The Politics of Uneven Development: Thailand's Economic Growth in Comparative Perspective (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780521736114)

Why do some middle-income countries diversify their economies but fail to upgrade - to produce world-class products based on local inputs and technological capacities? Why have the "little tigers" of Southeast Asia, such as Thailand, continued to lag behind the Newly Industrializing Countries of East Asia? Richard Doner goes beyond "political will" by emphasizing institutional capacities and political pressures: Development challenges vary. Upgrading poses tough challenges that require robust institutional capacities. Such strengths are political in origin. They reflect pressures, such as security threats and resource constraints, which motivate political leaders to focus on efficiency more than clientelist payoffs. Such pressures help to explain the political institutions - "veto players" - through which leaders operate. Doner assesses this argument by analyzing Thai development historically, in three sectors (sugar, textiles, and autos) and in comparison with both weaker and stronger competitors (Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, Brazil, and South Korea).

Author: Richard F. Doner
ISBN-10: 0521736110
ISBN-13: 9780521736114
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Language: English
Published: 02/09/2009
Pages: 368
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.15lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.00w x 0.80d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 01/01/2010