Showing 1 - 10 of 167
Peace board price tag
Oped, Editorial, Published on 21/01/2026
» Thailand has received an invitation from US President Donald Trump to join his newly proposed "Board of Peace", an organisation ostensibly aimed at overseeing the reconstruction and peace process in Gaza following more than two years of devastating conflict.
Artists resist repression in Thailand, US
Oped, Sally Tyler, Published on 08/12/2025
» In late August, two seemingly unrelated events occurred in Thailand and the US. The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) altered a major exhibit it had recently opened and, a few weeks later, the comedian Jimmy Kimmel was temporarily taken off the air by the ABC television network. These events are linked as forms of artistic repression and perhaps more concerning, as examples of the growing use of intermediary censorship by authoritarian regimes.
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.
Litigating against Cambodia's leaders
Oped, Kantathi Suphamongkhon, Published on 03/09/2025
» Thailand has been considering prosecuting Hun Sen, the president of the Cambodian Senate, and his son, Hun Manet, the prime minister of Cambodia, in Thai domestic courts as well as at the International Criminal Court (ICC). I will explore and evaluate options. (For terminology consistency, this article will use the word "state" to mean a sovereign state or a country.)
Why is North Korea courting Russian tourists?
Oped, Saahil Menon, Published on 13/08/2025
» Hoping to replenish state coffers with much-needed foreign exchange reserves and offset the sharp post-Covid decline in Chinese tour groups, the Hermit Kingdom has set its sights on inquisitive holiday-makers from an ideologically aligned Russia.
Rethinking short rentals in Thailand
News, Wichayada Amponkitviwat & Khemmpat Trisadikoon, Published on 21/05/2025
» The global rebound in tourism after Covid-19 has driven a notable surge in short-term rentals (STRs) through online platforms. Offering travellers greater flexibility, STRs have become a popular alternative to traditional hotels, particularly in urban and tourist-heavy areas. In the European Union, their use has expanded rapidly, reflecting forecasts that predict continued growth fuelled by competitive pricing and evolving travel preferences.
Mobile operators need competition
News, Peter Cramton & Erik Bohlin, Published on 31/03/2025
» Thailand's mobile communications market has two service providers with an equal share of customers. In economic terms, it is a symmetric duopoly. This is the worst market structure because the two can easily discipline each other to limit competition: "I'll match any lower price you set; I'll limit 5G and 6G investment if you do." This reciprocity limits competition in price and quality, which helps the carriers' shareholders but harms consumers, especially in the long run, through slower innovation in a critical infrastructure industry.
The markets never sleep, should trading?
Tal Cohen, President of Nasdaq, Published on 11/03/2025
» Throughout history, financial markets have strived to keep pace with technological advancements and evolving industry needs. From the open-outcry trading pits of the past to today’s real-time, globally interconnected electronic markets, investors and industry participants have greatly benefited from the modernisation of markets.
What's happened to the Asian Century?
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 14/02/2025
» Until recently, the "Asian Century" seemed a compelling narrative but now it is not what it used to be. It was supposed to herald a shift in global economic power from the West to the East, driven by China's rapid rise, India's economic dynamism, and the broader development of Asia. But a quarter of the way into the 21st century, the promise of Asian dominance appears less certain. The enduring technological and economic might of the United States, coupled with its geopolitical backlash against China, has lowered expectations. While Asia remains formidable, the trajectory of global power is open and fluid, with potential dominance shifting not necessarily to any nation or region but perhaps to a non-state entity.