Author: Sean Tan

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Asia, Business and Technology

Op-Ed: Rebalancing the Lion: The Reforms Temasek Needs

(After the article was written, the fund mentioned (Temasek) made the reform Sean directly suggested) Introduction  With omnipresent skyscrapers and dazzling city lights, Singapore has long been synonymous with financial excellence. A cornerstone of this success has been Temasek, the state-owned multinational investment firm that has deftly managed a significant portion of the government’s reserves for the past half-century. As of 2024, it boasts a net … Continue reading Op-Ed: Rebalancing the Lion: The Reforms Temasek Needs

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Economics, Long Read, Politics

The Trumps Strike Back, but why?

Populism – the ideology which divides most of an electorate against some ‘other’ elite – is primarily caused by economic marginalisation (the denial of an equal opportunity to participate in a domestic economy).  To justify this, I will explain how pertinentmacroeconomic trends throughout the turn of the millennium have exacerbated this issue.  Additionally, I will examine a panoply of additional theses for the rise of populism, and demonstrate why, although valid, they are not as pivotal as economic marginalisation in this regard. The best evidence … Continue reading The Trumps Strike Back, but why?

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Business and Technology, Chart of the Month, China

Chart of the Month – June 2023

June’s Chart of the Month highlights the stagnation in China’s manufacturing output after the pandemic. When China unexpectedly reopened at the beginning of 2023, many analysts expected an immense recovery. However, their forecasts have been disproven, particularly regarding China’s manufacturing activity, which has fallen after a slight increase (an index score below 50 indicates a contraction).  This is not because of a stunted reopening, but a … Continue reading Chart of the Month – June 2023

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Business and Technology, International

Why the Doomsayers are Wrong about Robots

In the early days of automation, machines ruthlessly decimated workers’ place in the commercial order, and it did create jobs – with a twist.  Many of those who were displaced were either too geographically immobile (they could not physically access these opportunities), or more commonly, too occupationally immobile (they did not have the necessary skills).  Fortunately, increased dynamism in the workforce has dismantled these impediments, refashioning robotisation … Continue reading Why the Doomsayers are Wrong about Robots

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Asia, Development, Environment

The Lost Snow Leopards: Seven Steps to Rejuvenate Central Asian Economies

Central Asia (made up of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) has historically been a dominant player on the world’s economic stage.  Its role as the heart of the legendary Silk Road (the main land corridor between Europe and Asia) and the USSR’s mining powerhouse in the 20th century rightfully earned these countries the nickname ‘the Snow Leopards’.  However, the USSR’s collapse in 1991 has left the region at risk of … Continue reading The Lost Snow Leopards: Seven Steps to Rejuvenate Central Asian Economies

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China

Taming the dragon: the impact of the Chinese baby bust and how to reverse it 

In the 1980s, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) issued posters as part of its one-child policy which claimed, “Villagers who want to get rich: have fewer children but grow more trees”.  Although this succeeded in curbing overpopulation, it was too successful; forty years on, China is plagued with an ageing population, which will cripple the economy if left unresolved. Low fertility rates will stunt China’s growth … Continue reading Taming the dragon: the impact of the Chinese baby bust and how to reverse it 

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Asia, International

The Dying Tiger: The Challenges Facing ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), an economic bloc consisting of ten nations, is no stranger to praise.  By lifting tariffs on nearly 8,000 goods, increasing business access to neighbouring markets and lowering prices for consumers, it has reached an annual GDP growth of 4.6% (exceeding the global average of 3.2% by a sizeable margin), and has been frequently portrayed as an “unexpected success story … Continue reading The Dying Tiger: The Challenges Facing ASEAN

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International, US

How can governments make economic sanctions more effective?

Less than five years after sanctions were lifted from Myanmar, army generals conducted a violent coup that shattered democracy in the region.  World leaders were shocked at this sudden turn of events and reinstated sanctions, which immediately received accusations of only being symbolic.  This has recently become a common criticism against sanctions: according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, only 34% of sanctions are partially successful, … Continue reading How can governments make economic sanctions more effective?

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China, Development, Environment

The Dark Side of the Belt and Road Initiative

The last 40 years have seen China’s GDP grow by a record 9.1% per annum, attracting a plethora of investors and businesses worldwide. With its newfound capital, it has gained international influence through trade and become the world’s largest trading partner in 2012. China seeks to optimize this trade network through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a scheme unveiled in 2013 by Chinese President … Continue reading The Dark Side of the Belt and Road Initiative

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