Showing 1 - 10 of 72
Early education transforms lives
Oped, Justin van Fleet & Pia Rebello Britto, Published on 09/12/2025
» The leaders' declaration adopted at the end of the recent G20 summit in South Africa reaffirmed the group's commitment to tackling some of the world's most pressing challenges, from inequality and long-running conflicts to AI and climate change. It also marked a historic milestone: for the first time, the G20 identified education as one of its top global priorities.
Asean's moment of truth is now
Oped, Mari Elka Pangestu & Tan Sri Rebecca Fatimah Sta Maria, Published on 05/11/2025
» For decades, integration into the global trading system has been vital to economic growth and development. Now, however, integration implies vulnerability, as powerful actors -- beginning with the US -- wield tariffs, export restrictions, and financial sanctions. For Southeast Asia, this turn of events represents both a warning and a call to action: countries must work together to shape their own destiny or others will decide their fate for them.
SMEs need ecosystems, not donors
Oped, Chakorn Loetnithat, Yos Vajragupta & Tan Chaimadee, Published on 08/10/2025
» In today's fast-changing economy, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) matter more than in the past.
Floods 'a recurring nightmare'
Oped, George G van der Meulen & Chamniern Vorratnchaiphan, Published on 16/09/2025
» Thailand has faced floods for more than a century. Some years are worse than others, but the pattern is consistent. The catastrophic 2011 floods remain the most painful reminder: according to the World Bank, they caused US$46.5 billion (1.5 trillion baht) in economic losses, displaced 13 million people, and claimed approximately 800 lives. Much of the country's industrial heartland was submerged for months, severely impacting global supply chains.
Private equity: turning volatility into opportunity
Business, Kean Tan, Published on 16/09/2025
» Public markets are shrinking. The number of listed companies in the United States, for example, has declined by approximately 40% since the late 1990s. At the same time, companies are remaining private for longer, with the average time to an initial public offering (IPO) now exceeding 10 years.
The trade war that did not happen
Business, Kean Tan, Published on 21/08/2025
» Since US President Donald Trump declared "Liberation Day" on April 2, we have come a long way, gaining some understanding of the current trade negotiation dynamics.
The scramble for the world's critical minerals
Oped, Rabah Arezki & Rick van der Ploeg, Published on 07/08/2025
» The world's superpowers have developed a seemingly insatiable appetite for the critical minerals that are essential to the ongoing energy and digital transitions, including rare-earth metals (for semiconductors), cobalt (for batteries), and uranium (for nuclear reactors). The International Energy Agency forecasts that demand for these minerals will more than quadruple by 2040 for use in clean-energy technologies alone. But, in their race to control these vital resources, China, Europe, and the United States risk causing serious harm to the countries that possess them.
To go far, go EV
Business, Kean Tan, Published on 25/07/2025
» At the time of writing, the S&P 500 Index is trading at a fresh all-time-high, up 6.3% for the year to date after being down almost 18% at one point in early April. The 10-year US Treasury yield is around 4.3%, up from levels slightly below 4% in early April.
Mid-year outlook: Investing in a multi-polar world
Business, Kean Tan, Published on 19/06/2025
» May saw the best return for the S&P 500 index since November 2023, which is remarkable given that it coincided with a rise in long-term US Treasury yields. In fact, the yield on both 10- and 30-year Treasuries rose by almost 30 basis points in May, ending the month at 4.4% and 4.9%, respectively.
Stressed bonds call for market reform
Oped, Pasinee Rerkpiboon and Phumjit Sri-Udomkajorn, Published on 18/06/2025
» Not too long ago, Thai Airways was all but written off. After a staggering loss of more than 141 billion baht and a default on over 71 billion baht in bonds from mismanagement and the pandemic in 2020, the once-proud national airline seemed doomed.