ABSTRACT
The progress from crude SR and NR to modern materials and goods tailored to market needs makes a fascinating story. The features of rubber development selected for consideration are its economic framework, political and social issues, technical change, market evolution, organizational structure and government intervention. Involves an intricate system ultimately driven by consumer needs, but much modified by other circumstances and constraints. The influences of political and social conditions have been continuous and central to rubber industry development. They are usefully considered under the two heads of international political events and politico-social strategies of governments. The feature of changing market arrangements has matched and often enabled the advance of rubber materials. Government intervention on revenue-raising grounds applies to all rubber industries. Demand for SR and NR has moved similarly to supply, which was indeed motivated by the former.
