India and the competitive advantage of its Retail Industry
PART A
A.1 INTODUCTION TO RETAIL INDUSTRY [Source: Economic times 2010]
The India Retail Industry is the largest among all the industries, accounting for over 10 per cent of the country’s GDP and around 8 per cent of the employment [source: Appendix-A]. The Retail Industry in India has come forth as one of the most dynamic and fast paced industries with several players entering the market. But all of them have not yet tasted success yet because of the huge competition. The India Retail Industry is gradually inching its way towards becoming the next boom industry.
A.2 INTRODUCTION TO B&Q
B&Q is a British retailer of DIY and home improvement tools and supplies. B&Q was founded in 1969 and is the largest DIY retailer in Europe, the largest in China and the third largest in the world, It is a subsidiary of the retail group Kingfisher plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. The store was originally called Block & Quayle, but this was soon shortened to B&Q. This first store soon spawned others across the UK; by 1979 there were 26. By this time, the first of the co-founders had left the business: Block left in 1976 and Quayle in 1982.
PART-B
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE OF INDIA
B.1 PORTERS DIAMOND
Michael E. Porter in his book the competitive advantage of nations argued that nations create competitive advantage over each other and that some nations are more competitive than others. He explained this in the diamond framework. PORTER, M. 1990 cited in JOHNSON, G. 2005.
Governments
Factor Conditions
Demand conditions
Firm Strategy, Structure and Rivalry
Related and supporting Industries
Source: – Michael E. Porter “The competitive advantage of nations” cited in JOHNSON, G. 2005.
Michael Porter in his book the competitive advantage of nations talks about ways and means to identify the advantages of a nation. Porter’s diamond considers four major factors which are the factor conditions, demand conditions, firm Strategy structure and related industries of countries to understand the competitive advantage of a nation. This basically helps B&Q understand the advantage of the Indian market in the retail industry.
To analyze in which way India has a competitive advantage the four factors below are looked into in detail.
Source: appendix AB.1.1 FACTOR CONDITIONS
These conditions are country specific and cannot be duplicated easily. This helps give the country a competitive advantage. These factors are not inherited but naturally created by the country. A study on these conditions will help in the identification of the advantage in the Factor conditions.
1] Huge population advantage which proves that the country will has a high level of human resources.
2] High number English graduates. India also has an added advantage of large pool of ever increasing technical graduates.
3] India has the 2nd largest English speaking population in the world.
4] Low infrastructural facilities.
5] India has a very strong banking sector.
Significance to B&Q
Source: appendix A
The factor conditions are very much in favor for B&Q to set up its operation in India. The huge population is very advantageous as it will create much employment opportunities in every area possibly required for B&Q. “Thousands of thousands of employees… are being hired in a really short space of time”, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5409252.stm…… These conditions also show a very favorable technical support. The strong banking sectors will b a tremendous support to the company.
B.1.2 DEMAND FACTOR
If the demand of the consumers in the country is high then the competition between the firms to come up with innovative ideas will be high. This improves the competitive factors within the country. Studying the Demand factor will help us understand the nature of home demand in India and how a business should set its priorities in accordance to the country. This is a very curtail analysis for a business to undertake before they enter into any country.
1] The Indian economy has a dominant service sector.
2] In India, the manufacture and retail sector is growing very fast. But when compared to the service sector it failed to an extent with regards to its percentage share in the total GDP.
Significance to B&Q
The government is very supportive to the service sector in India however it does not put down its support to the retail sector at al. The fast growing retail sector will give B&Q a huge competition which will end up creating gates for innovative ideas to keep up give the competition. All these factors will lead to the betterment of the company.
Source: appendix A
B.1.3 RELATED AND SUPPORTING INDUSTRIES
This is a very important component of porter’s diamond which will help improve innovativeness and technology transfer across industries.
1] India has a very well developed IT sector in support of many existing and new entrant businesses.
2] The related industries help provide a round the clock advantage. This is an added advantage to the retail industry.
Significance to B&Q
Source: appendix A
The IT sector is well developed creating a good support for B&Q for carrying out its operations in India. A strong support from the related and supporting industries will definitely help in the strong functioning of the company.
B.1.4 FIRM STRATEGY, STRUCTURE AND RIVALRY
This again is one of the most important components of the diamond it helps to understand the availability of suppliers and ancillary industries that are internationally competitive. This component also helps determine the attractiveness of the industry.
1] The Indian economic strategy is to give more preference to the manufacture a retail sector as their contribution to the GDP is very high but not as much compared to the service sector.
2] The pre existing dominance of the retail and manufacturing sector from a long time has increased the levels of competition in that sector.
3] Dominance of the private sector.
