Scott A. Hipsher

Abstract: This is an international business study of Theravada Buddhist Southeast Asia. Using a cross-disciplinary approach, the book examines business practices within a political, cultural, economic and religious context. It highlights those cultural and historical ties of the region which are shared because of a common religion. In analysing business environments, economics and government practices across the region, the book provides a deeper understanding of the influence of cultural values on work practices in Southeast Asia. The author first offers an overview of the history of the region and the nature and guiding principles of Theravada Buddhism. The next sections of the book present the history and the business and economic environment of the four countries in Southeast Asia, along with some relevant case studies of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar/Burma and Thailand. The book analyses business strategies and practices, management and marketing issues as well as the characteristics of companies. The last part considers the political environment of the four countries and hints at future trends and developments. The book offers a framework for working in the region, and provides valuable insights into this unique business environment, which is significantly different from the Western context. Filling a gap in existing literature, this book provides an accessible study of actual business practices in Southeast Asia.

Abstract: List of figures List of abbreviations Acknowledgements Notes About the author Chapter 1: Private sector's role in poverty reduction Chapter 2: Development: one size does not fit all Chapter 3: Environmental conditions in Asian developing economies Chapter 4: Business strategies and practices in developing economies Chapter 5: Asian success stories Chapter 6: China Chapter 7: Vietnam Chapter 8: Thailand Chapter 9: Cambodia Chapter 10: Laos PDR Chapter 11: Island Southeast Asia (Indonesia and the Philippines) Chapter 12: South Asia Chapter 13: Central Asia: Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan Chapter 14: Myanmar/Burma Chapter 15: Creating sustainable win-win situations References Index

Abstract: The Asian business environment The evolution of Asian firms The nature of Asian firms The evolution of individual Asian firms The Asia-Pacific century Diversity in Asian business practices Continued evolution of Asian firms.

Abstract: Central Asia is located between Russia, South Asia, the Middle East and East Asia, and the region has been heavily influenced by its neighbors as well as by its location, geographical features and climate. The western parts of Central Asia are primarily populated by Muslim majorities, while in the eastern region Buddhism has had a greater influence. The economies of the region are currently heavily dependent on the extraction of natural resources. Case studies of agribusiness firms in Mongolia are presented.

Abstract: The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid: Eradicating Poverty through Profits Pearson Education Inc., Wharton School Publishing, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, 2004; Pages: 432; Price: US $ 29.99; ISBN: 0-13-146750-6. The treasure lying at the bottom of the world's economic pyramid, attracts companies with unimaginable prospects and profits. The economic pyramid of the world contains more than 400 crores of population at the bottom whose earnings and spendings per capita are low, but as an aggregate, are much larger than they are perceived to be. Hence, it is high time for the corporate managers to make an effort to locate the Alibaba's treasure lying hidden at the Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP). Broadly, the characteristics and spending patterns of the BOP segment are different as compared to the other segments of the society. In the high and medium range markets, consumers are able to buy bigger packages of consumables such as a 10 kg packet of detergents so that they need not shop frequently. But low-end BOP consumers do not have so much disposable cash to buy in bulk and store. Hence, it is suggested that this segment be provided with "single serve" packages. Already in India, 30% of personal care and other consumables such as shampoo, tea, and cold medicines are sold in single serve packages and most single serve packages are priced at one rupee. Hindustan Lever Limited offers Clinic Plus shampoo priced at 50 Paisa. The major differences between the Bottom of the Pyramid and the Top of the Pyramid markets are differences in buying habits and cultural differences. The Bottom of the Pyramid is characterized by a low brand consciousness due to low economic position, and is mostly need driven. Major emerging BOP markets in the world, including China, India, Mexico, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and Indonesia, with a combined population of about 300 crores, represent 70% of the world BOP population. Such a huge jumbo size BOP market promises intense marketing opportunities for the companies. THE BOOK UNDER REVIEW Part 1 of the book emphasizes the development of an appropriate framework for the active engagement of the private sector at the BOR It provides the basis for a profitable win-win situation for all stake holders involved in the process of catering to BOP markets. Part 2 describes 12 cases, in a variety of businesses where BOP is becoming an active market and is bringing benefits to its customers far beyond offering just products. Part 3 contains stories in video form-an attempt to present the prospects and prosperity underlying the BOP markets, and to bring the BOP markets into limelight. Around 100 hrs of video was collected as part of the research. The book specifies workable solutions for serving huge population lying at the bottom of the world's economic pyramid. Even with NGOs working tirelessly and government support and international aid being circulated heavily, the problem of poverty still persists. According to the author, the main reason for this situation is that the private sector, which is huge and potentially capable of solving any problem in the world, is practically not involved. The concept of 'Bottom of the Pyramid" is explained in this book. The World's Economic Pyramid contains wealthy people at the top with high spending capacities and habits. But the size of this segment is very small i.e., only about 7.5 to 10 crores of 600 crores plus population, whereas more than 400 crores of population live at the bottom of the pyramid earning less than $2 per day and in India alone around 40 crores of people earn less than Rs. 90 per day. The author opines that, to effectively serve this BOP market, instead of old and tried solutions, continuous innovation and a paradigm shift in the thinking process of the private sector is needed. THE BOOK PRESENTS CASES OF COMPANIES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN BOP MARKETING * The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF): It established the Solar Electric Light Company (SELCO) in 1995 to market, install, and serve the Solar Home Systems (SHS) in south India. …

