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...

For many years Myanmar operated an inward-looking economic system built on import substitution. Ultimately this policy collapsed, leaving a legacy of inefficient state economic enterprises and widespread poverty. Political unrest in 1988 led a newly installed military government to liberalize the economy, opening it to foreign investment and private trade. This move towards a market economy was in line with regional trends, but political instability forced the country to adopt policies that were different from those of neighboring countries. By analyzing economic policy and performance across...