Significance to B&Q
A very strong reason for B&Q to set up its operations in India is that the government gives a lot of preference to the retail sector. The predominant existence of the private sector is adding in support to its operations starting in India hence also opening room for more innovation.
Source: appendix A
B.1.5 GOVERNMENT
Looking at the different governments the Indian government is very supportive toward the retail sector. The Chinese government is proactive in developing industries through direct intervention on the other hand the Indian government acts as a catalyst in supporting industries by providing the necessary environment for firms to grow. This actually shows that the government in India is much favorable.
B.2 CONCLUSION OF PORTER’S DIAMOND
All these factors show a major dominance of the service sector in India however the retail sector is also very promising as it has a really good support from the Indian government. All these four factors and the government conditions prove that India has the competitive advantage when it comes down to the retail sector hence it is suggestible for B&Q to set up in India.
PART- C
DETAILED ANALYSIS OF INDIA
C.1 PEST ANALYSIS
Source: appendix A
Porter’s diamond helped us have a clear understanding that there is a very good scope for B&Q to start its operations in India further in addition to this a pest analysis is conducted to understand and come to a conclusion of what can prove what additional factors would be beneficial for the company to operate in India and what could be the possible challenges for the company to operate in India. “Pest analysis shows some of the macro environmental influences that might affect the organization” JOHNSON, G. 2005.
POLITICAL FACTORS
Change in the taxation policy may affect the company.
A change in government may affect the policies related to the industry.
India has one of the largest democracies in the world which proves that it has a stable government.Â
Source: appendix A
Dominant private sector; increasing withdrawal of government from business.
ECONOMICAL FACTORS
Low significant investment in infrastructure development.
Robust banking sector-Capital markets
Source: appendix A
SOCIAL FACTORS
Huge population advantage with one of the largest producers of English speaking graduates.
Skilled work force at a cheaper cost.
Social corporate responsibility will have to be change for a company entering in India.
India also has an added advantage of large pool of ever increasing technical graduates
Source: appendix A
TECHNOLOGICAL FACTORS
Power related issues can be a major hindrance.
IT infrastructure is well developed only in certain major cities (which could be a support for B&Q).
Flexibility in deploying new technology.
Source: appendix A
After taking into consideration the detailed study from the pest analysis and also from the diamond analysis we can narrow down the attractiveness, benefits, and risks and challenges the company might face in India below.
C.2 ATTRACTIVENESS, RISKS, CHALLENGES AND DIFFICULTIES
RISKS AND POSSIBLE DIFFICULTES THE COMPANY MIGHT FACE.
There might be difficulties in rural retailing leading for the company as the products and price range seam more relevant to the higher middle class people and above.
Retail today has changed from selling a product or a service to selling a hope. This is one of the biggest challenges to stand up to the customers’ expectations all the time.
B&Q also has to keep in mind the initial capital and other finances cause many companies starting its operations have not yet tasted success because of the heavy initial investments that are required to break even with other companies and compete with them.
There will be a challenge of receivables if the products are not being accepted or rather standing up to the expectations of the new customers.
Brand building and marketing will be major challenges as the company is brand new in the Indian market.
Unexpected costs may arise because of the failure to analyze service and cost initially and also cause of the poor selection of the process of organizing work.
ATTRACTIVENESS, BENEFITS AND OPPORTUNITIES
The India Retail Industry is the largest among all the industries, accounting for over 10 per cent of the country’s GDP and around 8 per cent of the employment.
The Retail Industry in India has come forth as one of the most dynamic and fast paced industries with several players entering the market.
The cause of competition will help the company to give room to innovation hence giving B&Q the competitive edge.
India has cost efficient cheap and talented labor when compared hence giving the company better opportunities.
The establishment of the company will give rise to a lot of employment opportunities which India will need as it has a huge population.
PART-D
CONCLUSION
D.1RECOMMENDATIONS
Since the might be difficulties in rural retailing it is advisable for the company to actually start up its operations in some of the major cities.
Regular innovations in the products as the customers do have a very high expectation.
Since marketing of the new brand may be an issue the company might actually get in touch with a third party local advertising and marketing company to promote the name of the brand.
The use of modern management techniques, backed with seemingly unlimited financial resources will help cut down the unexpected costs.
Initially to gain sales the company can concentrate on the domestic market which helps create tremendous opportunity and hope for diversification, in turn de-risking the export heavy business.
