Input–output analysis in developing countries: Sources, methods and applications. Victor...
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Book Reviews 389 INPUT-OUTPUT ANALYSIS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: SOURCES, METHODS AND APPLICATIONS Victor Bulmer-Thomas Wiley, Chichester, 1982, 278 pp. It is more than thirty-five years since Wassily Leontief published the initial table of interin- dustry transactions for the U.S. economy. Since then much theoretical and empirical work has been undertaken and almost every country has experimented with some form of input-output tabulation. Methodological developments have mainly taken place within the framework of the developed economy and are found disseminated in a variety of main stream journals, official reports and working papers. Bulmer-Thomas’s book has attempted two things. First, to research and synthesize these theoretical and empirical developments and apply them to the developing country framework. Secondly, to assimilate the material to provide a handbook for use by input-output practitioners. In these aims he has been largely successful. The study has filled the gap between the earlier attempts to create practical books such as the now dated work of Van Arkadie and Frank and the more theoretical works pushing forward the frontier of knowledge. Bulmer-Thomas has been able to incorporate in a concise book coverage of the basic linear model, extensions to the basic model that include intertemporal adjustment and price determination, and chapters that relate input-output analysis to specific development problems, such as import substitution and resource alloca- tion. There is, however, a gap that still remains and one that needs to be bridged if the input-output tables gathering dust on the shelves in some developing countries are ever to be used. The key to this lies in making both the theoretical and practical utility of input-output computations accessible to those people responsible for their implementation. They are to a large extent, relatively non-numerate and fearful of implementing schemes and piojects they do not understand. It is a pity the book has not reached this class of develop- ment administrators. The book, is, however, an excellent reference book for the professional economist and clearly belongs on the reading list for all serious students of economic development, particu- larly those specializing in input-output methods. It seems hardly fair to criticize a book that intended to focus on this group for achieving its aim. PAUL COOK Department of Administrative Studies University of Munchester BUKMA‘S ROAD TOWARD DEVELOPMENT: GROWTH AND IDEOLOGY UNDEK MILITARY RULE David 1. Stelnberg Westview Press, Boulder, Colorado, 1982 In Stelnberg’s words, ‘Burma remains one of the last exotic nations in Asia’. His study highlights many of the seemingly irreconcilable contradictions in Burma’s political and economic development which have contributed to the nation’s uniqueness and relative isola- tion on the world political stage. He points out that Burma has been neglected by scholars, journalists and development specialists precisely as a consequence of its isolation. In addi- tion, statistics about the country are difficult to obtain, with information under tight govern- mental control and tending to be very unreliable. Stelnberg’s study attempts to make sense of the available sources and to interpret them against the background of the country’s peculiarities. This task cannot have been an easy one in a state dominated by a highly centralized one-party regime presiding over what amounts to over 65,000 village micro-economies which frequently operate independently from the state planning apparatus.
Transcript of Input–output analysis in developing countries: Sources, methods and applications. Victor...
Book Reviews 389
INPUT-OUTPUT ANALYSIS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: SOURCES, METHODS A N D APPLICATIONS Victor Bulmer-Thomas Wiley, Chichester, 1982, 278 pp.
It is more than thirty-five years since Wassily Leontief published the initial table of interin- dustry transactions for the U.S. economy. Since then much theoretical and empirical work has been undertaken and almost every country has experimented with some form of input-output tabulation. Methodological developments have mainly taken place within the framework of the developed economy and are found disseminated in a variety of main stream journals, official reports and working papers. Bulmer-Thomas’s book has attempted two things. First, to research and synthesize these theoretical and empirical developments and apply them to the developing country framework. Secondly, to assimilate the material to provide a handbook for use by input-output practitioners. In these aims he has been largely successful. The study has filled the gap between the earlier attempts to create practical books such as the now dated work of Van Arkadie and Frank and the more theoretical works pushing forward the frontier of knowledge. Bulmer-Thomas has been able to incorporate in a concise book coverage of the basic linear model, extensions to the basic model that include intertemporal adjustment and price determination, and chapters that relate input-output analysis to specific development problems, such as import substitution and resource alloca- tion.
There is, however, a gap that still remains and one that needs to be bridged if the input-output tables gathering dust on the shelves in some developing countries are ever to be used. The key to this lies in making both the theoretical and practical utility of input-output computations accessible to those people responsible for their implementation. They are to a large extent, relatively non-numerate and fearful of implementing schemes and piojects they d o not understand. It is a pity the book has not reached this class of develop- ment administrators.
The book, is, however, an excellent reference book for the professional economist and clearly belongs on the reading list for all serious students of economic development, particu- larly those specializing in input-output methods. It seems hardly fair to criticize a book that intended to focus on this group for achieving its aim.
PAUL COOK Department of Administrative Studies
University of Munchester
BUKMA‘S ROAD TOWARD DEVELOPMENT: GROWTH A N D IDEOLOGY UNDEK MILITARY RULE David 1. Stelnberg Westview Press, Boulder, Colorado, 1982
In Stelnberg’s words, ‘Burma remains one of the last exotic nations in Asia’. His study highlights many of the seemingly irreconcilable contradictions in Burma’s political and economic development which have contributed to the nation’s uniqueness and relative isola- tion on the world political stage. He points out that Burma has been neglected by scholars, journalists and development specialists precisely as a consequence of its isolation. In addi- tion, statistics about the country are difficult to obtain, with information under tight govern- mental control and tending to be very unreliable.
Stelnberg’s study attempts to make sense of the available sources and to interpret them against the background of the country’s peculiarities. This task cannot have been an easy one in a state dominated by a highly centralized one-party regime presiding over what amounts to over 65,000 village micro-economies which frequently operate independently from the state planning apparatus.
