Economics

Economics • STORY OF THE DAY • 7 days ago • 11 min read

North Korea A great con?

By Robin Spiess, additional reporting by Veng Sonita • 7 days ago
US President Donald Trump believes North Korea’s beaches would make for great condos and real estate. But with missiles being tested and sanctions in place, will Southeast Asian investors take the plunge?

Economics • STORY OF THE DAY • Aug 07, 2019 • 14 min read

Microfinance institutions Left with nothing

By Paul Millar and Veng Sonita • Aug 07, 2019
With the backing of the world’s development agencies, Cambodia’s microfinance institutions stand accused of driving the nation’s most vulnerable ever deeper into debt – forcing them to sell off their land when the time comes to collect

Economics • STORY OF THE DAY • Aug 05, 2019 • 11 min read

Regional development Free from darkness

By Simon Roughneen • Aug 05, 2019
Last year, the fishing village of Kwangko in Indonesia’s remote east was finally connected to the national electricity supply. But to close the gap between east and west, the nation’s infrastructure has miles to go

Economics • STORY OF THE DAY • Aug 01, 2019 • 6 min read

Analysis Tired of winning

By Nguyen Khac Giang • Aug 01, 2019
Vietnam has emerged as a key winner of Trump's trade war. But a wrong move could see the nation earning nothing but enemies in its triumph

Economics • Jul 25, 2019 • 10 min read
Infrastructure funding

No tax, no spend

Southeast Asia’s governments have some of the world’s smallest tax takes, leaving the region struggling to pay for infrastructure and budget for health and education
By Simon Roughneen

Economics • Jun 27, 2019 • 15 min read
Analysis

Debt traps

Cambodians are sinking deep in debt to meet their basic needs. And with the Kingdom's financial sector so reliant on foreign investment, it won't take much for the house of cards to come crashing down
By David Hutt

Economics • May 22, 2019 • 8 min read
Belt and Road

How Cambodia can make the most of China’s millions

While Cambodia has benefitted hugely from the many projects funded by China’s Belt and Road Initiative in the Kingdom, it must ensure that it remains open to a wide range of foreign investment
By Robin Spiess

Economics • Dec 18, 2018 • 15 min read
Belt and Road

Operation Mekong

China is exercising a level of economic influence on the Mekong states not seen since the height of its imperial might
By Bernhard Zand

Economics • Dec 11, 2018 • 3 min read
World Bank

East Asian countries must adapt to match most developed nations

If countries across East Asia intend to sustain the growth of their economies, policy makers are going to need to accommodate a changing global and economic environment, according to a recent World Bank report
By Robin Spiess

Economics • Nov 12, 2018 • 17 min read
Cambodia's building blocks

Blood bricks

Cambodia's construction boom has demand for clay bricks climbing. But a transformation to Cambodia’s rural economy feeds some of the most vulnerable into the growing brick sector and its toxic debt bondage
By Janelle Retka and Leng Len

Economics • Oct 12, 2018 • 5 min read
Cambodia

Economy under fire from possible EBA loss

Marco Kalinna, managing director of Cosmos Services, a garment trade supplier in Phnom Penh, and board member of the German Business Group in Cambodia, talks about the European Union’s possible retraction of its Everything But Arms preferential trade agreement with Cambodia
By Tassilo Brinzer

Economics • Sep 10, 2018 • 18 min read
Cambodia's building blocks

How sand dredging bled a fishing community dry

After a decade of heavy sand dredging in the waterways of Cambodia's Koh Kong province, a fishing community once recognised for its rich ecosystem is struggling to fill its nets.
By Janelle Retka and Leng Len