The retail industry is facing a severe shortage of talented professionals, especially at the middle-management level. Hence giving proper training will help the company have a step ahead in the competition
D.2 CROSS CULTURAL MANAGEMENT
According to Lakomski, G.2005. “Culture is generally seen as a problem when emphases are placed on cross cultural differences.” In his book he says that problems on culture should be resolved as this may lead to a major downturn in the performance of a company. India is fast becoming one of the most important development centers for the retail industry. At the same time, India’s rapidly expanding middle class represents a promising new market. The entry of a foreign company into a new country can give rise to cross cultural issues. . Miscommunications due to language barriers, diverging visions, and different negotiation and management styles can lead to a loss or failure of the operations of B&Q in India. B&Q will have to take into consideration that these factors may have a huge impact on the performance of the company. Hence for the company to avoid all these problems in management it is very crucial for them to understand that culture plays an important role and hence their management techniques, management styles and management paradigm all have to be favorable in consideration towards the management culture of the operating country which in this case would be India.
PART-E
APPENDIX – A
Economic Superpowers:
The Race between China and India
Written By Swzta Chhaochharia, ICFAI Research Center, Kolkata
Ever since the process of giobalisation and liberalisation started in the beginning of the 90’s, the whole world was agog over the rise of China and India in the international economy. Both were the fastest growing economies – China at a spectacular 9% plus and India at slightly less, around 8-9%. Jointly, they accounted for 20% of the global economy based on purchasing power parity. Analysts worldwide had referred the rise of the two nationals as giants shaking off their “socialist slumber,” “caged tigers unshackled” and so on.
Rapid economic growth, globalisation, business ties and mounting political collaboration have pushed China to first place among the nations. China was the second highest investor in research and development after the United States in 2006. On the other hand, after the liberalisation, globalisation and privatisation wave in 1991, India had become an attractive business destination for investors all over the world. The joint potential of these two Asian giants was referred to as ‘Chindia’.
Ancient Pillars
India
India and China had a lot of economic history behind them. India had the world’s oldest and most sophisticated civilization, the Indus valley civilization, dating back to 2800 BC and 1800 BC. Thereafter under different dynasties the country had reach to global economic heights. According to Angus Maddison, an economic historian, India was the largest economy in the 1st century and 11th century, with a 32.9% share of the world GDP in the 1st century and 28.9% in 1000 CE. During the Mughal period (1526 – 1857), India was the second largest economy, only behind China. India’s GDP in 1550 was 40% that of China, but the share grew to 90% in 1675. Thereafter, till the British invasion, the country remained the second largest economy, followed by France.
The British ruled over India from 1765 to 1947. During that time, the country had a traditional agriculuture based economy along with a dominant subsistence sector based on primitive technology. But India had the world’s largest textile industry. With the establishment of britisf rule the drain of Indian wealth began. While the western economies (mainly Europe) were moving towards industrial revolution, India was in a technological blind alley, having made no serious scientific progress for centuries. In their two century rule the British obtained political supremacy and used the Indian economy according to their own needs. By the time the British left India, it was one of the poorest countries in the world, suffered from frequent famines, low life expectancies, pervasive malnutrition and illiteracy. This made India to move to the fourth place, while China became the largest economy followed by USA and UK. Thereafter, economic power in the world gradually shifted leaving India behind. (Exhibit I).
Exhibit I
Global Powers
Period
Counts ranked in decreasing order of Global Economic
Superiority
1625-1650
China, India, France
1650-1675
China, India, France
1675-1700
India, China, France
1700=’725
China, India, France
1725-1750
China, India, France
1750- 775
China, India, France
1775-182-
China, India, France
1825-1650
China, UK, India
‘,0-1875
China, USA, UK, India
1875-1900
USA, China, UK, Germany, India
1900-1925
USA, UK, China, France, Germany, India and the USSR
1925-1950
USA, USSR, UK, China, France, Germany and India
Compiled by the authors from (a) “Economic History of India”, http:llen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_history of India, (b)
Haig Bryan, “Review of ‘The World Economy: Historical Statistics,’ by Angus Maddison” Economic Record, volume 81, 2005
India became independent in 1947. After that, the country opted for planned economic development. The thrust was shifted from agriculture to heavy industries. The period from 1950 to 1980 was referred to as socialist experimentation, during which the economic policies were socially oriented and controlled by the state. The average economic growth rate of the country was 3.5%. (Exhibit II). In this period (1950-1980), industry grew by 4.5% on average, compared with an annual average of 3.0% for agriculture.” The economy witnessed a slowdown in the 1960s. Inefficient agricultural system, too much centrally controlled industrial sector, war with China (1962), war with Pakistan (1965 and 1971), droughts (1965-1966, 1971Â1972), currency devaluation (1966) and oil shocks (1973-1974), all contributed to economic stagnation.
