The formation of regional production networks (RPNs) is one of the most important drivers of growth in East and Southeast Asia. In view of slowdown in growth and even recession in advanced economies as a result of the adverse impact of the global financial crisis of 2008 and the ongoing European...

As the economy moves from lower to higher stages of development, there occurs a shift from simpler to more modern and complicated techniques of production on the one hand and from primary to secondary and/or to tertiary sectors on the other. The excess growth of tertiary sector coupled with...