Sustainable Development in Central Asia by Shirin Akiner Jon Hay Sander Tideman

Author:Shirin Akiner, Jon Hay, Sander Tideman [Shirin Akiner, Jon Hay, Sander Tideman]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Business & Economics, General, Social Science, Ethnic Studies, Regional Studies
ISBN: 9781136788963
Google: CaQJEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2020-11-25T03:52:24+00:00

Conclusion

Where should Mongolia look for realistic economic strategies for sustainable development as the country moves into the 21st century? One possible strategy is for Mongolia to study its other Central Asian counterparts, particularly those nations with the same nomadic and socialist experiences, to exchange views on similar problems, strengths, cultural values and conditions. Central Asia as an economic unit is strong in mineral resources, but its landlocked position and relatively low population density due to its climate and environment preclude easy economic development solutions. Mongolia can work with its Central Asian neighbors to create a new strategy for sustainable development based on preserving long-held cultural and economic forms.

Mongolia should also look to the North East Asia Free Trade Zone concept as a way to ensure an outlet for its products to the sea, and as an entry into the fast-growing Pacific Basin market. Other Central Asian nations may see their best options in trading alignment with the Middle East and Europe, but it is clear that Mongolia's economic destiny should be linked to the Asia-Pacific region. While it is appropriate for Mongolia to investigate its potential role in a North East Asia Free Trade Zone, which would tie it to the nations of the Pacific Basin, it should not forget to look westward as well, because the other Central Asian nations which have emerged from the breakup of the Soviet Union may have more in common with Mongolia's development strategy than countries like the Koreas, Taiwan, the United States and Canada. Mongolia should re-examine the validity and applicability of centralised planning systems, dictated by mentors from agricultural and industrialised economies: this includes the old Marxist-Leninists, but equally the IMF and World Bank strategic plans and the successful economic policies of Asia's 'Four Tigers'.

Another strategy lies in recognising that the best source or low-cost economic power is the animal husbandry sector. Resources should be allotted to this key economic component in order to stabilise the food supply, protect the environment, and quickly develop, without a massive influx of foreign capital, a potentially very profitable export product from the livestock industry. The nomadic lifestyle should be supported by domestic policies, not maligned or ignored. Reforms aimed at revitalising the livestock sector and promoting free trade policies have already played a part in Mongolia's history. In the 1930s the Mongolian government reversed the stringent collectivisation measures of the Leftist Deviation and implemented within five years a series of reforms which increased livestock numbers to levels still not repeated. This 'New Course', enacted under Prime Minister Gendun, must be analysed by Mongolian planners to see if some of the same programmes could be modified to suit present conditions. Mongolia does have a successful experience to use as a model; its economists are not faced with a vacuum when initiating policies to stimulate the nomadic economy.

Today Mongolia is part of a rapidly developing international economic system, which can only spur its growth. The first step down the road to economic development is to fully understand where Mongolia has come from, that is to comprehend the dynamics of the traditional nomadic economy.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.