little choice but to develop close economic ties with the Soviet bloc. Bilateral trade has known disadvantages; the USSR, however, links trade with generous credit-an attractive feature for LDCs suffering from chronic balance-of-payments deficits. Other advantages and costs of bilateral trade are also discussed. The paper includes comments on Soviet development assistance. A main theme is that Egypt, considering the restrictions imposed on her options by the polarization of the Arab-Israeli conflict, fared well in the relationship. Export and import prices in bilateral agreements seem to have corresponded to world prices, often with a premium in Egypt's favour. Egypt also benefited from a large inflow of resources and from a significant contribution to domestic capital formation.     

Dependence is dead,long live dependence and the class struggle: An answer to critics

The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point, however, is to change it. —Karl Marx, Theses on Feurbach.The mark of an important contribution, whether in the hard or the social sciences, is not that it reveals some eternal truth. It is, rather, that existing knowledge and analysis are put together in new ways, raising questions and offering conclusions which allow and force friends and enemies alike to push their own research and analysis into different areas. —Doug Dowd, refering to C. Wright Mills.For social scientist it is a sobering and useful exercise in self-understanding to attempt to see clearly how the direction of our scientific exertions, particularly in economics, is conditioned by the society in which we live, and most directly by the political climate (which, in turn, is related to all other changes in society). Rarely if ever, has the development of economics by its own force blazed the way to new perspectives. The cue to the continual reorientation of our work has normally come from the sphere of politics. Responding to the cue, students turn to research on issues that have attained political importance … So it has always been. The major recasting of economic thought .... were all responses to changing political conditions and opportunities. —Gunnar Myrdal, in Asian Drama.     

城市文化软实力提升研究：基于福建省区域发展视角

国家和区域发展必须实行硬实力与软实力双轮驱动,成为新的共识,城市文化软实力也成为我国城市建立竞争优势、保持可持续发展的内在动力。着力分析文化软实力提升对福建省区域经济发展的意义,指出福建省未来经济发展与城市文化软实力的提升存在着紧密的内在关联。结合福建省“十二五”期间取得的成绩,分析了福建省未来经济发展中亟需解决的相关问题,并在此基础上提出了解决对策。     

Uneven centuries: Turkey's experience with economic development since 1820

This article examines the economic development of Turkey from a comparative global perspective. With the help of GDP per capita and other series, it shows that Turkey's record in economic growth and human development since 1820 has been close to world averages and a little above developing country averages. The early focus of the article is on the proximate causes—average rates of investment, below‐average rates of schooling, low rates of total productivity growth, and low technology content of production—which provide important insights into why GDP per capita increases were not any higher. For the deeper causes, the article emphasizes the role of institutions and institutional change. Turkey's formal economic institutions had been influenced by international rules since the nineteenth century, and these rules did not always support economic development. Turkey's elites also made extensive changes in formal political and economic institutions. Formal institutions were only part of the story, however. The direction of institutional change also depended on the political order and the degree of understanding between different groups and their elites. When the political system could not manage the recurring tensions and cleavages between the different elites, economic outcomes suffered.     

金融发展、融资约束与中国本土企业出口绩效——基于省际面板数据的经验研究

通过纾缓融资约束提高企业出口能力是开放条件下金融发展影响一国(地区)经济增长的重要渠道之一。本文利用1999～2006年省际面板数据,构建衡量金融发展的综合指标体系,运用系统广义矩估计方法进行实证研究发现:我国金融发展有限地促进了本土企业的出口增长;尽管非国有本土企业和中小企业对出口贡献呈上升趋势,但难以从正规金融体系中获取充分的融资支持,国有银行寡头垄断的金融市场结构抑制了本土企业出口绩效的持续增进。本文得出的政策建议是进一步深化金融改革,为企业改善贸易竞争力提供合理有效的外部环境。