Exhibit II
Indian GDP growth rate
Year
Source: “Indian Economy Overview”, http:llwww.economywatch.com/indianeconomy/indian-economy-overview.html
Starting from the late nineteen eighties and the beginning of the 1990s, the Indian policy makers realized that the state controlled economy was not able to produce desired results. It was decided that an economic policy should be formulated based on liberalization, globalisation and privatization. From 1980-1981 to 2003, economic growth of India averaged around 5.7%. Per capita income was growing at 3.6% annually, which was more than double the growth rate of 1.3% before 1980. On the demand side, private consumption increased to 4.7% per annum from 3.2% before the 1990s. Export growth reached to 9.5% from 3.8% in the socialist experimentation phase. Investment growth remained almost the same at 6.3% relative to 6.1% before 1980s. However, private fixed investment grew up to 8.5% from 3.6% in the socialist phase. However, the initial rise in demand in the beginning of the 1990s resulted in a subsequent supply side revolution with lot of investment in capacity augmentation. This had led to stagnation during the late 1990s, once this demand evaporated.
The Indian economy experienced a GDP growth of 9% during 2005-06 which increased to 9.4% during 2006-07. The Indian economy was projected to be about 60% the size of the US economy by 2025, the transformation into a tri-polar economy was estimated to be complete by 2035. Moreover, the Indian economy was smaller than the US economy, but larger than that of Western Europe. India, which was the fourth largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity, was expected to overtake Japan and become the third major economic power by 2020.Â
China
China was the largest economy on earth for most of the time in the world history. It was the second largest economy in the world after USA in 2006 in terms of purchasing power parity with a GDP of $10.21 trillion. The economic development of China pre-dated that of India. The earliest Chinese pottery dated back to the 9000 BC. Chinese agriculture was tracked back to 7000 BC. The Xia dynasty (2200-1750 BSE) was China’s earliest Dynasty. Thereafter, the economy continued to grow during the Shang dynasty (1766-1122 BC and the Zhou dynasty (1122-256 BC) and many other dynasties (Exhibit III). China remained the largest economy in the world till 1875.
Exhibit III
Historical Chronology of China
1500 BC
Earliest written records.
Zhou dynasty.
1100-221 BC
206 BC-221AD
Han Dynasty established. Civil service developed. Expansion of the Empire to Caspian Sea.
Paper and ink invented. Contact with the Romans.
221
Collapse of Han Dynasty. Age of confusion. North invaded by Tartars and China divided. Buddhism
618
introduced. Tartar invaders gradually absorbed. Population 53 million.
Tang Dynasty established. Reunited Empire.
1127
Song Dynasty Loses North China to nomad invasion.
1290
Song dynasty conquered by Mongols. Destruction and depopulation especially in the North.
1368
Expulsion of the Mongols. start of Ming Dynasty.
1644
Ming Dynasty falls and Manzhous establish Qing dynasty.
1842
Opium war (with Britain) lost. Treaty of Nanjing cedes Hong Kong to Britain. Russia moves into
1858
Chinese territories in the North.
War with Britain and Franca. Occupation of Beijing.
1894-5
ti
War with Japan.
1900
Failed Boxer Rebellion against foreign involvement in China.
1911
Revolution breaks out. The monarchy is abolished. A period of instability and warlordism ensues.
1’919
The student-based-May 4th movement leads protests against foreign control over Chinese affairs.
1921
The Communist Party of China (CCP) is formed.
1923
With help from the Soviet Union Sun Yat Sen sets up Kuomintang (KMT). Nationalist government in Guanzhou
?:
1925
Student protests in Shanghai. Protesters killed by international police.
1927
KMT army under Chiang Kai-Shek sets up KMT government in Nanjing. Communist-inspired rural revolt across South
1929-1935
-1935
Extermination campaigns by Chiang against Communists. Blockade of Jianxi Soviet (Mao’s Communist stronghold) Long March to break out of blockade.
f
ti
1937
Japan invades China. KWT and Communists retreat into interior in the face of Japanese superiority of arms, control of sea and air. CCP guerrilla resistance prompts brutal retaliation by Japanese. Increasing areas under CP control.
1945
Japanese surrender. China left divided between KMT in the South and East and Communists in the North.
1946
Civil war breaks out.
Source: Lunn Jon et al., “A Political and Economic Introduction to China”, www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2006/rpO6.036.pdf, June 19th 2006
Between 1368 and 1800 China’s economy expanded enormously. The key growth drivers as opined by most of the analysts was the steady compounding growth in China’s population. Although agriculture, industry and trade increased during this time, the benefit was because of the rising population which resulted in a stagnated per capita income. During the rule of the Song dynasty (1127-1368), the country developed the world’s most productive agricultural system. However, in 1368, the Mongol’s expulsion devastated many parts of the country. China regained its stability during the rule of the Ming Dynasty (1368Â-1644).
