Economics

Economics • STORY OF THE DAY • Nov 19, 2020 • 3 min read

RCEP Xi touts China’s huge economy as base of free trade in APEC speech

By Agence France-Presse • Nov 19, 2020
Following the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, President Xi Jinping pegged China as the pivot point for global free trade, vowing to keep his "super-sized" economy open and warning against protectionism in a global economy eviscerated by Covid-19

Economics • STORY OF THE DAY • Nov 13, 2020 • 5 min read

Opinion Malaysia’s “Stand United” budget heading into testy debate

By Kevin Zhang and Dr Lee Hwok-Aun • Nov 13, 2020
Malaysia’s 2021 budget, labelled the “Stand United, We Shall Prevail” budget, strikes a conciliatory tone, but it will face some vigorous debate when it reaches parliament

Economics • STORY OF THE DAY • Nov 12, 2020 • 4 min read

ASEAN Huge China-backed trade pact to be signed at Southeast Asian summit

By Alice Philipson and Martin Abbugao/AFP • Nov 12, 2020
The world's largest trade pact is set to be signed today the 37th ASEAN summit in Hanoi. The Chinese-led pact, seen a major coup boosting Beijing's influence in the region, will loop in 10 Southeast Asian economies

Economics • STORY OF THE DAY • Nov 12, 2020 • 3 min read

Podcast The Anakut podcast: Beyond aid and the future of foreign money

By Andrew Haffner • Nov 12, 2020
A reliance on development assistance has been a feature of the post-war Cambodian economy. But as the Kingdom moves towards upper middle-income status, should foreign investment replace foreign aid? Author Dr Ear Sophal joins Andrew in the booth to discuss

Economics • Nov 05, 2020 • 3 min read
Covid-19

Indonesia tumbles into first recession for two decades

Indonesia's virus-hit economy plunged into its first recession since the Asian financial crisis more than two decades ago, as the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on Southeast Asia's hardest hit nation
By Agence France-Presse • Nov 05, 2020

Economics • Nov 05, 2020 • 3 min read
Podcast

The Anakut podcast: Leapfrogging and the future of work in Cambodia

In episode five, we talk leapfrogging. Not the children’s game, but the idea that developing states can skip old tech to get up to speed with the latest and greatest. To learn more, we spoke to Kem Bora of investment group Mekong Strategic Partners, and Manu Rajan, CEO of digital money transfer service Wing
By Andrew Haffner • Nov 05, 2020

Economics • Oct 13, 2020 • 9 min read
Analysis

Jokowi and the oligarchs: Indonesia’s elite set to win from Omnibus Bill

Protests and riots erupted across Indonesia last week as the Jokowi administration pushed through its controversial Omnibus Bill, a move that many believe exposes the close ties between government and big business in Indonesia
By Stania Puspa • Oct 13, 2020

Economics • Aug 17, 2020 • 2 min read
Thai economy

Thailand’s economy shrinks most in more than 20 years

Thailand's economic growth contracted by 12.2% in the second quarter of the year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the steepest drop for the tourism-driven economy since the 1998 Asian Financial Crisis
By Agence France-Presse • Aug 17, 2020

Economics • Aug 14, 2020 • 7 min read
Cambodia in Quarantine

Reading between the data

Wrapping up a week of delving into the four pillars of the Cambodian economy – garments, agriculture, construction and tourism – Globe editor Andrew Haffner offers reflections on the findings and process behind the series
By Andrew Haffner • Aug 14, 2020

Economics • Aug 13, 2020 • 14 min read
Cambodia in Quarantine

Holidays on hold

Tourists have clamoured to see the sights of Cambodia and, for years, business has moved to meet demand. But the sudden collapse of the global travel industry has brought an end to the party, with once-bustling towns like Siem Reap now lying dormant
By Andrew Haffner • Aug 13, 2020

Economics • Aug 12, 2020 • 13 min read
Cambodia in Quarantine

Hanging up the hard hat

With no building in Phnom Penh higher than four storeys only 20 years ago, Cambodia's capital and many provincial cities have seen explosive development. But with the hard hats hung up on many smaller projects in recent months, how sustainable is the boom?
By Andrew Haffner • Aug 12, 2020

Economics • Aug 11, 2020 • 11 min read
Cambodia in Quarantine

A return to the fields

Once the largest single industry in the Kingdom, Cambodia's agricultural sector has shrunk significantly with the growth of industrialisation. Now, with few other options as the economy stalls due to the pandemic, Cambodians are once again going to ground
By Andrew Haffner • Aug 11, 2020