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Economic Disparity in Rural Myanmar

Author

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  • Okamoto, Ikuko

Abstract

Market liberalization in Myanmar began in 1988 and had some unanticipated consequences. As farmers began to operate in a context with greatly reduced government control, there was an explosion in the production of green gram, which became extremely popular as an export crop. However, market liberalization in the industry surrounding this new export-oriented crop gave rise to growing economic disparities, largely determined by access to land, capital and credit. Ikuko Okamoto explores these issues through a detailed case study of Thongwa Township, a place east of Yangon (Rangoon) in the major green gram producing region in the country. She shows that farmers responded quickly to policy changes and made maximum use of new opportunities, even in a country where socialist policies had previously limited such opportunities. She also traces the consequences for different social groups in rural Myanmar, and shows that traders benefited the most from the new arrangements, and landless laborers the least. Her research offers important insights into the transition from a socialist to a market-based economy, and local-level responses to market incentives. It also shows that the success or failure of new crops in a peasant economy largely depends on whether the crop is compatible with the initial resource endowment.

Suggested Citation

  • Okamoto, Ikuko, 2008. "Economic Disparity in Rural Myanmar," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, number 9789971693985, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:ucp:bkecon:9789971693985
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    Cited by:

    1. Forsyth, Tim & Springate-baginski, Oliver, 2022. "Who benefits from the agrarian transition under violent conflict?: Evidence from Myanmar," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 116445, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Okamoto, Ikuko, 2009. "Issues Affecting the Movement of Rural Labour in Myanmar: Rakhine Case Study," IDE Discussion Papers 206, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).
    3. Haggblade, Steven & Boughton, Duncan, 2013. "A Strategic Agricultural Sector and Food Security Diagnostic for Myanmar," Food Security International Development Working Papers 161372, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    4. Boughton, Duncan & Haggblade, Steve & Kham, L & Kongabaugh, Steve & Thaung, Myo, 2015. "Overcoming Isolation: An Exploration of the Rapid Growth in Pulse Exports from Myanmar," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 211365, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    5. Belton, Ben & Hein, Aung & Htoo, Kyan & Kham, L. Seng & Nischan, Ulrike & Reardon, Thomas & Boughton, Duncan, 2015. "• Aquaculture in Transition: Value Chain Transformation, Fish and Food Security in Myanmar," Food Security International Development Working Papers 230981, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    6. Rammohan, Anu & Pritchard, Bill, 2014. "The Role of Landholding as a Determinant of Food and Nutrition Insecurity in Rural Myanmar," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 597-608.
    7. Haggblade, Steven & Boughton, Duncan & Kham, L Seng & Thaung, Myo, 2014. "Winds of Change:A Rapid Appraisal of Four Pulse Value Chains in Myanmar," Miscellaneous Publications 234953, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    8. Belton, Ben & Hein, Aung & Htoo, Kyan & Kham, L. Seng & Nischan, Ulrike & Reardon, Thomas & Boughton, Duncan, 2015. "Aquaculture In Transition: Value Chain Transformation, Fish And Food Security In Myanmar," Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy Research Papers 259027, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security (FSP).
    9. Belton, Ben & Win, Myat Thida & Zhang, Xiaobo & Filipski, Mateusz, 2021. "The rapid rise of agricultural mechanization in Myanmar," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).

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