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The Economic Development of Southeast Asia in the Colonial Era: c .1870–1942
Author(s) -
Booth Anne
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
history compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.121
H-Index - 1
ISSN - 1478-0542
DOI - 10.1111/j.1478-0542.2007.00497.x
Subject(s) - southeast asia , colonialism , development economics , government (linguistics) , standard of living , economic growth , economics , political science , geography , history , ancient history , market economy , linguistics , philosophy , law
The article attempts a survey of economic development in the main colonies of Southeast Asia, and the independent country of Thailand, in the decades from 1870 to 1940. These decades witnessed a rapid growth of exports and in several cases quite fast growth of national income. The article examines the links between expanded export trade, economic growth, the role of government and living standards. The article stresses the very considerable differences which had emerged in a number of economic and social indicators by the late 1930s.