During the period (1300 – 1900), the agrarian economy developed significantly. New varieties of rice maize, peanuts, sweet and white potatoes and tobacco were introduced into the country from the outside world. Apart from food crops and tobacco, cotton was also introduced into China. Government assistance in the form of tax breaks, insurance, and other incentives, all joined with modern agricultural techniques to increase productivity.
The establishment of The Grand Canal in 1411 increased inter-regional trade within China. Different regions began to specialize in products in which they had comparative advantage. Increased commercialization and organizational changes helped the country to expand and organize its banking industry. However, the demand for copper, iron and silver exceeded domestic supply. More and more land was brought under cotton cultivation which resulted in a shortage of wood, fuel and grazing land. The resources needed to substitute the vast labour force and increasing per capita productivity were often not available. The vast cheap labour force of China often substituted their labour for capital goods. According to analysts, the scarcity of raw materials contrasted with its vast pool of cheap labour and was the major obstacle for the country’s qualitative development.
After the collapse of the Qing dynasty in 1911, civil war broke out (Annexure I), which lasted till 1949. The country then adopted a socialist heavy industry development strategy, which was known as the “Big Push” strategy. Rapid industrialization was the priority. Consumption was reduced. All those developments were under the state control. The Private Sector was suppressed. Foreign investments were wiped out. Mao Zedong initiated an ambitious project called The ‘Great Leap Forward’ (Annexure II) in 1958. This project kept the agriculture and industry as priority sector for development. Mao believed that both agriculture and industry had to grow in order to allow the other to grow, During this period, the Chinese economy initially grew but later plummeted. For example, the iron production in 1958 increased by 45% but later decreased in 1961. The ‘Great Leap Forward’ was criticised by numerous analysts all over the world as it resulted in a struggling China faced with famine, poor agriculture and weak economy. Later, Mao started the Cultural Revolution in 1966. However, this campaign was also criticized all over the world and came to end in 1976 with Mao’s death.
Since the 1970s, the Chinese economy has gradually transformed from a soviet-type centrally planned economy to a market-oriented economy. The private sector was encouraged. The economic reforms that started in China in the 1970s had helped to reduce the poverty rate down from 53% in 1981 to 8% in 2001. Government’s control of the economy was brought down to one third and was restricted to utilities, heavy industries and energy resources. Since the 1970s, the country was one of the fastest growing nations with an average annual GDP growth rate of above 10% (Exhibit V).
Exhibit V
People’s Repubic of China’s Nominal GDP 1952 to 2005
Source: “Economy of the People’s Republic of China”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of the People`/*27s Republic of China
Economic Reforms in China and India
India
Economic reform started in India in 1991 when the country faced a balance of payment crisis. The foreign exchange reserve fell to $975 million, which was not enough to pay for two weeks of imports. Since the reform period, the Indian economy had sustained an annual average growth rate of over 6%. Export growth was negative and the foreign investors shut their door to India. Industrial growth was negative (-1.6%) and inflation was 16%. GDP growth during this period was less than 1%.
The external sector was the main concern of the reforms undertaken. The exchange rate system was changed from a discretionary, basket pegged system to a market determined exchange rate system. Import licensing for capital goods, raw materials and intermediaries was abolished. Custom duties were reduced from 300% in 1991 to 30% in 2006. The artificially high exchange rates that discouraged exports were revised and as a result, the export growth rose. Foreign investment ceilings in many industries were increased to 51% of equity. Foreign participation in Indian equity market was encouraged through GDRs and ADRs which were floated by Indian companies.
In the case of Industry the requirements for obtaining licenses were abolished except for a few industries which were concerned with locational or environmental considerations. Private participation was allowed in power, telecoms, mining and airlines. In the capital market, firms were allowed to price their own equity. Earlier, this was controlled by the Office of The Controller of capital Issues. The mutual fund operators and Indian firms were allowed to raise funds from offshore markets. Private players were also allowed in the insurance sector. In the banking sector considerable autonomy in operation was allowed. Interest rates were de-regulated and foreign equity holding was encouraged. In the infrastructure sector, the major reforms were the establishment of The Telecomm Authority of India, the National Highway development projects and the private airlines/airports. The fruits of the reforms were apparent from the performance of the external sector in the first half of the 1990s. Exports grew by 20% in 1993-94 mush greater that the levels of the 1980s. During 1994-96 the industrial sector performed particularly well with annual growth of about 10%. This sound economic growth of the 1990s made India the sixth fastest growing country in the world. (Exhibit VI)
Exhibit VI
Growth trends for Medium and Large Countries
GDP
Per Capita GDP
Country
Growth
Rank
Growth
Rank
China
10.1
1
8.8
1
Korea (rep)
7.7
2
6.6
2
Thailand
7.1
3
5.7
3
Singapore
6.9
4
5.1
4
Ireland
5.3
10
4.9
5
India
6.0
6
4.1
6
Vietnam
6.2
5
4.1
7
Chile
5.6
9
4.0
8
Indonesia
5.7
8
3.9
9
Hong Kong
5.3
11
3.7
10
Malaysia
6.0
7
3.5
11
Source: Acharya Shankar et al. “Indian Economic Growth, 1950-2000”.
