East Asian Economic Integration
Economics and Public Policy in East Asia.
Malaysian Biofuel Policy Not Feasible
Summary:The Malaysian Biofuel Policy puts undue focus on palm oil. Through mandates that require blending of diesel with biofuel, Malaysia runs the risk of going down an unsustainable energy policy that will have significant implications on the economy.
Another digression today to focus on Malaysia's Biofuel
Policy.
In a few short years, Malaysia has seen its vision of sustainable development through biofuel production turn into a mirage. The Malaysian Government ("the government") developed ambitious biofuel policies in 2005 when it appeared that the country's key agricultural product, palm oil, could be profitably transformed into biodiesel. The policies aimed to expand the market for palm oil, improve energy security and create a new export industry. [...]
In a few short years, Malaysia has seen its vision of sustainable development through biofuel production turn into a mirage. The Malaysian Government ("the government") developed ambitious biofuel policies in 2005 when it appeared that the country's key agricultural product, palm oil, could be profitably transformed into biodiesel. The policies aimed to expand the market for palm oil, improve energy security and create a new export industry. [...]
ASEAN Economic Community - From Vision to Reality (Part 2)
Summary:ASEAN faces three key challenge in realising the ASEAN Economic Community - the developmental gap and varying degree of economic integration into the global economy by the different members. A third challenge which is connected to the two is trade facilitation. ASEAN must focus on addressing bottlenecks that forms stumbling blocks to effectively increasing trade among members.
There are three key challenges that ASEAN must overcome in the short and medium term to facilitate the success of the AEC. It must quickly address the developmental divide among the ASEAN members, especially from a national perspective, the ASEAN - 6 (Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines) and the CLMV countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam).
Secondly, it must integrate all the ASEAN economies into the global trading system effectively especially into the manufacturing production [...]Forms of regional economic integration
Summary:There are four conventional forms of economic integration. Which is most suitable for ASEAN?
Regional economic integration (REI) is the selective removal of
some or all trade impediments between at least two participating
nations with the establishment of certain elements of cooperation
and coordination (Vo 2006). There are several forms of regional
economic integration: free trade area (FTA), customs union, single
market and economic union. Table 1 provides a stylised view of the
requirements of the various forms of REI.
Table1: Forms of Regional Economic Integration
[...]ASEAN Economic Community - From Vision to Reality (Part 1)
Summary:This is a series of articles on the feasibility of the ASEAN Economic Community. This part provides the introduction to the rationale for an ASEAN Economic Community.
Today, after a long hiatus, we return to the subject of my research - ASEAN regionalism. IT's also becoming very busy as my exams are starting next week.
Anyway...
There is a consensus that openness and trade contributes to economic growth (Read Sachs and Warner 1995 and Frankel and Romer 1999) although there are caveats in the selecting and sequencing the nature of this openness (Read Rodriquez and Rodrik 2000). International trade with special and differential treatment for countries with [...]The Global Financial Crisis and ASEAN
Summary:East Asian member countries should immediately get together to reactivate and formulate mechanisms for a coordinated response to the financial crisis and the potential economic fallout.
The continued uncertainties in the financial markets of
developed economies continue to be a concern for developing
countries. This is especially true for those who rely primarily on
the U.S., E.U. and Japan as export destinations. While it is
unclear how the current financial crisis will eventually play out,
it is bound to cause contraction in these major economies,
especially in the U.S. Although the developing economies in the
region have yet to feel the ripple effects, the delays [...]
