ARTICLES

29 May 2025

Thailand Should Not Rush to Be a Service-based Economy

Wannaphong Durongkaveroj

The quest for new growth drivers should focus on upgrading manufacturing which will, in tandem, boost services.

21 Feb 2025

US Suspension of Foreign Aid: Will China Fill the Void?

Hoang Thi Ha|Cha Hae Won

As the US shuts down its supply of foreign assistance, some Southeast Asian countries are looking at China to fill the gap. But given China’s different approach to aid, it cannot step in as a direct substitute for America.

ASEAN-China Relations ASEAN-U.S. Relations Economic Development Foreign Aid

17 Jan 2025

Myanmar’s Silent Disease: How Everyday Bribery Fuels Autocratic Control

Su Mon Thazin Aung

Entrenched corruption has infected the body politic of Myanmar under the military regime, especially since the February 2021 coup. Even regime change may not cure this cancer.

Corruption Economic Development Myanmar

10 Oct 2024

The DEFA Treads a Fine Line to be Successful in Driving Digital Services Trade in ASEAN

Kristina Fong Siew Leng

Kristina Fong analyses the tough navigation between safeguards and digital enablers in the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement negotiations.

ASEAN ASEANFocus Digital Economy Framework Agreement Digitalisation Economic Development

12 Aug 2024

Southeast Asia and Three “Invisible” Preconditions in the New Era of Industrial Policies

Marco Kamiya|Carlos López-Gómez|Mateus Labrunie

Marco Kamiya, Carlos López-Gómez and Mateus Labrunie emphasise the need for ASEAN countries to strengthen their technology absorption capacity, standards systems, and innovation ecosystems.

ASEAN ASEANFocus Economic Development Industry 4.0

12 Jul 2024

Timor Leste’s First Quarter Century: Opportunities and Challenges

Hal Hill|Brett Inder

Having enjoyed 25 years as an independent entity, Timor Leste has a lot to celebrate. But there are major economic challenges.

Economic Development Timor-Leste

25 Jun 2024

Policies to Increase the Inclusiveness, Resilience and Sustainability of Economic Growth in Cambodia

Jayant Menon

To realise its aspirations to become an upper middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050, Cambodia has to pursue inclusive growth that is also sustainable and resilient.

Cambodia Cambodian Economy Economic Development Economic Planning

14 Jun 2024

The Impacts of Supply Chain Reconfiguration on ASEAN Economies

Aufa Doarest|Maria Monica Wihardja

An examination of recent trade and FDI flows shows that ASEAN has been benefitting from the reconfiguration of global supply chains as a result of intensifying US-China strategic rivalry. But these gains could well be reversed if the US-China intensifies and leads to a sharp decoupling of global supply chains.

ASEAN China China-U.S. Relations Economic Development Technology U.S.

29 May 2024

Southeast Asia’s Growth Strategies: Business-As-Usual, “Degrowth”, or a Third Way?

Vinod Thomas

In the face of climate change, Southeast Asian countries could choose between three growth strategies. Business as usual ignores environmental concerns, degrowth risks high social costs. A third path of truly sustainable growth presents the best option.

Economic Development Environment Southeast Asia