Openlib.org/home/ila/PDFDOCS/Shankar2002_gdn.pdf, July 29th 2003.
However, the spurt in economic revival was short lived as the reform measures lost their momentum after the mid 1990s because of the Asian crisis of 1997-8, and trade restrictions followed by the nuclear test (1998). This was closely followed by the oild price rise of 1999-2000. Industrial production therefore slowed as exports dropped to 5% in 1996-7 from around 20% in the previous three years. Industrial investment plummeted due to the decline in the real interest rate and sufficient capacity built ups on account of investment boom in the previous years. The growth in the agricultural sector reduce to 1.2% during the period. The service sector however witnessed a growth rate of 8.1%. The average growth rate of GDP was around 5.4% during the period 1997/8 to 2000/1.
The economy again turned back in 2004 when its GDP reached 8.5%, more than double the previous year. After this the economy grew steadily with a growth rate of more than 7% per annum. In the first half of 2006-07, the growth rate of the Indian economy accelerated to 9.1% and showed every sign of remaining well above 8% by the end of the year (Exhibit VII).
Exhibit VII
Sectoral Annual % Growth Rate in the Post Reform Period
Year End March 31st
1994
’95
’96
’97
’98
’99
2000
’01
’02
’03
’04
’05
’06
’07
GDP factor Cost
5.9
7.3
7.4
7.8
4.8
6.6
6.0
4.4
5.8
3.8
8.5
7.5
8.4
8.7
GDP per capita
3.6
5.2
5.2
6.0
3.0
4.8
4.8
2.5
3.8
2.1
6.6
5.9
6.7
7.0
Agricultural
4.1
5.0
-0.9
9.6
-2.4
7.1
0.5
6.2
6.2
10.0
0.7
3.9
2.0
Industry
5.2
10.2
11.7
7.0
4.3
3.4
5.3
6.3
2.7
2.7
7.6
8.6
8.7
10.2
Services
7.7
7.1
10.4
7.2
9.8
8.2
9.7
5.6
7.1
7.1
8.2
9.9
10.0
10.5
Manufacturing
8.5
12.0
14.9
9.7
1.5
2.5
4.4
7.8
2.5
2.5
7.1
8.1
9.0
10.9
Construction
0.6
5.5
6.7
1.7
10.2
6.1
8.2
6.1
4.0
4.0
10.9
12.5
12.1
11.2
Trade, hotels, transport & Comms
7.1
10.4
13.3
7.8
7.7
7.1
8.3
7.1
9.2
9.2
12.0
10.6
11.5
12.8
Finance, insurance, real estate & bus.
13.4
5.6
8.2
7.0
11.6
8.4
9.6
4.1
7.3
7.3
4.5
9.2
9.7
9.2
Community, social & personal services
3.5
3.2
7.9
6.3
11.7
9.9
12.1
4.7
4.0
1.0
5.4
9.2
7.8
7.3
China
China started its economic reforms in 1978. before that, the economy relied on a long term and centrally planned system. China started the reform by opening up its economy to the rest of the world and allowing farmers to sell their surplus crops on the open market. During that time, the country started up special economic zones, which included the Shanghai Pudong Zone, the dragonhead of the Chinese economy. The reform measures undertaken in the late 1980s and early 1990s focused on creating a pricing system and decreasing the role of the state in resource allocation. This resulted in a dual track pricing system, with more and more private participation. Ownership was diversified and many monopoly areas were opened to private and foreign participation.
The late 1990s reforms focused on closing the unprofitable enterprises and dealing with the banking system insolvency. The analysts believed that these reforms could lead to economic success in the country. It was estimated that in 2004, the GDP per capita in Shanghai was $6671, while that in the US was $1267. The GDP increased to $1.6 trillion in 2004, making China the sixth largest economy in the world. The GDP increased to $2.527 trillion in 2006, making China the fourth largest economy after the US, Japan and Germany. According to analysts, industrialisation, globalisation and the open market economy contributed to this growth.
China continued to attract foreign investments and by 2004, it became the largest FDI developing country. In 2006, the FDI in China reached $63 billion (Exhibit VIII). The overseas investment of the Chinese multinational was estimated to be about $16.1 billion, a 32% year on year growth.
