Philippine politics has been predominantly characterised as an “elite democracy” dominated by elite political parties, personalities, and political clans who are not only “gurus” of political “clientelism,” but are more often than not co-opted and under the tutelage of oligarchs, in which power brokers deliver votes to politicians in exchange for the granting of favours and “special privileges.” Philippine politics is also very much dictated by personality-based politics and is large

The Philippine economy grew in the second quarter at its fastest pace in more than three decades, but an official warned Tuesday of "speed bumps" as coronavirus restrictions were tightened to combat surging infections.Gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 11.8 percent on-year, the statistics agency said, after five straight quarters of contraction. The increase – the best since the last three months of 1988 – was driven by a rebound in construction activity and consumer spe

During the four decades of the Cold War, the United States (US) had a grand strategy focused on containing the power of the Soviet Union.

Tuk-tuks and garishly coloured taxis that once weaved through chaotic Bangkok traffic are sitting idle in storage as a fresh coronavirus surge scuttles hopes of relief for Thailand's tourism-dependent economy.The kingdom is currently undergoing its worst-ever stretch of the pandemic after largely keeping COVID contained when the illness first emerged last year. Bangkok is subject to a night-time curfew and a ban on gatherings as authorities advise residents of the capital to sta

This was supposed to be the Asian century, with the ascent of China being only one – albeit a major – part of the story.

As healthcare systems brace for damage inflicted by the quick-spreading Delta variant, G20 finance ministers warned Saturday that it could also slow global economic recovery."The recovery is characterised by great divergences across and within countries," and "remains exposed to downside risks, in particular the spread of new variants of the COVID-19 virus", they said in a final statement.The ministers also warned of the dangers of the "different paces of vaccination&

Last year, I lost my teacher, friend, and most valued research colleague, and the world lost a brilliant economist. Richard Cooper was one of my supervisors when I was pursuing my Ph.D. at Yale. As a doctoral candidate, I benefited from a veritable “dream team” of economists, each of whom enriched my life and work tremendously. James Tobin pushed me towards deep and creative insights with empirical relevance. Edmund Phelps sharpened my analytical skills.

Vietnam, once a model for its successful handling of the pandemic, has started asking for public donations to buy vaccines as it struggles to contain a new coronavirus wave.The Southeast Asian country has vaccinated only about one percent of its population of nearly 100 million, and authorities have become increasingly alarmed by a recent spike in cases.Since last week, mobile phone users have received up to three text messages urging them to contribute to a COVID-19 vaccine fund, while civil

It has now been a year and a half since we started living with – and too often dying from – COVID-19. Although the pandemic is by no means over, it is not too soon to take a step back and draw some preliminary conclusions from the experience.One conclusion that has turned out to be especially tentative concerns the source of the pandemic.

The Philippine economy shrank by more than expected in the first quarter of 2021, supporting views that the central bank will keep interest rates at a record-low at a policy meeting on Wednesday.Gross domestic product (GDP) fell 4.2 percent in the March quarter from a year earlier, the statistics agency said on Tuesday, marking the fifth straight quarter of declines amid pandemic-induced lockdowns. Economists had expected the GDP to contract three percent after slumping 8.3 percent y