Showing 1 - 10 of 42
When does inflation stop?
Asia focus, Koichi Hamada, Published on 30/05/2022
» Until a few years ago, major economies were struggling to achieve even mild inflation, with policymakers in the United States, the United Kingdom and the euro zone struggling to meet their targets of 2% annual price growth.
Making Japan productive again
Asia focus, Koichi Hamada, Published on 11/04/2022
» When I was teaching at the University of Tokyo in the 1970s, my daily commute lasted three and a half hours. But, one day, it threatened to last twice as long: with labour strikes having shut down public transport, my only option was a much longer route using private trains and subways.
China's two traps
Asia focus, Keun Lee in Seoul, Published on 21/03/2022
» When Deng Xiaoping launched China's strategy of "reform and opening up" in 1978, economists in the West had their doubts. In their view, a vibrant market economy was fundamentally incompatible with China's authoritarian political system.
The power and poison of modern monetary theory
Asia focus, Koichi Hamada, Published on 24/01/2022
» When Democratic Senator Joe Manchin announced that he would not support the Build Back Better Act -- effectively dooming US President Joe Biden's signature legislative initiative -- he cited America's "staggering debt".
Asia's climate optimism
Asia focus, Christine Loh, Pamela Mar, Peter Seligmann and Lin Xu in Hong Kong, Published on 22/02/2021
» Optimism is in the air in Asia, where the new Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership has brightened prospects for a post-pandemic recovery and a revival of multilateralism. Even more promising, there is growing regional agreement on the need to address climate change.
A more humane post-pandemic social contract
Asia focus, Koichi Hamada, Published on 20/07/2020
» Never have the complexities of the relationship between human health and economic wellbeing been more apparent than during the Covid-19 crisis. How can we enforce life-saving social-distancing rules without destroying livelihoods? Why are some groups suffering so much more than others, both clinically and economically? What are those who face lower risks willing to sacrifice for the common good?
Transport minister has plans for new vote-catching airports in South
Critics say move is to boost Bhumjaithai favour in South, Published on 17/10/2019
» Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob has plans to spend about 8 billion baht building two new airports in the South, in Phatthalung and Satun, as public-private investment ventures.
China is committed to multilateralism
Asia focus, Xizhou Zhou in Beijing, Published on 23/09/2019
» In recent years, China's lead role in establishing new multilateral institutions -- including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the New Development Bank -- has raised fears that the government aims to topple the existing world order. This interpretation misses a crucial point: China has benefited immensely from and continues to participate actively in -- and even ardently defend -- that very order.
Universal health coverage lessons from Vietnam
Asia focus, Jörg Reinhardt in Zurich, Published on 05/08/2019
» Virtually every country worldwide has committed to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030, as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. But some countries are progressing much faster than others in delivering equitable access not only to health services, but also to affordable medicines and vaccines. Among those leading the pack is Vietnam.
Indo-Pakistani marriages uncoupled by politics
Asia focus, Narendra Kaushik in New Delhi, Published on 29/07/2019
» Parakram Singh Bhatti, a 23-year-old Indian man, married his Pakistani bride Primal Kaur Sodha, 22, on Jan 25 this year. Mr Bhatti and his family travelled by Thar Express train to Pakistan for the marriage, which was solemnised three days after Mr Bhatti's brother, Ompal Singh, wed Kiran Kaur, a cousin of Ms Primal.