Source: “China ahead in foreign direct investment “, http://www.oecdobserver.org/images//1036.photo.jpg, August 2003
Analysts opined that since the economic reforms started in China, the country’s economy had experienced drastic changes. In the past, all the important economic activities in China were controlled by the government. After the reforms, these roles were shifted to the private enterprises. Moreover, China’s accession to WTO in 2001 demanded more involvement of the private participation and local decision making rather than the central government involvement.
Diverse Approaches to Development
In China, the economic reforms resulted from conscious decision, but in India, they came out just in the course of action. The Chinese government nurtured and directed the economic activity more intensely than the Indian government. The government in China used to spend heavily on physical infrastructure and decide which company would receive government aids (it might not necessarily be the best one) and would be listed on stock exchange. The picture was different in India where since the mid-1980s, government intervention was declining. In case of foreign direct investment, India followed a more cautious approach compared to China.
Industry wise, the two countries differed in their growth approaches. On the high end spectrum of productivity in India, there was information technology, software and business process outsourcing. These sectors were kept outside the labour regulations, which directed the working hours and overtime. These sectors were also allowed to get foreign direct investment. As a result, the share of IT aid ITES (IT enabled services) in India’s FDI reached 15% by 2002. In the middle spectrum of productivity in India there was the auto industry on which the government had lifted its intervention since the liberalisation process started in the 1990s. Foreign investment in this sector was allowed, which resulted in more employment decreasing auto prices and higher output. In the lower spectrum, there was the consumer electronic sector. The picture is different in this segment, although foreign investment was allowed, government taxes, tariffs and regulations had made this sector uncompetitive in the international market. According to an estimate, employment in this sector was just 6% of US levels.
Exhibit VIII
FDI in China and the US. US$m
China also had some liberalized and internationally competitive companies including consumer electronics firms in which labour productivity was double that of India. Foreign direct investment and intense domestic competition had made the Chinese consumer electronic industry internally competitive since the 1980s. By 2004 the country was producing $60 billion worth of consumer electronic goods every year. In contrast to india’s deregulated auto industry, China’s auto industry was tightly controlled by the government. Although the industry was opened to foreign auto makers resulting in rising consumer demand and falling prices, it was suffering owing to certain restrictions on the foreign investors. They could invest only through joint ventures with the government and by buying components from the local suppliers, compromising both quality and price. Moreover, the tariff barriers shielded the market from importing. As a result, the productivity of these Chinese joint ventures was low when compared with their American or Japanese counterparts despite their low labour costs.
The Road Ahead
India and China in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century were significant participants in international trade. The British policy kept India open to more or less free foreign trade and investment until independence. China had been forced by the foreign powers to keep the treaty ports open for free trade, and this provided fairly open access to the inland markets. The nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were less successful economically for both the countries and both of them witnessed a fall in their living standards. The economic decline was more pronounced in China because of the continuous political instability associated with the domestic and international wars.
The disturbance in the normal economic life due to the Cultural Revolution had intensified the political crisis and underperformance in China. This made radical reform possible after the Death of Mao Zedong, in 1976. The concentration of power at the top of the Communist Party hierarchy made it clear that the views and qualities of individual leaders were important. In 1978, China opened up its economy to, the outside world after several years of incoherent policy of a closed economic system. Restrictions on FDI and barriers for the entry into the WTO were removed. China entered the WTO in 2001. China had moved from a closed economy to a more open economy by reducing average tariffs on all imports. On the other hand the Indian reforms realised that the Indian economy was not performing well. Moreover, there was the Chinese success story in front of India.
The Chinese economy has witnessed a growth rate of 9.67% since 1978. In 2006 it reached a staggering 10.7%. The analysts had no doubt about the potential of each country and their economies. China and India remained poor countries because of several structural and institutional problems. According to the World Bank, out of their 2.3bn people, nearly 1.5bn earn less than US$2 per day. Poverty reduction in China started in the mid 1980s with agricultural growth. Thereafter foreign trade and investment over the 1990s also had a poverty reducing effect. On the other hand, in India the rate of poverty reduction actually declined from that in the 1990s. In the area of world exports, India was still a minor player, contributing less than 1% whereas China’s share was about 6%.
Exhibit IX
China Vs India:
Exports of goods and services as % of world total
China was considered the manufacturing workshop of the world although the country’s share of world manufacturing services was below 9% (less than half that of US or Japan). Less than one fifth of the Chinese workforce was employed in manufacturing, mining or construction. Nearly 50% of the labour force in China was engaged in agriculture while the share in India was 60%.
