Business Groups and Equitable Development
GC003A-17SBS: Business Groups and Equitable Development
Abstract:
A close assessment of Southeast Asian and Latin American economies would indicate that there are varying degrees to which the state intervenes in countries to promote domestic menterprise and create new industries. The pattern and extent of state intervention in these economies have been crucial in determining the type of business, i.e. government-linked companies (GLCs), family-owned enterprises and small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), that have secured a prominent presence in each country in these two regions. This study will assess the outcomes of state intervention in the economy, based on different models of economic development that have been adopted. Among the most important models of development that will be assessed are the developmental state and neoliberalism.
Objectives:
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To determine the result of government policies on enterprise development, specifically business groups, including those owned by the state and by families.
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To assess the extent of entrepreneurial capacity in these countries and the problems governments have promoting or developing it, with specific reference to the palm oil and biofuels sectors.
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To review the level of technological development and the problems encountered when trying to develop these sectors; since it is technological progress that explains the difference between the wealth of countries, understanding why some have been able to promote these sectors while others have not is crucial.
Methodology:
The study will be based on the following methods to secure information:
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an in-depth study of business groups actively involved in the palm oil and biofuels sectors with a focus on Malaysia, Indonesia, Chile and Mexico
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a comparative study of GLCs, family firms and MNCs in each country
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an assessment of the role of state in promoting the involvement of these companies in these sectors
Expected outputs:
1 Master/PhD, 2 ISI papers or 3 Scopus papers, Collaboration with foreign professors and international universities in Latin America, 1 policy paper and 1 workshop with selected Southeast Asian and Latin American countries
Sub-Programme Leader:
Prof. Dr. Edmund Terence Gomez
Co-Researcher
Dr. Peter Aning Tedong
Grant amount
RM 44,100.00
Duration
31 December 2017 – 31 December 2018