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In developing countries across Asia, food marketing parastatals have played an important role in agricultural policy, especially with regard to government efforts to stabilize food prices. Three broad market failures constitute the primary arguments for this form of government intervention: a lack of market integration stemming from inadequate infrastructure, the absence or inadequacy of risk-mitigating institutions and markets, and the need to protect the world's poorest communities from a volatile global market. Opponents of such public intervention schemes claim that the old rationales are no longer convincing, that the programs are not cost-effective and do not allocate resources optimally, and that private institutions are strong enough to take over many of the functions traditionally performed by parastatals.

In From Parastatals to Private Trade, the editors -- clearly from the latter camp -- pose three general questions: Why must parastatal-centered policies in Asia change, when should policy changes occur, and should such change happen gradually or abruptly? Experts in agricultural policy use case studies from South Asia (Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan) and East Asia (Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam) to answer these questions; and a concluding chapter synthesizes these countries' experiences with price stabilization programs.

In light of the evidence -- which indicates that parastatals played important roles in the past but have become overly expensive, and that reduced intervention can promote competition, help develop alternative institutions, and release funds for development and antipoverty programs without jeopardizing price stability -- the editors highlight the challenges ahead and propose suggestions for reforming the existing paradigm for price-related policies.

This volume provides valuable analyses for anyone concerned with balancing government intervention with market-friendly policies.

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This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's large-scale digitization efforts. The Library seeks to preserve the intellectual content of items in a manner that facilitates and promotes a variety of uses. The digital reformatting process results in an electronic version of the original text that can be both accessed online and used to create new print copies. The Library also understands and values the usefulness of print and makes reprints available to the public whenever possible. This book and hundreds of thousands of others can be found in the HathiTrust, an archive of the digitized collections of many great research libraries. For access to the University of Michigan Library's digital collections, please see http://www.lib.umich.edu and for information about the HathiTrust, please visit http://www.hathitrust.org ... Read more

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The connection between trade and the environment gives rise to a set of issues that is relatively new and still controversial. The concern of environmentalists is that liberalized trade will lead to an increase in products that are harmful to the environment. Those who promote freer trade, on the other hand, are concerned that environmental issues will provide a pretext for protection and form trade barriers. This is significant as trade is seen by Asia as an engine for growth. It is part of the formula pioneered by the 'Asian Dragons' in pursuing export-oriented industrialization and now adopted by other larger Asian countries. Asia, too, is facing considerable environmental stress in development. Ultimately, as recognized by the 1992 Earth Summit, the issues of trade and the environment are part of the challenges in seeking sustainable development.

These issues came into focus as the World Trade Organization met in Singapore in December 1996, when the WTO committee on trade and the environment delivered its first report. Increasingly, trade and the environment will have to be considered in the context of other regional initiatives such as Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation area (APEC), ASEAN Free Trade Agreement and Asia's reinvigorated ties with Europe after the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

This book brings together essays by leading academics and policy makers from different disciplines and different sectors. Just as importantly, the three major trading regions of the world are equally represented: Asia, Europe and North America. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Top Producer, published by Farm Journal Media on October 1, 2004. The length of the article is 417 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Feeding Asian appetites.(Crossroads)(corn demand and international trade forecast)
Author: Marcia Taylor
Publication: Top Producer (Magazine/Journal)
Date: October 1, 2004
Publisher: Farm Journal Media
Page: 5

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's large-scale digitization efforts. The Library seeks to preserve the intellectual content of items in a manner that facilitates and promotes a variety of uses. The digital reformatting process results in an electronic version of the original text that can be both accessed online and used to create new print copies. The Library also understands and values the usefulness of print and makes reprints available to the public whenever possible. This book and hundreds of thousands of others can be found in the HathiTrust, an archive of the digitized collections of many great research libraries. For access to the University of Michigan Library's digital collections, please see http://www.lib.umich.edu and for information about the HathiTrust, please visit http://www.hathitrust.org ... Read more

