Showing 11 - 20 of 100
India's great employment challenge
News, Published on 22/01/2024
» India seems to be a favourite growth story nowadays. Despite valid concerns about the accuracy of official statistics, the economy is projected to expand by 6.3% in 2024 -- an undeniably remarkable feat given that its GDP exceeds $4.1 trillion. While it remains a lower-middle-income country with a per capita income under US$3,000 (106,500 baht), its rapid growth suggests that its economic potential may be greater than expected. But any optimism about economic prospects must be tempered by its inability to address two challenges. The first is the unequal distribution of the benefits of rapid economic growth, which have accrued predominantly to the top 10–20% of income earners.
Tackling populism at its roots
News, Published on 10/01/2024
» As Western democracies become increasingly polarised, rural and small-town voters are regularly pitted against their counterparts in larger urban centres. While this is not a new phenomenon -- and certainly not the only factor affecting voting patterns -- the rural-urban divide is a significant driver of today's culture wars. This dynamic, which economist Andres Rodriguez-Pose evocatively described as the "revenge of the places that don't matter", suggests that the ongoing populist surge largely reflects geographic disparities.
Street vendors need space to make a living
News, Published on 16/11/2023
» A wave of evictions recently hit Dakar's bustling Liberté 6 market, a roughly 1.6-kilometre-long commercial hub that has served its community for more than 20 years. Hundreds of street vendors' stalls were bulldozed to make way for a new bus system. Authorities gave prior notice and an indemnity to help with the loss of business, but did not address the real problem: the lack of trading space.
Heat's rising for Thailand to go green
Oped, Somkiat Tangkitvanich, Published on 08/11/2023
» The world is boiling hot, not simply warming. Therefore, Thailand's response must extend beyond planting trees and carbon credit sales. To weather humanity's greatest crisis and safeguard our economy, we must transform into a low-carbon society and economy.
Should fiscal policy resemble private budgets?
News, Koichi Hamada, Published on 06/11/2023
» Every few months this year, the US government appears on the verge of shutting down. It happened in May, when congressional Republicans initially refused to raise the debt ceiling, and in September, when Congress managed to avert a last-minute shutdown by passing a stopgap bill to keep the federal government open until Nov 17.
What pandemic preparedness would look like
Oped, Published on 06/10/2023
» Humanity was caught off guard by the Covid-19 pandemic, even though we had effectively been warned by smaller-scale outbreaks -- of Sars, Ebola, Mers and avian flu -- for decades.
New Khmer chapter opens
News, Editorial, Published on 02/10/2023
» Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's recent visit to Cambodia marks a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries -- a relationship historically characterised with border conflicts and armed disputes.
Inequality rising and democracy under seige
Oped, Published on 09/09/2023
» There has been much handwringing about the retreat of democracy and the rise of authoritarianism in recent years -- and for good reason. From Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and former US president Donald Trump, we have a growing list of authoritarians and would-be autocrats who channel a curious form of right-wing populism. Though they promise to protect ordinary citizens and preserve longstanding national values, they pursue policies that protect the powerful and trash longstanding norms -- and leave the rest of us trying to explain their appeal.
Pheu Thai's cash handouts a likely flop
Oped, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 24/08/2023
» The title of this article says it all. Pheu Thai Party's flagship economic stimulus policy of handing out 10,000 baht to all Thais aged above 16 years old, with an estimated cost of 560 billion baht, will most likely fail to stimulate (or jump-start) the economy from the recent economic slump.
Deepening of Thai-US economic links
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 22/08/2023
» During the last three months of the caretaker government, there have been unexpected and extraordinary movements in Thailand-US relations, both here and in Washington. Several key American lawmakers have visited Bangkok and pledged further US support for stronger economic and security relations with Thailand. In Washington, a group of bipartisan senators has set up the "US-Thai Alliance Caucus" in Congress.