Showing 1 - 10 of 459
Securing the Mekong's water future
Oped, Published on 18/09/2024
» Today, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and Mekong River Commission (MRC) kick off a second round of talks about water security.
Asia's consumer tipping point
Oped, Published on 17/09/2024
» With market turmoil recently capturing headlines, it is easy to lose sight of the long-term forces which have been shaping Asia's development. While Asian markets, especially the Nikkei, experienced sharp losses in recent weeks, a positive tipping point has been reached as well: for the first time ever, over half of Asia's 4.8 billion people are part of the global consumer class, defined by the World Data Lab as those spending more than US$12 (400 baht) per day in purchasing power parity prices.
Economic might and Olympic performance
Oped, Published on 27/08/2024
» Why do certain countries dominate the Olympics? The answer may lie in the correlation between athletic performance and GDP. The 2024 Paris Olympic Games were a case in point: the top seven medal winners -- the United States, China, Japan, Australia, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom -- are all among the world's 20 largest economies.
Q2 GDP growth may be misleading
News, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 22/08/2024
» I eagerly awaited the release of the Q2/2024 GDP growth figure which became available on Monday. The 2.3% growth figure, presented by the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), did not surprise me. A friend had warned me that the quarterly growth could be as high as 2.5%, even though my estimation for the quarter was only 1.0%.
Capital idea, Indonesia. Now for some reality
News, Daniel Moss, Published on 21/08/2024
» Capital cities don't just happen. They develop slowly over decades, perhaps centuries, before resembling their creator's dream -- if they ever do. Indonesia is discovering such massive endeavours are hard work and prone to delays. Economics has an annoying habit of intruding.
The US dollar is a problem for everyone
Oped, Published on 20/08/2024
» In 1971, US Treasury Secretary John Connally famously told his counterparts in the G10 that "the dollar is our currency, but it's your problem". Connally was being unexpectedly candid about the fact that, even though the greenback was the world's main reserve currency, its foremost purpose was to advance US interests.
France's West Sahara move a 'thunderclap'
Oped, Published on 08/08/2024
» In what's described as a thunderclap in French North African policy, the Paris government recognised Morocco's sovereignty over the long disputed Western Sahara, a region long contested by rival Algeria and a lingering subject of endless United Nations deliberations.
Digital wallet tokens could hit scheme
Oped, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 08/08/2024
» I bet the government never thought of this when they thought of the Digital Wallet scheme. It probably does not make sense to it that there could be millions of people shunning pseudo money, namely Digital Wallet Tokens (DWTs). Perhaps, in the government's mind, a DWT is almost on a par with genuine money -- fiat money.
Thai-Korea ties: From K-pop to policy
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 06/08/2024
» Thai singer Lalisa "Lisa" Manobal, a member of the phenomenal yet now defunct Blackpink, epitomises the modern Thai-South Korean relationship thanks to her popularity and global appeal.
Monitor the wallet scheme
Oped, Editorial, Published on 03/08/2024
» The wait is over. The Srettha government finally launched the long-awaited digital wallet scheme on Thursday. This costly cash handout is the flagship policy of the Pheu Thai Party from the 2023 general election. The scheme will put 450 billion baht of digital cash into the hands of over 40 million eligible recipients, with the hope that they will buy local goods, spurring grassroots trade and investment.