Suchergebnisse

Political consensus on constitutional amendments can be difficult to achieve in the aftermath of regime change in democracies. Such a consensus took place in Malaysia in July 2019 when both the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) and Dewan Negara (upper house) voted to lower the country's voting age from 21 to 18. This was a remarkable event in that it had been only slightly more than a year after Pakatan Harapan (PH) defeated Barisan Nasional (BN) in the country's 14th general election (GE14). The political consensus on lowering the voting age could imply that both the PH and BN agree that this was the morally right decision to make. From a political perspective, however, it is possible that both the PH and BN expect to be the main beneficiary of the constitutional amendment. But given that elections are zero-sum contestations, both cannot be right. One party can only win at the expense of another.

Since July 2017 bureaucrats in Malaysia's Economic Planning Unit have been busy preparing the mid-term review report assessing the progress achieved in country's latest five-year development plan, the Eleventh Malaysia Plan 2016-2020 (11MP).1 The five-year development plan is part of an unbroken tradition that dates back to colonial times. In total, fourteen five-year plans have been published since the early 1950s. Over the years, the orientations of these plans have evolved in response to changes in economic structure, policy goals, resource constraints and external shocks. In more recent years, the structure and contents of five-year plans such as the Tenth Malaysian Plan 2000-2015 (10MP) and the 11MP have been altered in significant ways. In particular, there is less emphasis on the presentation of detailed sectoral allocations for development expenditures. Instead, both the 10MP and 11MP were mainly concerned with proposing broad policy goals. In light of such changes, it is pertinent to ask whether the five-year development plan is still relevant as a tool for economic policy-making for Malaysia? This is not an unusual question to ask, given that many countries such as South Korea and India have already abandoned the use of five-year development plans. This essay seeks to answer the question whether Malaysian policymakers should continue to draft five-year development plans in the future. We begin by discussing the basic nature of five-year development plans.

This paper examines the changes in household income levels in the 222 parliamentary constituencies in Malaysia during the period 2014-2016. More specifically, evidence is sought on whether households in constituencies that have voted for political parties from the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in the 13th General Elections (GE13) have experienced higher income growth compared to those which have voted for other political parties. Another related question that is examined is whether or not a change in the ruling party at constituency level during the GE13 (e.g. from non-BN to BN, vice-versa) brought about improvements in household income.

Technology-driven market disruptions are not new. Joseph Schumpeter famously coined the term "creative destruction" to describe the impact of innovations on markets via the creation of new products that render old ones obsolete. The type of innovation associated with the services provided by Uber and Grab belongs to what is known today as the "sharing economy".2 Made possible by technological advances in GPS, mobile communications, social networking and cloud computing, the sharing economy has affected almost all industries such as transport, retail, logistics, food and beverage, and accommodation. The stakes involved in the sharing economy are high. The size of the sharing economy, estimated globally for five sectors, is projected to increase from US$ 15 billion in 2014 to US$ 335 billion by 2025.3 The cost and benefit calculus of the impact of the sharing economy goes beyond the immediate gains enjoyed by consumers (and new service providers) and the losses incurred by traditional service purveyors. For starters, there is already some evidence of cross-border investment opportunities brought about by such innovations. For governments, such innovations – disruptive as they are – may provide new opportunities to revitalize micro-enterprises and even provide new sources of revenues for the state. More importantly, any misguided government policy and regulation in this area has the potential to dampen future innovations. Thus the question of "to uberize or not to uberize" is about how governments should respond to the challenges posed by the sharing economy. This essay addresses the question by explaining the nature of the sharing economy, its foothold in Southeast Asia, and finally, the various policy responses by governments in the region. The policy challenges of engaging with the sharing economy ("to uberize or not to uberize") is examined via a comparative study of the countries in the region. Examples from the car sharing market is used in this essay to focus the discussions on specifics.

In this essay, an attempt is made to identify some possible reasons underlying the Malaysian government's intention to sign the TPP. It explores the economic and political factors underlying the government's decision as well as the objections coming from outside the government.

The role of agriculture in the Malaysian economy has been declining steadily over the years. Today, agriculture's share of the country's GDP and employment is around 7% and 10%, respectively (Figure 1).2 As a result, there is lingering concern for the long-term viability of some agricultural mainstays and their links with insecure livelihoods in rural areas. Despite agriculture's relative decline, the sector exerts a disproportionate influence on Malaysian politics due to the malapportionment of parliamentary seats. This is reflected in the prominent role of agriculture in the election manifestos of political parties as well as fiscal allocations in support of the sector. This paper examines the political significance of agriculture, the current state of policymaking regarding the sector and political aspirations for the sector.

