With the launch of the ASEAN Economic Community in December 2015, ASEAN is at a crossroads once again. Having braved through various crises since its establishment in 1967, how can ASEAN leverage on increasing integration to maintain its growth momentum in the pursuit of greater competitiveness and prosperity? Combining leading-edge research methodologies with an extensive database, the Asia Competitiveness Institute (ACI) at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, has evaluated and tracked competitiveness for the ten ASEAN members annually since 2000. In this second edition, the competitiveness ranking and simulation study for the ASEAN-10 economies are improved and updated with 121 indicators across four environments. The Geweke causality analysis is employed to offer deeper insights into the transitional economies as well as the top performers in the region. These novel empirical frameworks are placed within the overarching strategic thrust of the ASEAN-centric Asia Economic Connectivity Vision 2030 which encompasses astute workable policies through five broad proposals for furthering regional economic cooperation in Asia.
Sample Chapter(s)
Foreword (42 KB)
Chapter 1: ACI Proposed Master Plan for Asia Economic Connectivity Vision 2030 (AECV2030) (583 KB)
Contents:
- ACI Proposed Master Plan for Asia Economic Connectivity Vision 2030 (AECV2030)
- 2014 Update on Annual Competitiveness Analysis for ASEAN-10
- Examining the Causal Relationship between Financial Depth and Economic Growth in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
- Understanding the Causal Factors Driving Economic Growth in Singapore and Malaysia
- Singapore's Economic Development, 1965–2020: Review, Reflection and Perspective
- Concluding Remarks and Future Research Agenda
Readership: Researchers and advance graduates studying ASEAN developmental economics.
Tan Khee Giap is the Co-Director of the Asia Competitiveness Institute (ACI) and Associate Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), National University of Singapore (NUS). He is also the Chairman of the Singapore National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation. Upon graduating with a PhD from University of East Anglia, England, in 1987 under the Overseas Research Scheme awarded by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom, he joined the banking sector as a treasury manager and served as secretary to the Assets and Liabilities Committee for three years. Thereafter, he taught at the Department of Economics and Statistics, National University of Singapore, 1990–1993. Dr Tan joined Nanyang Technological University in 1993 and was Associate Dean, Graduate Studies Office, 2007–2009. Dr Tan has consulted extensively with the various government ministries, statutory boards and government-linked companies of the Singapore government. He has also served as a consultant to international agencies such as the Asian Development Bank, Asian Development Bank Institute, United Nations Industrial Development Group, World Gold Council, ASEAN Secretariat, Central Policy Unit of Hong Kong, Kerzner International, Las Vegas Sands and Marina Bay Sands. Dr Tan is the lead author of eight books and has published widely in international refereed journals. His current research interests include econometric forecasting, Cost of Living Index, Global Liveable Cities Index and competitiveness analysis on 31 provinces in China, 35 states in India and ASEAN-10 economies. Dr Tan was Deputy President of the Singapore Economic Society, 2004. He served in the 2002 Economic Review Committee (ERC), served as Chairman of the Task Force on Portable Medical Benefits (PMB), served as the Deputy Chairman of the IPS Forum for Economic Restructuring (IFER) in 2003 and served as a member of the Resource Panel of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport and Government Parliamentary Committee for Finance and Trade since 2007. Dr Tan has extensively advised and guided multinational corporations leading to public listings, especially those companies from Mainland China and Taiwan. He is also currently an Independent Director of the publicly listed Artivision, BreadTalk Group, Boustead Projects and TEE Land.
Sangiita Yoong Wei Cher is a Research Assistant at the Asia Competitiveness Institute (ACI) at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), National University of Singapore (NUS). Sangiita graduated with a second upper joint honours bachelor's degree from NUS and Australian National University (ANU) in both economics and actuarial studies in 2012. Sangiita was an ASEAN scholar and was on the Dean's list during her studies. At ACI, her work focuses on data analysis and competitiveness studies of the Greater China economies. She is also the coordinator for the growth slowdown analysis by income threshold project. She has co-authored a review article on public policy in Singapore, a journal paper in International Journal of Chinese Culture and Management, and two books on Annual Analysis of Competitiveness, Simulation Studies and Development Perspective for 34 Greater China Economies and 2014 Annual Provincial and Regional Competitiveness Analysis for Greater China Economies: Development Strategies under the New Normal. Sangiita's research interests include competitiveness analysis of Greater China economies, quantitative data analysis and econometric modelling.
Sasidaran Gopalan is a Research Fellow at the Asia Competitiveness Institute (ACI) at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), National University of Singapore (NUS). Prior to joining ACI, he was based in Hong Kong as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the HKUST Institute for Emerging Market Studies and HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Dr Gopalan completed his PhD in Public Policy, specialising in International Finance and Policy at the School of Policy, Government and International Affairs (SPGIA), George Mason University, USA. He has published two co-authored books with leading publishing houses, several academic articles in refereed international journals, book chapters in edited volumes, a number of policy briefs as well as op-eds for leading global financial dailies. Dr Gopalan's research interests span the broad fields of financing for development and international macroeconomic and financial policies with respect to emerging and developing economies in Asia. At ACI, he is the lead coordinator for research projects specific to India. He also supervises and contributes to the formulation as well as implementation of all the empirical research projects, targeted towards journal publications and broader policy outreach.
Nguyen Le Phuong Anh is a Research Associate at the Asia Competitiveness Institute (ACI) at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), National University of Singapore (NUS). Phuong Anh received her Bachelor (Honours) degree in Economics from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, and a Master of Science degree in Development Studies from London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), United Kingdom. Prior to joining ACI, she gained extensive experience working in the financial sector with OCBC, DBS and Bloomberg L P in Singapore, and additionally held a research internship position at the Mekong Institute in Khon Kaen, Thailand. At ACI, she co-authored a book titled "2014 Annual Indices for Expatriates and Ordinary Residents on Cost of Living, Wages and Purchasing Power for World's Major Cities". She is currently coordinating the competitiveness ranking and simulation studies for the ASEAN-10 economies. Phuong Anh's research interests include economic development policy, international political economy, ASEAN economies and applied econometrics.
