Changes in the energy economy of Thailand, Hong Kong and S. Korea, 1961-1975 and their implications

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5700227

Chow, L C

This analysis attempts to see how energy consumption changed in relation to rapid economic development and vast structural changes in the countries' economies. This paves the way for the analysis of the impact of the oil crisis of 1973-1974 on their economies with an eye to ascertaining whether the effect was as disastrous as claimed by so many writers. A final chapter extends the analysis to cover the other LDCs as a group, treating them in roughly the same fashion as the country studies. The method of study is essentially descriptive and analytical, with some application of basic mathematical techniques. Principal statistical sources are obtained from UN and national publications with updating by referring to journals and newspapers. The analysis shows that the three selected countries experienced extremely rapid growth in energy consumption, electricity demand and national output during the period under study, with increasing electrification and a rising dependence upon oil for their energy supply. Their energy elasticity during the first half of the 1970s declined vis-a-vis that of the 1960s. They all weathered the financial storm stirred up by the oil crisis fairly successfully, with chances for future economic development only slightly marred by rising energy prices. The other LDCs also experienced a decline in their energy elasticities in the 1970s, and muddled through the oil crisis relatively unscathed. There are reasons to believe that the oil price explosion hurt the DCs more than the LDCs.

• OSTI ID: 5700227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
298000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Consumption & Utilization
ASIA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC ELASTICITY
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY SHORTAGES
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HONG KONG
PETROLEUM
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
SHORTAGES
THAILAND