Abstract: Focusing on the evolving relations between the state and market in the post-Mao reform era, Yongnian Zheng and Yanjie Huang present a theory of Chinese capitalism by identifying and analyzing three layers of the market system in the contemporary Chinese economy These are, namely, a free market economy at the bottom, state capitalism at the top, and a middle ground in between By examining Chinese economic practices against the dominant schools of Western political economy and classical Chinese economic thoughts, the authors set out the analytical framework of 'market in state' to conceptualize the market not as an autonomous self-regulating order but part and parcel of a state-centered order Zheng and Huang show how state (political) principles are dominant over market (economic) principles in China's economy As the Chinese economy continues to grow and globalize, its internal balance will likely have a large impact upon economies across the world

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Abstract: The global economic system has been undergoing fundamental changes since the 1980s. Many emerging countries drastically increased their openness to trade and foreign investments. Formerly socialist countries entered a transition towards a market-based model and deepened their integration into the global economy. As a result, the geography of trade, investment flows, and innovation is becoming more multipolar. This thesis seeks to improve our understanding of the links between these macro-level shifts and the geography of innovation, spatial patterns of economic deprivation, as well as firm-level outcomes in emerging countries. This thesis is structured into an introductory chapter and four analytical papers. The introductory chapter outlines three themes corresponding to the areas to which this thesis makes a contribution: (1) the interplay of the local and the global dimension in shaping regional patterns of knowledge creation, (2) the link between the relative weight of the private sector and spatial patterns of economic deprivation, and (3) the role of global production networks and the changing geography of trade in shaping regional patterns of innovative performance and heterogeneous firm-level outcomes. The first paper examines the geography of innovation in Russia, adopting a perspective that combines Soviet-era legacies, contemporaneous regional conditions, and global linkages. The results shed light on multinational enterprises’ (MNEs) role as key agents providing Russian regions with knowledge from distant places. The findings simultaneously point to the importance of path dependencies in regional patterns of knowledge generation. The second paper investigates the link between regional innovative performance in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia and investments of MNEs categorized by entry mode and business function. The analysis suggests that the relationship between global linkages established by MNEs and regional knowledge creation is jointly shaped by the heterogeneity of MNEs’ investments and the heterogeneity of region-specific conditions in Latin American economies at different stages of technological development. The third paper focuses on Vietnam, a country that has seen some provinces act as pioneers and others as laggards in the journey towards an outward-oriented marketbased economy. The link between the private sector’s weight in the economy and economic deprivation is a topic of considerable policy interest, but its subnational dimension remains underexplored. The analysis considers the relationship between provincial differences in the change of private firms’ formal employment share and changes in the geography of economic deprivation. The findings reveal that increases in private firms’ employment share are associated with reductions in poverty. MNEs appear to be a key driver of this association. Finally, the fourth paper concerns Vietnam’s growing trade with China. It looks at the link between imports from China and firm-level outcomes in Vietnam’s manufacturing sector. The results show that, contrary to previous findings for advanced economies, exposure to imports from China is positively linked with firm-level employment. Information on trade in intermediates suggests that inputs imported from China may support Vietnam’s export growth. The findings cast light on the necessity to consider the role of global production networks and trade in intermediates when assessing the developmental implications of changing trade patterns.