ARTICLES

28 Nov 2023

Time to Collect: The SAC’s Actions Come to Bite Myanmar’s Economy

Romain Caillaud

Myanmar’s civil war is showing up the clumsiness of the junta’s economic policies. The poorest households and workers will be the hardest hit.

A woman smiles after she received a bag of rice distributed by the World Food Programme (WFP) as part of food aid efforts to support residents living in poor communities on the outskirts of Yangon. Myanmar's economy and banking system have been paralysed since the military's power-grab in early February, leading to disaster for millions of people who the World Food Programme has warned could go hungry in the coming months. (Photo by AFP / STR / MYANMAR-COUP-POLITICS-FOOD, FOCUS)

3 Nov 2023

Saving Myanmar’s Post-coup Economy: Strategic and Pragmatic Solutions

Aung Tun

Myanmar’s State Administration Council (SAC) regime has been unable to stem continuous economic woes since the February 2021 coup. However, the situation calls for balanced approach of supporting the democratic movement while advocating for policies that ameliorate the economic condition of Myanmar households.

Myanmar Myanmar Economy Myanmar Politics

22 Sep 2022

Searching for Keys as the Kyat Goes Out of Kilter

Khine Win

The Central Bank of Myanmar's responses have failed to prevent rapid currency depreciation or alleviate the balance of payment situation, which has worsened due to increased capital outflows and decreased foreign direct investment. The stoppage of foreign loans and donations has also compounded Myanmar's fiscal troubles.

Myanmar Myanmar Economy Myanmar Military

8 Jun 2022

Brother Can You Spare a Kyat? Currency Woes in Myanmar

Ye Khaung Oo

The Central Bank of Myanmar has miscalculated badly in inadvertently creating the conditions for a more unstable economy with its latest announcements.

Myanmar Economy Myanmar Military Myanmar Politics

1 Apr 2022

Myanmar’s Post-coup Electricity Woes: Stalled Power Plans, Shattered Public Trust

Khine Win

Two years ago, and even a year ago in the aftermath of the 1 February 2021 coup, Yangon was not suffering severe blackouts. While there were sporadic electricity cuts for a few hours a day in some of its townships, electricity supply was more stable and predictable than ten or fifteen years earlier. This experience has left city dwellers wondering what accounts for the severe power cuts now.

Myanmar Myanmar Economy Myanmar Military

23 Mar 2022

Myanmar Returns to Import Substitution: Primed to Fail

Khine Win

The State Administration Council has initiated a raft of import substitution policies in an attempt to support domestic industralisation. This approach was tried in the past – and failed.

Myanmar Myanmar Economy Myanmar Military

26 Jan 2022

Myanmar’s New Political Economy Takes Shape

Romain Caillaud

Nearly a year after the military coup in Myanmar, a new political economy is emerging, even as the economy tanks and the human rights context worsens.

Myanmar Myanmar Economy Myanmar Military Myanmar Politics

27 Dec 2021

Myanmar’s Climate Crisis: Damaging Policies Need Reversal

Aung Tun

Myanmar’s looming climate crisis has been exacerbated post-coup, with the suspension of several important climate projects and the refocusing of Myanmar’s economy on extractive industries.

Climate Change Myanmar Myanmar Economy Myanmar Politics Sustainable Development

16 Dec 2021

A Bumpy Road Ahead for Myanmar’s Economy

Khine Win

Myanmar’s State Administration Council has stressed its ability to stabilise and revive the country’s economy. There are five reasons why the SAC’s confidence is misplaced.

Myanmar Myanmar Economy Myanmar Politics

29 Nov 2021

Myanmar’s Infrastructure Development: A Dire Future

Khine Win

Myanmar has gnawing gaps in its infrastructure development which will affect its economic development in the years to come. To compound matters, the issue is not a priority for the State Administration Council.

Myanmar Myanmar Economy Myanmar Military Myanmar Politics