"If you want to become a doctor, practice in a war; if you want to become an economist, practice in Vietnam." 1 Phan Van Tiem Vietnam is one of many countries presently undergoing fundamental institutional change: the market mechanism is replacing central planning. So far, the achievements are impressive. In the mid-1980s, the country failed to feed its population, suffered from hyperinflation and faced general economic stagnation. In the early 1990s, the annual economic growth rate had accelerated to some eight to nine percent, the inflation rate had fallen to two-digit levels - sometimes...

This book addresses the controversial call for international labor standards, seeking to productively further this debate by considering the economic implications and history of these standards. A result of an initiative by Professor Kaushik Basu in his capacity as member of the Expert Group of Development Issues (EGDI) sponsored by the Swedish Foreign Ministry, the contributions are based on discussions at a seminar held in Stockholm in August 2001. Compiling the best research in the field, this book provides a solid basis for policy decisions, while also serving as a challenging text for...

This book addresses the controversial call for international labor standards, seeking to productively further this debate by considering the economic implications and history of these standards. A result of an initiative by Professor Kaushik Basu in his capacity as member of the Expert Group of Development Issues (EGDI) sponsored by the Swedish Foreign Ministry, the contributions are based on discussions at a seminar held in Stockholm in August 2001. Compiling the best research in the field, this book provides a solid basis for policy decisions, while also serving as a challenging text for...

"If you want to become a doctor, practice in a war; if you want to become an economist, practice in Vietnam." 1 Phan Van Tiem Vietnam is one of many countries presently undergoing fundamental institutional change: the market mechanism is replacing central planning. So far, the achievements are impressive. In the mid-1980s, the country failed to feed its population, suffered from hyperinflation and faced general economic stagnation. In the early 1990s, the annual economic growth rate had accelerated to some eight to nine percent, the inflation rate had fallen to two-digit levels - sometimes...