How PH fares in the Human Capital Index
The Human Capital Index (HCI) is the latest indicator that has been formulated (by the World Bank) to help countries achieve inclusive and sustainable growth. But we already have a Human Development Index (HDI), so why the need for an HCI?
Strong leader as miracle worker: Deng Xiaoping drilled down
In the early 1980s, the battle for the hearts and minds of China was raging between the Deng Xiaoping partisans who shared his vision of a market and an open economy and the Chen Yun partisans who clung to a planned and closed economy.
The minimum wage and economic progress
Unrealistic or excessive demands concerning minimum wage could escalate into unproductive outcomes for all involved. Unfortunately, in our present case, where the good jobs are less plentiful in relation to all the workers seeking to fill them, the imposition of high minimum wages will only cause loss of jobs for many workers.
107 million Filipinos in 2018
The National Statistics Authority estimates that this year, our headcount will be 107 million Filipinos. This is based on all known statistical indicators about our population dynamics.
The Filipino dream
The Filipino dream can be thought of as a set of good, reachable and desirable outcomes that the average citizen desires to attain. When seen as a collection of wants, it defines a fusion of realizeable goals for the nation
Tax reform for a higher level of economic development
The tax reform is intended to boost the government’s capacity to finance the nation’s public investment needs to improve the much needed lack in infrastructure facilities. In addition, it aims to sustain targeted social protection programs that help the very poor.
The American dream, the Chinese dream, and the Filipino dream
Thinking about the Filipino dream arose from a surprise coincidental experience while traveling from Manila to Washington DC via Beijing. While awaiting a connection at Beijing’s international airport, news about the Chinese dream was flashed to the world.
Inclusion and exclusion in TRAIN
There are two flavors of inclusion: one is reduced income inequality; the other is reduced poverty incidence. They are not the same; nor does one necessarily follow the other. So they require different policy responses.
By John H. Power: Sen. Jose W. Diokno lectures Gerry Sicat on political feasibility of economic policy proposals
John Power was an American visiting professor from the University of Wisconsin who possessed powerful economic insight. He helped contribute to the understanding of the shortcomings and mistakes of Philippine industrial policy that have, however, taken long to correct.
National security and economic development
Many East Asian countries have adopted strict national security measures that were once considered excessive. However, as they raised their economic achievements, they gained the comfort and the confidence to relax slowly what were initially denied.
Who’s afraid of a weak peso?
Lately, the gradual depreciation of the peso (to P51/$) was accompanied by the familiar angst in the media.
This development is not new. What is new? This is happening without the familiar war frenzy among the authorities; there seems instead a healthy nonchalance .
Is the Philippines moving away from migration?
Overseas labor migration and remittances continue to be very important features of the Philippine economy -- but less and less so.
