Globalization, industrialization and urbanization in pre-World War II Southeast Asia

Huff, G. and Angeles, L. (2011) Globalization, industrialization and urbanization in pre-World War II Southeast Asia. Explorations in Economic History, 48(1), pp. 20-36. (doi: 10.1016/j.eeh.2010.08.001)

Full text not currently available from Enlighten.

Abstract

This article uses new data to analyze the impact on Southeast Asian urbanization of globalization and industrialization in the world economy's core countries between the 1870s and World War II. Dramatic falls in transport costs and free trade, enforced, if necessary, by colonial rule, combined to open vast frontier areas throughout Southeast Asia to global commerce and create a handful of large urban centres. These cities, through linking Southeast Asian primary commodity exporters to world markets, grew predominantly as part of the global economy. Our econometric analysis shows that measures of globalization — in particular industrial production in the world core and international transport costs — are much better predictors of the size of Southeast Asia's main cities than domestic factors such as total population, GDP per capita, land area or government expenditure.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Angeles, Professor Luis
Authors: Huff, G., and Angeles, L.
Subjects:H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory
College/School:College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Economics
Journal Name:Explorations in Economic History
ISSN:0014-4983
ISSN (Online):1090-2457
Published Online:13 August 2010

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record