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Notes from the Field
New Index to Help Steer Malaysia's Local Business Growth
May 9, 2012
Real GDP growth in Malaysia has slowed considerably over the past decade and domestic investment, measured as a percentage of GDP, has also decreased. These trends raise doubts about whether Malaysia can attain its goal of reaching developed nation status by the year 2020 and suggest it may linger in a "middle-income trap" for years to come. In 2010, the Malaysian government launched comprehensive economic and government transformation programs designed to stimulate growth and development. The Tenth Malaysia Plan seeks to develop small- and medium-sized enterprises as powerful engines of growth.
In The News
How Can International Assistance to Burma Avoid Mistakes of the Past?
May 9, 2012
Burma (also known as Myanmar) may be on the verge of a dramatic expansion of international assistance. After last month's parliamentary by-elections, there is likely to be more support for easing sanctions and increasing foreign assistance to the country to support the changes underway.
In The News
Troubled Souths in Thailand and the Philippines
May 9, 2012
It seemed appropriate for the last class of my semester at SAIS teaching "Domestic Politics of Southeast Asia: Philippines and Thailand," to focus on the "troubled souths." The two countries garner international attention for any number of reasons, but one obvious similarity is that both have Muslim minorities...
Notes from the Field
Malaysia, Like China and India, Depends on Local Officials for Better Business Environment
May 9, 2012
In January, I took a break from research for the just-released Malaysia Business Environment Index (BEI), which measures perceptions of district-level firms on their business environments, to get a broader perspective...
In The News
Time to Rethink State-Building in Afghanistan?
May 2, 2012
President Obama's overnight visit to Afghanistan underscores the long-term security and financial commitment of the United States to this country in advance of the NATO Summit later this month.