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a free trade agreement involving major countries across the Asia Pacific region. The trade pact, which entered into force on 30 December 2018, is considered by many to be the 'gold standard', given its ambitious scope and depth. This volume offers multi-dimensional insights into the CPTPP and its impact on Southeast Asia. It begins with broad analyses covering the historical, economic and geopolitical aspects of the CPTPP. Subsequent chapters focus on the nature and implications of three key path-breaking provisions in the trade agreement, namely investor-state dispute settlement, intellectual property rights and state-owned enterprises. The effect of the CPTPP on Southeast Asia in terms of regional production networks is also examined from the perspective of Japanese multinational enterprises. The potential economic impact of the agreement is analysed for member countries (Vietnam and Malaysia) as well as countries that aspire to join the CPTPP in the future (Indonesia and Thailand). The world trading system is in disarray: the World Trade Organization has been weakened, perhaps terminally; the world's two economic superpowers are locked in deep, politicized disputes; the forces of populism and nationalism are everywhere complicating the return to a more liberal, rules-based order. These trends are challenging one of the building blocks of ASEAN economic development, namely these countries' outward-looking trade and investment policies. With impeccable timing this important volume by a group of eminent authors assesses these issues with reference to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The CPTPP excludes the three largest traders-China, the EU and the US-but it is a welcome second-best initiative that may have broader, positive ripple effects.

The e-commerce market has grown rapidly within the ASEAN region in recent years. This trend is expected to continue in the future given the region's large population base, rising middle-class and improvements in connectivity. This edited volume examines the current state of e-commerce in ASEAN countries. It highlights some of the key domestic and cross-border challenges faced by ASEAN member states in developing e-commerce. These challenges include the regulatory and legal environment in which e-commerce firms operate across ASEAN, and the supporting infrastructure in ASEAN member states. "A comprehensive snapshot of the latest emerging regulatory, policy and consumer issues. It's essential reading for anyone working in this field. E-commerce is fundamentally altering the way in which businesses are being conducted, both within and between ASEAN countries. More than just an alternate distribution channel, online trading offers new opportunities and challenges for consumers, businesses, regulators and policymakers. How do markets operate in the new paradigm? How should regulators and governments ensure that dynamic competitive economies evolve, instead of descending into anti-competitive structures? And how are markets evolving in different parts of Southeast Asia? All of these issues — and much more — are discussed in here. The editors are to be congratulated for assembling a range of insightful perspectives from across ASEAN. These are issues that will affect the region for many years to come. The lessons here are timely and timeless." —Michael Schaper Ph.D., Deputy Chairman, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, 2008—18

Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- Tables and Figures -- Foreword -- About the Editors -- About the Contributors -- Abbreviations -- Introductory Remarks -- Chapter 1 The Evolution of ASEAN: An Overview -- Chapter 2 ASEAN Economic Cooperation: Vision, Practice, and Challenges -- Chapter 3 Staying the Course: From a Southeast Asian Community to an ASEAN Community -- Chapter 4 The Evolution of ASEAN: From Political and Security Concerns to Regional Economic Integration -- Chapter 5 The Development of ASEAN Economic Cooperation and Governing Institutions -- Chapter 6 Singapore's Participation in Evolving ASEAN Economic Cooperation and Integration -- Chapter 7 ASEAN Economic Community: Malaysia's Evolving Perspectives -- Chapter 8 Gearing the Philippines for the ASEAN Economic Community -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- Z.

The e-commerce market has grown rapidly within the ASEAN region in recent years. This trend is expected to continue in the future given the region's large population base, rising middle-class and improvements in connectivity. This edited volume examines the current state of e-commerce in ASEAN countries. It highlights some of the key domestic and cross-border challenges faced by ASEAN member states in developing e-commerce. These challenges include the regulatory and legal environment in which e-commerce firms operate across ASEAN, and the supporting infrastructure in ASEAN member states."A comprehensive snapshot of the latest emerging regulatory, policy and consumer issues. It's essential reading for anyone working in this field. E-commerce is fundamentally altering the way in which businesses are being conducted, both within and between ASEAN countries. More than just an alternate distribution channel, online trading offers new opportunities and challenges for consumers, businesses, regulators and policymakers. How do markets operate in the new paradigm? How should regulators and governments ensure that dynamic competitive economies evolve, instead of descending into anti-competitive structures? And how are markets evolving in different parts of Southeast Asia? All of these issues--and much more--are discussed in here. The editors are to be congratulated for assembling a range of insightful perspectives from across ASEAN. These are issues that will affect the region for many years to come. The lessons here are timely and timeless." --Michael Schaper Ph.D., Deputy Chairman, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, 2008-18.

The level of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) flows from ASEAN countries has increased rapidly in the past two decades. This book examines OFDI trends and patterns in the ASEAN region, including the impact of the ASEAN Economic Community. It also provides analyses of country policies affecting OFDI and the drivers of OFDI in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. Myanmar is studied as an investment frontier for other ASEAN countries.'The dynamic economies of Southeast Asia have historically been very large recipients of foreign direct investment (FDI). As global capital markets have opened up, and these economies have developed their technological and commercial capabilities, in more recent years Southeast Asia has emerged as a significant source of outward FDI both within the region and beyond. This important volume, by a group of leading regional scholars, offers a timely, comprehensive, accessible and authoritative analysis of this phenomenon.' – Hal Hill, H.W. Arndt Professor of Southeast Asian Economies, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University