Myanmar faces a number of daunting reform challenges, but it also has a unique opportunity to use its natural advantages to build strong foundations for sustainable and inclusive growth.
A growing movement of second-generation reformers view the rule of law not as a collection of institutions and laws that can be built by outsiders, but as a relationship between the state and society that must be shaped by those inside the country.
The recent slowdown in the Indian economy and stalled reform initiatives have raised concerns about India's economic prospects.
China's rise has had very different consequences for its North Asian and Southeast Asian neighbors, in particular, making it difficult for Southeast Asia to break out of the middle income trap.
March 2012 saw considerable electoral activity across Asia, from Myanmar’s by-election on April 1 to Timor-Leste’s ongoing presidential elections.
The ruling coalition in Indonesia should continue to cut fuel subsidies—but only if it uses the savings to increase social and infrastructure spending and undertakes serious anti-corruption reforms.
The victory of Aung San Suu Kyi and several dozen of her National League for Democracy colleagues in Burma’s April 1 legislative by-elections is a major event for the country.
Slums reflect both the limited capacity of local governments to accommodate swelling urban populations and policy failures. More rational policies could help reduce their growth while also improving the lives of the urban poor.
With advantages in labor, productivity, and geography, China has the potential to displace many Southeast Asian nations from their niche in the global production chain.
The recent privatization of Malaysia’s largest car company, previously a flagship state enterprise, could herald real change, but much more is needed to rejuvenate the country’s ailing automobile sector.