The Fifth Plan (1982-1986), with problems spilling over from the Fourth Plan period, emphasized growth with stability, an area-targeting approach, restoring financial stability and maintaining “creditability” in the international financial markets, and restructuring the economy. At the early stage of the Plan period, the external economic conditions were depressed and the global economy did not recover as many had anticipated it would. In response, the government implemented strict fiscal austerity measures while developing measures to smooth out the debt profile (through refinancing and currency swaps) (Abonyi and Bunyaraks 1989, 37). The austerity policy resulted in the delay of a number of capital-intensive projects, including a number of projects under the Eastern Seaboard Development Program. However, other less capital-intensive projects, including the Rural Poverty Alleviation Program, were less affected or not affected at all.