The Indonesian cotton textile industry during inflation, 1950-1965 : a case study of an industry in an underdeveloped country

Abstract

If an economist were asked to choose one aspect of a country's economy which could best illustrate the quality of its economic organisation and problems he would, at some stage, consider reviewing one of the largest single industries in the country. Whether, or not he finally settled on a large industry would depend on how deeply a study of it it would reveal and explain the characteristics of the economy in general. If the country was developing along new lines he would prefer a new or expanding industry; if he felt the economy was dominated by the state of the balance of payments he would desire a strong relation between foreign exchange and the level of activity in the industry of his choice.