Showing 1 - 10 of 82
Our tariff-era dollar, your problem
Oped, Qiyuan Xu, Published on 04/02/2026
» In 2025, the dollar index, which measures the greenback's strength against a basket of major currencies, fell by roughly 9.4%. Over the same period, the United States' average effective tariff rate rose by around 14.4 percentage points, from 2.4% to 16.8%, according to the Yale Budget Lab. Taken together, these shifts imply that, in the import trade domain, the US experienced an effective exchange-rate depreciation of around 24%.
Speed confusion
Oped, Postbag, Published on 20/01/2026
» I am not sure if I am in the minority who now resorts to a mapping app with speed limit warnings to help monitor my speed when driving on Thailand's country roads to ensure I comply with the speed limit and avoid a fine.
Make use of MRC talks
Oped, Editorial, Published on 14/11/2025
» Thailand is set to host a meeting of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) in Chiang Rai from Nov 25-27. The choice of location couldn't be more appropriate -- for over a decade, local civic groups have been using the northern province as a base for their campaigns against major infrastructure projects, which they believe could harm the region's rivers.
Appeasing China won't help counter Trump
Oped, Brahma Chellaney, Published on 02/09/2025
» In 2020, China's stealth encroachments into India's Himalayan borderlands triggered deadly clashes and a prolonged military standoff that nearly erupted into war. Five years on, the border crisis remains largely unresolved, yet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is headed to China in an apparent effort to ease friction -- just when India is facing punishing tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.
Thailand still has chance to shine
Oped, Peerasit Kamnuansilpa, Published on 31/07/2025
» Thailand's economy is losing momentum. Growth rates have steadily declined, from 7.2% in 2012 to just 1.9% in 2023. Without a new vision for development, the country faces the real possibility of becoming stuck in permanent stagnation. The absence of bold leadership and structural reform has left Thailand vulnerable, while its regional peers -- Singapore, China, and South Korea -- surge ahead. These countries have demonstrated that visionary and compassionate leadership, combined with political reform and good governance, can transform the economic fortunes of an entire nation.
Cost, benefit of global value chain
Oped, Keun Lee and Isabel Álvarez, Published on 11/07/2025
» Geopolitics are a major driver of the deglobalisation now being spearheaded by the United States. But there are also economic arguments to be made for bringing supply chains closer to home. So, what are the economic costs of globalisation, and do they outweigh the benefits?
Why investing in people matters
Oped, Auliya Febriyanti, Rhea Oktaqiara & Zulfikar Yurnaidi, Published on 04/07/2025
» Asean is striving to enhance its competitiveness on the global stage and readiness for a transition under its Carbon Neutrality Strategy. However, Asean will not be well-positioned to become an important part of the global net-zero economy without a robust human capital development to produce skilled, educated, and healthy individuals to drive the energy transition. Human capital has been a central ingredient in economic development, as evidenced by the bloc's Human Capital Index -- which ranges from 0.5 to 0.8 -- which demonstrates a positive correlation with Gross Domestic Products (GDP) per capita.
BMA's sewer war begins
Oped, Editorial, Published on 24/06/2025
» Last week, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) closed down 46 food shops. Owners of these food businesses were found to be violating a municipal law, which requires them to install grease interceptors at their dishwashing basin systems.
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.
The essence of Thailand in one phrase
Oped, Philip J Cunningham, Published on 05/06/2025
» The glossy brochures tell you it's "The Land of Smiles" or maybe it's just "amazing". Slightly more sophisticated takes suggest the essence of Thailand can be found in its unique expressions of showing consideration to others in the context of a hierarchy.