The Commodity Export, Growth, and Distribution Connection in Southeast Asia 1500-1940

Jeffrey G. Williamson

No 9364, CEPR Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Policy Research

Abstract: This paper explores Southeast Asia's trade performance over the four and a half centuries from 1500 to 1940. It identifies the determinants of the commodity export performance ? falling trade costs, income growth of its trading partners, and improved supply conditions at home. It also explores its impact on Southeast Asia's growth performance: trade specialization generated more macro volatility, de-industrialization, rising colonial power, and greater inequality up to World War 1, but these forces turned around in the region thereafter, including some modest industrial Catch-up. Finally, the paper elaborates on the distributional impact and colonial profitability of commodity export booms and busts throughout the last century.

Keywords: Southeast asia; Trade; Commodities; Distribution; Development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F14 N15 O53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev, nep-his and nep-sea
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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