Showing 1 - 10 of 33
Can 'Land Bridge' ignite growth?
Oped, Dai Kadomae, Published on 18/06/2025
» Thailand has long struggled to escape the middle-income trap. Despite its strategic location at the heart of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), the country continues to trail regional peers in GDP growth, capital market performance, and infrastructure competitiveness.
Will Myanmar's military plan succeed?
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 10/06/2025
» Following the recent devastating earthquake, Myanmar's military junta leaders are facing increasing pressure at home and abroad. Despite this, they are moving forward with their five-step plan, while still implementing the Asean peace plan. The most crucial part of their plan is to hold a general election between late December 2025 and early January 2026. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has already promised this to leaders from India, China, Russia, Belarus and Asean countries.
Is the 'middle-income trap' real?
Oped, Keun Lee, Published on 31/12/2024
» The term "middle-income trap" refers to the tendency of fast-growing developing economies to lose momentum well before they achieve high-income status. First introduced by World Bank economist Indermit Gill and the Brookings Institution's Homi Kharas in 2007, the concept has since become the subject of intense debate among economists.
South Korea's charter needs fixing
News, Yoon Young-kwan, Published on 30/12/2024
» The events that have unfolded in South Korea this month, beginning with President Yoon Suk-yeol's short-lived declaration of martial law on Dec 3, have underscored both the remarkable resilience and underlying fragility of the country's democracy. The system survived this time, but no democracy is safe if it constantly faces severe stress tests.
The high cost of Yoon's martial law
Oped, Takatoshi Ito, Published on 20/12/2024
» When South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol abruptly declared martial law late on Dec 3, claiming that it was necessary to enable him to eliminate "anti-state" forces, street protests erupted almost immediately.
Inside rightist YouTube world embraced by Yoon
News, Ju-min Park and Tom Bateman, Published on 17/12/2024
» When South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol cited claims of election hacking and "anti-state" pro-North Korean sympathisers as justification for imposing a short-lived martial law, right-wing YouTuber Ko Sung-kook had heard it before.
Going private in poorer countries
Oped, Titir Bhattacharya & Tanika Chakraborty, Published on 19/06/2024
» In recent years, governments in low- and middle-income countries have been experimenting with ways to alleviate the financial burden of high out-of-pocket costs for health care, which account for 40% of households' catastrophic health spending. To ensure universal access, they are gradually shifting away from public provision of health care to publicly funded insurance that covers treatment at private facilities.
Pakistan again lands itself in political strife
Oped, John J Metzler, Published on 17/02/2024
» Pakistan is politically on the brink again in the aftermath of fractious but inconclusive national parliamentary elections, which ended with a question mark hanging over this land of 241 million people like a political Damocles sword. Two former prime ministers, both bitter rivals and equally mired in alleged corruption, are vying for the top spot.
Thailand's path to inclusive growth
Oped, Peerasit Kamnuansilpa & Suradech Taweesaengsakulthai, Published on 07/02/2024
» Thailand's decision to implement a 10,000-baht Digital Wallet Scheme (DWS) marks a significant step in its ambition to bolster economic competitiveness and growth.