Economics

Economics • STORY OF THE DAY • Sep 11, 2019 • 14 min read

Australia and ASEAN Drawing a line

By Simon Roughneen • Sep 11, 2019
Australia’s attempts to move closer to Southeast Asia have met with limited success so far, but are likely to become more urgent as the China-US rivalry intensifies

Economics • STORY OF THE DAY • Aug 27, 2019 • 11 min read

Vietnam economy Winning the battle, losing the war?

By Simon Roughneen • Aug 27, 2019
Trade-oriented Vietnam has benefitted from the US-China stand-off, pulling in more investment. But growing exports are dominated by a few big foreign players, leaving Vietnam vulnerable to global market swings

Economics • STORY OF THE DAY • Aug 19, 2019 • 11 min read

North Korea A great con?

By Robin Spiess, additional reporting by Veng Sonita • Aug 19, 2019
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 • Aug 05, 2019 • 11 min read
Regional development

Free from darkness

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
By Simon Roughneen

Economics • Aug 01, 2019 • 6 min read
Analysis

Tired of winning

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
By Nguyen Khac Giang

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