Strategic Processes in Monsoon Asia's Economic Development

The countries of monsoon Asia - whose economies traditionally depend on rice cultivation - experience unique problems in economic development because of their weather. Typically, heavy rains come during one half of the year, while the other half remains relatively dry. This places unusual demands on the work-force, which can be fully employed while the land is wet for rice cultivation but must seek other employment during the rest of the year. The author offers a range of policy prescriptions, focusing on how strategic processes contribute to strengthening the developing economies of Asian nations affected by the monsoon season. Topics include full-time employment strategies, education reform, technological development, capital formation, consumer spending and saving, and multicrop diversification. Oshima examines current data from successful monsoon-Asia nations like Japan, Taiwan and Korea, comparing their experiences to those of Indonesia, the Philippines, Bangladesh and India. His insights and conclusions may offer lessons for developing nations in this important region and also, perhaps, in other parts of the world.