The Politics of Uneven Development: Thailand's Economic Growth in Comparative Perspective

by Richard F. Doner

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 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).

Genres: History

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[unperspicacious · Rating 3 out of 5]

This comparative political economy approach to Thailand's 'economic diversification' and 'upgrading' is very, very structuralist; more emphasis on (institutional) economic history than political history; more analytical weight on proximate causes rather than deeper historical antecedents; and certainly more interest in growth than redistribution. The historical narratives have been clearly bent to fit the emphasis on institutions and economic growth, but in the process a great deal of the essence of politics - both domestic and international - has been shelved. What remains almost seems like an afterthought, with some very jagged edges left flapping. Like the neoclassical economic strand from which it descends, the book is not as normatively neutral as it appears to be at first glance. Some political economists may prefer it this way of course...each to his own.

[Shad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doner does a good job of providing a sufficient overview to give a decent idea of Thai economic development over the past 50-60 years to lay a foundation and interest the reader in the specifics of the markets he analyzes in more depth (sugar, textiles and autos). He points to other factors important in development (e.g., upgrading and systemic capabilities), but it kind of seems like the list of factors will be endless. Even when he provides comparisons to support his points (at the end of chapters 5-7), one gets the feeling that we're just pointing in the dark - three countries out of hundreds? Anyway, overall, Doner gives some good ideas and provides insights I hadn't considered before.