Cambodian Economy: Charting the Course of a Brighter Future - A Survey of Progress, Problems and Prospects

Cambodian Economy: Charting the Course of a Brighter Future - A Survey of Progress, Problems and Prospects
Date of publication:  2012
Publisher:  Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
Number of pages:  569
Code:  IU27

Reviews

"This monumental study, by arguably the most respected economic policymaker in the Cambodian government over the past decade, is a very welcome addition to the sparse literature on the Cambodian economy. It is destined to become the standard reference on economic development in post-conflict Cambodia. The  volume's 25 chapters are grouped into nine sections: geography and population, the macroeconomic framework, the challenge of modernising agriculture, the challenge of industrialisation, services and infrastructure, human resource development, international economic relations and a conclusion. The content is encyclopaedic, with an immense amount of detail on practically every conceivable aspect of the country's development. Dr Naron is to be congratulated for fitting this admirable project into his extremely demanding 'daytime' job as the secretary of state in the Ministry of Economy and Finance, along with many other responsibilities. Among the many reasons to welcome its publication is its authentic Cambodian voice and perspective in a literature dominated by foreign researchers. A generation of scholars on the Cambodian economy and all those with an interest in the country are in his debt" (Asian-Pacific Economic Literature).

About the publication

“Hang Chuon Naron's Cambodian Economy: Charting the Course of a Brighter Future is a tour de force of modern Cambodia's development challenges. The book is without peer in terms of providing a comprehensive and thorough review of Cambodia's economy, from key economic sectors to social development to governance. On a country that still seems 'exotic' and sometimes difficult to penetrate, Dr Naron's survey provides valuable empirical analysis, insightful explanations, and practical recommendations for the way forward. The book ought to be required reading for every student, academic, or practitioner working on Cambodia.”

—Robert Taliercio, Lead Economist, World Bank


“The international community has observed with relief and admiration as Cambodia has made a remarkable recovery from one of the modern world's most awful tragedies. Much has been written about the country, but very little has been from an authentic Cambodian perspective. In this encyclopaedic and original study, Dr Hang Chuon Naron, one of the country's key economic policy architects, fills the gap. The author combines analytical rigour and careful attention to empirics with an accessible expositional style. A must-read for anybody interested in Cambodia, Southeast Asia, and post-conflict development challenges more generally.”

—Hal Hill, H.W. Arndt Professor of Southeast Asian Economies, The Australian National University


“This mammoth volume on the Cambodian economy fills a major gap in the literature on Cambodias economic transition—one from a war-torn post-conflict state to a modernizing market economy. It traverses a very vast terrain, ranging from macroeconomics and finance—both private and public, to challenges facing agriculture, infrastructure and energy, to institution building and regional integration. As one of Cambodia's leading intellectuals, and policymakers, Dr Hang Chuon Naron is uniquely placed to sketch this dramatic transformation, and tell the Cambodian story in a way that is insightful and revealing, yet accessible to a broad audience. This is a book that should appeal to more than just those interested in Cambodia's economy, or economists interested in issues of transition to market, but to anyone interested in Cambodia in general, or in post-conflict societies and the challenges that they face.”

—Jayant Menon, Principal Economist, Asian Development Bank, and former Board Director, Cambodian Development Research Institute

Contents

  • Cambodian Economy: Charting the Course of a Brighter Future - A Survey of Progress, Problems and Prospects
    [Whole Publication, ISBN: 9789814380201]
  • Preliminary pages
  • PART I: GEOGRAPHY AND POPULATION
  • 1. Geography
  • 2. Population and Demographic Structure
  • PART II: MACROECONOMIC FRAMEWORK
  • 3. Macro-economic Performance: Historical Trends and Key Features of Structural Adjustment
  • 4. Banking
  • 5. Insurance Sector
  • 6. Capital Market Development
  • PART III: THE CHALLENGE OF MODERNIZING AGRICULTURE
  • 7. Agricultural Economy
  • 8. Impediments to Improving the Standard of Living of Farmers
  • 9. Agriculture Modernization Policy
  • PART IV: THE CHALLENGE OF INDUSTRIALIZATION
  • 10. Industrial Sector - An Overview
  • 11. Private Sector Development
  • 12. Industrial Policies
  • PART V: SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE
  • 13. Tourism
  • 14. Telecommunications
  • 15. Transport Infrastructure
  • 16. Energy Sector
  • PART VI: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
  • 17. Poverty Situation
  • 18. Education
  • 19. Health
  • PART VII: PUBLIC FINANCE
  • 20. Tax System
  • 21. State Budget
  • PART VIII: INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS
  • 22. Foreign Trade
  • 23. External Debt
  • 24. Regional Integration
  • PART IX: CONCLUSION
  • 25. Accelerating Institutional Development: The Key to Progress
  • Bibliography
  • About the Author

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