Governance in Southeast Asia: Issues and Options

This paper attempts to analyze governance systems in Southeast Asia and proposes some policy suggestions that can improve governance practices in the region. To put the discussion on governance systems in a proper context, the paper discusses the governance and growth nexus in Southeast Asia; describes the operating governance systems in Southeast Asia; analyzes economic governance, more specifically in the areas of economic management and growth, revenue generation, social spending, access to services, cost of doing business, and corporate governance; and examines political governance focusing on the rule of law and judicial independence, conflict management, and voice participation.governance, development program, corruption

Economic Growth and Defense Spending: Evidence on Causality for Selected Asian Countries

An earlier version of this paper has been presented in 1989 at the Institute for Strategic and International Studies in Kuala Lumpur. This paper tests the causality issue between defense spending and economic growth in the Philippines. The results of the tests are used to provide implications for Philippine policy development.economic growth, defense sector, causality

Monetary Instruments and the Control of Liquidity in the Philippines: Focus on Open Market Operations

Monetary policies refer to the actions of central banks aimed to achieve macroeconomic stability and to influence financial factors such as money and interest rate. This paper discusses the framework for analyzing how monetary instruments affect monetary targets and the advantages and disadvantages of various instruments dispensable by the central bank. It also argues for the use of open market operations.central bank, money and banking, financial system, financial stabilization, monetary policy, open market operations, monetary instruments

Survey and Assessment of Laws on the Informal Sector

This study classifies the laws affecting the informal sector and assesses the extent of the empowerment of the sector based on the provisions in the laws that allow for organization, decision making mechanisms and transfer of power from the traditional center to another. Results indicate that, to some extent, four groups within the sector are accorded empowerment through Philippine laws: the agricultural sector, small and medium enterprises, industrial home workers and cooperatives. These groups are allowed to form organizations and to participate in decision making bodies. Decision making is accorded to certain groups among informal sector, which, in some cases, comprise the majority members in decision making bodies. Nowhere among the laws is a shift of power provided from the traditional or government decision makers to the informal sector. However, certain groups within the IS have participated in the institution of some policies and the realization of programs for their own advantage.informal financial sectors, small and medium enterprises

Currency Devaluations, Product Pricing and Trade Deficits

This paper explains why currency movements and trade volumes, while theoretically related, have minimal effect on each other, in practice. In addition, it argues that volatile currency movements and trade deficits are not beneficial in the long run. A separate set of measures on how to deal with each issue is also discussed.trade sector, devaluation, foreign exchange liberalization, currency and banking crisis

Survey and Assessment of Laws on the Informal Sector

This study classifies the laws affecting the informal sector and assesses the extent of the empowerment of the sector based on the provisions in the laws that allow for organization, decision making mechanisms and transfer of power from the traditional center to another. Results indicate that, to some extent, four groups within the sector are accorded empowerment through Philippine laws: the agricultural sector, small and medium enterprises, industrial home workers and cooperatives. These groups are allowed to form organizations and to participate in decision making bodies. Decision making is accorded to certain groups among informal sector, which, in some cases, comprise the majority members in decision making bodies. Nowhere among the laws is a shift of power provided from the traditional or government decision makers to the informal sector. However, certain groups within the IS have participated in the institution of some policies and the realization of programs for their own advantage.informal financial sectors, small and medium enterprises

The Philippine Journal of Development: Its Beginning and Evolution

This paper traces the beginning and evolution of the Philippine Journal of Development--from its conception as a technical journal of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), its transfer of management to the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) in 1981, to its new challenges for the years ahead. First published in 1974, the Journal's objective was to serve as a vehicle for disseminating research-based papers not only on development issues affecting the Philippines and which had policy implications, but also on other aspects of development like public administration, foreign relations, political economy, business and the like.Philippine development, Philippine Journal of Development

Thirty-Three Facts About Philippine Agricultural Credit

This paper is an edited and expanded version of PIDS Staff Paper 87-02. It provides a number of facts and observations regarding agricultural credit, the main source of which is the ongoing program to rehabilitate the rural banks, to re-orient the concept of supervised credit and the creation of the Comprehensive Agricultural Loan Fund. This article also includes the 20-year experience of the Philippines and other selected countries in rural banking and agricultural credit.agriculture sector, banking system, rural sector, credit market

Toward Understanding Philippine Trade in Services: A Demand Approach

This article investigates the determinants of Philippine trade in commercial services, and makes an attempt to explain the historical trends and movements in aggregated services exports and imports in relation to variables such as income, relative price, merchandise trade, services sector size and investor sentiment.services sector, income, trade in services

Currency Devaluations, Product Pricing and Trade Deficits

This paper explains why currency movements and trade volumes, while theoretically related, have minimal effect on each other, in practice. In addition, it argues that volatile currency movements and trade deficits are not beneficial in the long run. A separate set of measures on how to deal with each issue is also discussed.trade sector, devaluation, foreign exchange liberalization, currency and banking crisis