Strategic processes in monsoon Asia's economic development

by Harry T. Oshima

The countries of monsoon Asia - whose economies have traditionally depended on rice cultivation - face unique problems in economic development because of their weather. During a typical year, they experience six months of heavy rains followed by six months of relatively dry conditions. This alternation of wet and dry weather places unusual demands on the work force, which can be close to fully employed while the land is wet for rice cultivation but must seek other employment during the rest of the year. Although nations such as Japan have long been free from this cycle of low employment and low productivity, others still struggle with seemingly intractable problems. Offering a range of policy prescriptions, Harry Oshima focuses on how strategic processes - including full-employment strategies, education reform, technological development, capital formation, consumer spending and saving, and multicrop diversification - contribute to strengthening the developing economies of Asian nations