In the banking sector, India’s performance was better than that of China. Capital was used inefficiently in China when compared to India. Bank return on assets were higher in India than China as Chinese banks were historically burdened with NPLs.
China Vs India
Banking Sector Performance
Health expenditure was also higher in China although when expressed as a share of GDP it was almost the same in both countries. In2001 China spent 5.5% of GDP on health whilst that of India was 5%. In other social indicators sych as life expectancy and infant mortality, India was lagging behind China.
The commercial and regulatory system differed slightly. According to The World Bank in India 71 days is the time required to start a business, in China the time is 48 days whilst Singapore, in contrast, the requirement is 8 days.
A sectorwise comparison between the two countries revealed that in the IT and ITES sectors, India would be leading China in both. However, China would dominate in the consumer electronics sector. In the Auto sector, India was driven by the low cost labour and engineering talent and competition whilst China was surpressed by a mountain of government regulation. Analysts suggested that that the authoritarian system in China would pose an economic liability for the country in the long run.
The consumer market in India was moving forward with the number of rich increasing and the number of destitute decreasing. China was also witnessing an improving living standard with disposable income gradually increasing. Disposable income increases were concentrated in the urban areas. India was in a better demographic position than China as the percentage of people aged 65 years or over was less in India.
China has a superior share of commodities except for Gold, Silver, Diamonds, tea and sugar markets. China was the world’s largest consumer of base metals and had a significant position for most of the agricultural products and energy. China with a population 20% higher than India’s, consumed around 6 to 20 times more than India. Energy consumption in China was 2 – 5 times as much as India. On the other hand, Gold consumption in India was the largest in the world accounting for 23% of world demand. India was the third largest diamond consumer after the US and Japan.
Analysts were undecided about which of the two countries would emerge as the stronger economic power. Economists suggested that the foundation of a robust and sustainable economic system should be built at the industry level, based on high productivity, which was possible only if the government provided a level playing field for the players and removed the barriers that stifle competition. The analysts, therefore, perceived ample opportunities were available to both countries.
Appendix 1
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was fought from 1927 to 1949. On one side were the Communists, who wanted to make China like the Soviet Union. They were backed by the Soviet Union, and they had the support of many poor people. On the other side were the Nationalists, who wanted to make China like the United States. They were also called the Guomindang. They were backed by the United States and the United Kingdom, and they had the support of the richer people and the Chinese who lived in cities. More than a million people died in the Chinese Civil War. The Communists were lead by Mao Zedong, and the Nationalists were lead by Chiang Kai-shek.
Sometimes the two groups stopped fighting and helped each other, One time this happened was when Japan Invaded China during World War II. But soon they started fighting again. Eventually, in 1949, the Communists chased the Nationalists out of the biggest part of China, the mainland. The Nationalists came to an island called Taiwan, and stayed there. Mao named China the People’s Republic of China and he became its leader until he died in 1976. Today, the two sides still do not like each other, but they aren’t fighting any more,
Source: “Chinese Civil War”, http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_civil _war
Appendix 2
Great Leap Forward
The Great Leap Forward was the name given to the Second Five Year Plan which was scheduled to run from 1958-1963, though the name is now generally limited to the first three years of this period. The Central idea behind the leap was that rapid development of China’s agricultural and industrial sectors should take place in parallel. The hope was to industrialise by making use of the massive supply of cheap labour and avoid having to import heavy machinery. Substantial effort was expended during the Great Leap Forward on a large scale but often poorly planned capital construction projects, such as irrigation works often built without input from trained engineers. A number of radical and controversial agricultural innovations were promoted. However, in 1959, things started to go wrong. Political decisions took precedence over commonsense and communes faced the task of doing things which they were incapable of achieving. Quickly produced farm machinery produced in factories fell to pieces when used. Many thousands of workers were injured. Steel produced by the backyard furnaces was frequently too weak to be of any use and could not bee used in construction. Buildings constructed, did not last long. Floods and draughts caused starvation. Between 1959 to 1962 around 20 million people died of starvation and diseases related to starvation.
Case Questions:
1.            China and India have followed radically different approaches to economic development. Do you agree? Substantiate your opinion.
2.           Undertake a comparative analysis of the economic development of China and India. You may use outside sources.
3.       Identify and compare the country attractiveness of China and India to foreign investment
4.      Suggest a business and which country should they approach, why?
REFRENCES
Gabriele, L. 2005. Managing without leadership: towards a theory of organizational functioning, London: Elseiver Limited
Indian firms facing talent crunch, [www] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5409252.stm 11th October, 2006 [Accessed on 7th August, 2010]
JOHNSON, G. 2005. Exploring Corporate Strategy. 7th edn. England: Pearson Education Limited.
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