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Globalization, Immigration, and Lewisian Elastic Labor in Pre–World War II Southeast Asia

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  • Huff, Gregg
  • Caggiano, Giovanni

Abstract

Between 1880 and 1939 Burma, Malaya, and Thailand received inflows of migrants from India and China comparable in size to European immigration in the New World. This article examines the forces that lay behind migration to Southeast Asia and asks if experience there bears out Lewis's unlimited labor supply hypothesis. We find that it does and, furthermore, that immigration created a highly integrated labor market stretching from South India to Southeastern China. Emigration from India and China and elastic labor supply are identified as important components of Asian globalization before the Second World War.

Suggested Citation

  • Huff, Gregg & Caggiano, Giovanni, 2007. "Globalization, Immigration, and Lewisian Elastic Labor in Pre–World War II Southeast Asia," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 67(1), pages 33-68, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jechis:v:67:y:2007:i:01:p:33-68_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Huff, Gregg, 2024. "Vent-for-surplus in Southeast Asian development since 1870," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    2. Fenske, James, 2013. "“Rubber will not keep in this country”: Failed development in Benin, 1897–1921," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 316-333.
    3. Gregg Huff, 2007. "Globalization, Natural Resources and Foreign Investment: A View from the Resource-Rich Tropics," Working Papers 2007_16, Business School - Economics, University of Glasgow.
    4. Ewout Frankema & Marlous van Waijenburg, 2023. "What about the race between education and technology in the Global South? Comparing skill premiums in colonial Africa and Asia," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 76(3), pages 941-978, August.
    5. Booth, Anne & Deng, Kent, 2016. "Japanese colonialism in comparative perspective," Economic History Working Papers 68883, London School of Economics and Political Science, Department of Economic History.
    6. Timothy J. Hatton, 2010. "The Cliometrics Of International Migration: A Survey," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(5), pages 941-969, December.
    7. Fenske, James, 2013. "“Rubber will not keep in this country”: Failed development in Benin, 1897–1921," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 316-333.
    8. Ferrie, Joseph & Hatton, Timothy J., 2013. "Two Centuries of International Migration," IZA Discussion Papers 7866, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Walsh, John, 2010. "Impacts of the current economic crisis on Southeast Asian labour markets," Business and Economic Horizons (BEH), Prague Development Center (PRADEC), vol. 3(3), pages 1-12, October.
    10. Sue Bowden & Paul Mosley, 2012. "Politics, Public Expenditure and the Evolution of Poverty in Africa 1920-2009," Working Papers 2012003, The University of Sheffield, Department of Economics.

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