Export Success and Industrial Linkages : The Case of Readymade Garments in South Asia

Neo-classical Economic Trade Theory Suggests That Countries On An Aggregate Level Specialize In Products That Are Consistent With Their Particular Advantages And This Book Suggests That The Predictions Of The Theory Are Broadly Borne Out. However, This Theory Is Cast On A Very Aggregate Level Such As Textiles And Steel And The Theory Provides Little Guidance On Process. Thus, There Is Little One Learns From The Theory About Business, Structural, And Institutional Practices That Make A Particular Country More Successful Than Others Even If Their Broad Comparative Advantage Is Similar. Similarly, One Learns Little About The Various Forms Of Critical Linkages Or Partnerships, Backward And Forward (induced By Industrial Policy Or Spontaneous), Public-private, Domestic-foreign (in A Value Chain Context), South-south, And Intra-cluster Or Sector That Result In Export Success And Failure In The Garment Industry In South Asia. Research Question, Conceptual Framework And Background -- The Textiles And Readymade Garments Industry In South Asia: A Brief History And Re-emergence -- The Readymade Garment Sector In Bangladesh -- The Readymade Garment Sector In India -- The Readymade Garment Sector In Nepal -- The Readymade Garment Sector In Pakistan -- The Readymade Garment Sector In Sri Lanka -- Synthesis And Conclusion. Shahrukh Rafi Khan, With Diva Dhar [and Others]. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 171-179) And Index. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 List of Annexures......Page 10 List of Tables......Page 12 Preface......Page 14 Part I: Concepts and Background......Page 16 1 Research Question, Conceptual Framework, and Background......Page 18 2 The Textile and Readymade Garment Industry in South Asia: A Brief History and Reemergence......Page 40 Part II: Country Case Studies......Page 56 3 The Readymade Garment Sector in Bangladesh......Page 58 4 The Readymade Garment Sector in India......Page 72 5 The Readymade Garment Sector in Nepal......Page 98 6 The Readymade Garment Sector in Pakistan......Page 114 7 The Readymade Garments Sector in Sri Lanka......Page 134 Part III: Synthesis of Exporter Findings and Importer Survey......Page 150 Synthesis and Conclusion......Page 152 Appendix......Page 160 Notes......Page 168 References......Page 186 B......Page 196 E......Page 197 G......Page 198 I......Page 199 L......Page 200 N......Page 201 P......Page 202 S......Page 203 T......Page 204 W......Page 205 This book uses an analysis of the garment industry in South Asia to uphold the predictions of neo-classical economic trade theory, but suggest that there is little to learn from it about business, structural, and institutional practices or critical linkages and partnerships.