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Human Capital, Trade and Public Policy in Rapidly Growing Economies argues that only two centuries ago, no society had ever enjoyed sustained growth in living standards. The contributors to this book aim to discover why the world today exhibits a predilection for perpetual self-improvement. In particular, the book focuses on the forces underlying long-lasting growth in East Asia's newly industrialized countries (NICs). Drawing from the experiences of Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, it questions whether public policy can contribute to removing barriers towards accumulation of wealth, and if so, what development policy should be put in place to remedy the existing distortions or market failure problems. Theoretical and empirical analyses are also used to broach other important issues, such as: Why do some economies experience growth while others decline? What are the major determinants of long-term growth and development? Is human capital the main driving force? Does international trade play a crucial role? This book will appeal to those with an interest in development and public policy. ... Read more

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With the world's fastest-growing markets, fastest-rising military expenditures, and most volatile hot spots, a resurgent Asia holds the key to the future global order. Facing complex security, energy, and developmental challenges in this era of globalization and ever-sharpening interstate competition, a strong China, a strong India, and a strong Japan need to move beyond historical legacies and find ways to reconcile their interests in order to coexist peacefully and achieve greater prosperity.

Customer Reviews (1)

Major Concerns for Asia in the next Fifty Years.
A very thorough, well researched and extensively documented book with penetrating analysis of the competition between China, Japan, and India for natural resources and leadership in Asia.

I was most impressed by the extensive documentation of Chinese military activities to contain India, including aggression from Tibet, military activities in Pakistan and Burma, projection of sea power into the Indian Ocean, and cartographic aggression on Chinese maps of Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh.

Agrarian unrest in China is another uncertainty that has been growing, and there is no way to know if the Communist Party can contain it over the long term.

An interesting section on the the Chinese use of fanciful history, where they use legends or interpret or reinvent history to justify otherwise weak claims to Tibet, Taiwan, the Spratly Islands, Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh.

Where China has the most conflict with India and Japan is over oil.All of them are very dependent on the Middle East, particularly Iran. That is why China has been using its membership on the UN Security Council to protect Iran from nuclear sanctions.

Extensive source lists for every chapter, and an appendix with the full text of significant diplomatic documents.
... Read more

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At the turn of the twentieth century, American and Chinese millers were locked in a fiercely contested battle for control of China's urban flour market that both sides considered crucial to their nation's future. For Americans, Chinese markets were vital to continued commercial expansion and ultimately, the power, prestige and security of the United States. For Chinese, defending their markets against foreign imports, influence and intervention was essential to preserving their commercial integrity and China's national sovereignty. This study analyzes the dynamics of this commercial conflict from a perspective essential to the advancement of Chinese business studies, redirecting research in the field from the current China-centered approach to a China-global context. It contextualizes the flour trade through analysis of global factors - political as well as economic - influencing the competitive marketing of domestic and imported commodities. This broader view provides a more balanced, comprehensive examination of late Qing business history and the role played by international trade in the development of import-substitution industrialization.Countering previous failure-based studies of Chinese industrialization, this study highlights the complex relationship between Chinese capitalists and the government, which stimulated successful private industrial development in late imperial China. Analysis of China's flour milling industry also provides insight into the contemporary capitalist-state alliance that has spurred the nation's dynamic commercial growth since the 1980s. "should be read by business historians, historians of modern China, and anyone interested in Chinese-American economic relations in the twenty-first century." ... Read more

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Trade, Environment and Sustainable Development: A South Asian Perspective explores the linkages between the objectives of liberalised international trade, protection of the environment and sustainable development. It is an anthology of essays by leading experts, key government officials and political leaders from the South Asian region, supported by officials of the OECD, UNCTAD and non-governmental organisations. Trade, Environment and Sustainable Development outlines the concerns of the developing nations of the South Asian region about the impacts on their trade and development from the environmental policies of the North. A range of country case and sector studies are presented, along with analysis of key regional issues. ... Read more

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The book studies the negotiating history of the GATT/WTO since 1947, especially the period following the conclusion of WTO negotiations in 1995. It explains the balancing of rights and interests of different interest groups within the WTO and developing countries. This book throws light on why the Seattle ministerial round failed and how some important issues need to be addressed in the interests of developing countries like India. It argues for a stronger WTO in the interest of sustained growth in developing countries through the multilateral trading system. Many developing countries including India see bilateral and regional trade agreements as an antidote to multilateral negotiations at the WTO. The authors submit that this is the right time for WTO members to reassess what is at stake and reconsider their positions. There is no doubt, however, that the WTO is important for all concerned being a rules based organization. ... Read more