Hla Myint
Encyclopedia
Hla Myint was a Burmese professor of economics noted as one of the pioneers of development economics. He stressed, long before it became popular, the importance export-orientation as the most useful "engine of growth". After obtaining a Ph.D. in economics at the London School of Economics
(with a thesis on the Theories of Welfare Economics), he taught as an economics professor at the University of Rangoon, from 1945 to 1952. He also served as the university's rector from 1958 to 1962. He was an Economic Adviser to the post-independent Burmese government's National Planning Department and the State Agricultural Bank's committee in the 1950s.Hla Myint was influential in the National Planning Committee's drafting of an outward-looking economic development plan for the country, which was rejected in favor of an insular, inward-looking plan.
Hla Myint served as as Emeritus Professor Of Economics, teaching development economics, at the London School of Economics
from 1966 to 1985. As an example, in 1972 he authored an important study supported by the Asian Development Bank
, Southeast Asia's economy: Development Policy in the 1970s, which emphasised the importance of an export-oriented development strategy for the region. In that study, he argued that the existing import substitution policies commonly followed in Southeast Asia should be replaced by a new industrialization policy based on the expansion of manufactured exports.
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
(with a thesis on the Theories of Welfare Economics), he taught as an economics professor at the University of Rangoon, from 1945 to 1952. He also served as the university's rector from 1958 to 1962. He was an Economic Adviser to the post-independent Burmese government's National Planning Department and the State Agricultural Bank's committee in the 1950s.Hla Myint was influential in the National Planning Committee's drafting of an outward-looking economic development plan for the country, which was rejected in favor of an insular, inward-looking plan.
Hla Myint served as as Emeritus Professor Of Economics, teaching development economics, at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
from 1966 to 1985. As an example, in 1972 he authored an important study supported by the Asian Development Bank
Asian Development Bank
The Asian Development Bank is a regional development bank established on 22 August 1966 to facilitate economic development of countries in Asia...
, Southeast Asia's economy: Development Policy in the 1970s, which emphasised the importance of an export-oriented development strategy for the region. In that study, he argued that the existing import substitution policies commonly followed in Southeast Asia should be replaced by a new industrialization policy based on the expansion of manufactured exports.
Major works
- Theories of Welfare Economics, Longmans Green, 1948.
- Economic Theory and the Underdeveloped Countries, 1971
- Southeast Asia's Economy: Development Policies in the 1970s (Penguin Modern Economics Texts) Penguin Books, 1972