Markets

How effective was Indonesia in addressing poverty and inequality in the decentralisation period?In the first decade of the decentralisation period, from 2001–10, Indonesia’s GDP grew at an average annual rate of only 5.4 percent. This was significantly slower than during...

With some of the big near-term uncertainties gradually being cleared up (Greece and Ukraine), we think EM assets could get some traction this week. That said, EM FX will remain vulnerable and liable to selloffs should the dollar bullish-trend resume...

No more ‘business-as-usual’ is the Jokowi government’s message in the 2015 budget. Cut fuel subsidies, ramped up infrastructure spending, and rising revenues. These three steps deliver a 1.9 percent fiscal deficit, down from 2.2 percent in 2014. This leaves space...

An endless line of water that starts from a shallow stream, grows into a big river, and then flows into the ocean. That’s how Vietnam’s former deputy prime minister, Vu Khoan, described the progress made by Vietnam and South Korea...

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has eased its policy stance, cutting interest rates before it was expected to do so. This generated unnecessary controversy from the media and market analysts, who alleged political pressure lowered policy rates. But the...

A pressing policy question facing Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders at their summit in April 2015 and beyond is whether the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) can be sustained without more effective institutions. This article explores the link between...

After decades of the fastest economic growth in the world, China’s economy has started to slow down. This is perhaps inevitable, given an average annual growth rate of around 10% was sustained for almost thirty years following the economic reforms...

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Temasek, one of Singapore’s two sovereign wealth funds (SWFs), along with the Government Investment Corporation (GIC). Set up in 1974 as part of the newly independent city-state’s nation- building effort, Temasek has evolved...

India’s new government faces challenges for economic revival, but it also has a golden opportunity to build consensus for strong structural and fiscal reform.Restoring growth is paramount. In the last two years, growth has slipped below 5 percent, the lowest...

The US dollar is mixed.  It is mostly softer against the euro and sterling, paring yesterday's late gains.  It is firmer against the yen and Swiss franc amid cross rate developments. The US dollar is mixed.  It is mostly softer...

As the hard talks on Greece’s bailout start again, there is no time to lose. A compromise is possible. Before the weekend, Euro group president Jeroen Djisselbloem said that “Greece wants a lot but has very little money to do that....

The Chinese economy, one might think if one took most of the commentary on it seriously, is on a hiding to nowhere good. The growth rate is falling. Manufacturing is suffering over-capacity. The real estate bubble has burst, or it...

There are too many near-term uncertainties to make an outright directional call on EM. Between a looming deal for Greece, a fragile agreement in Ukraine, the bounce in commodity prices and fall in the dollar, we prefer to focus on...

The US dollar is little changed in Europe after a quiet Asian session.  Both the US and Canada are on holiday today.  The key focus it euro group meeting today as they discuss the terms of Greece's aid.   The...

As 2014 fades in the rear-view mirror, the Chinese economy exhibits two sharply conflicting trends: while economic growth continues to decelerate, the stock market is rising steadily. The capital market boom — which started mid-year and accelerated following the People’s...