Indonesia is back on the map. In the next decade, it will only become more important           This week G20 took place in Indonesia, the most important country that people routinely overlook. The last time its economy and politics were in the global spotlight was during the mayhem of the 1990s when a crony-capitalist system collapsed amid the Asian financial crisis, causing the fall of the 32-year-long dictatorship of Suharto.         Over the next quarter-century, the country’s clout could increase spectacularly. The economy is one reason. Indonesia is the sixth-biggest emerging market by GDP, and in the past decade has grown faster than any other $1trn-plus economy bar China and India. A source of dynamism is digital services, which are helping create a more integrated consumer market, with over 100m people collectively spending $80bn a year on everything from e-payments to apps for on-demand trucking.           Another economic catalyst is Indonesia-specific. With a fifth of global reserves of nickel, used in batteries, the country is a vital link in

What is Stagflation?           Stagflation, also known as the economic recession, is characterized by slow economic growth and relatively high unemployment—or economic stagnation—which is at the same time accompanied by rising prices (i.e., inflation). Generally, stagflation occurs when the money supply is expanding while supply is being restricted.           Stagflation can be alternatively defined as a period of inflation combined with a decline in the gross domestic product (GDP). Such an unfavorable combination is feared and can be a dilemma for governments since most actions designed to lower inflation may raise unemployment levels. Policies designed to decrease unemployment may worsen inflation. While debating among economists, Elliot Eisenberg, chief economist at GraphsandLaughs, an economic consulting firm, mentioned the short conclusion sentence, which was, “The general notion of stagflation is high inflation and high unemployment.” The Causes of Stagflation           Stagflation is costly and challenging to eliminate, both in social and fiscal terms. There is no consensus among economists on the causes of stagflation. Each economics school offers different points

         According to the detailed research of our analytic team, the anticipated recovery of the Brunei economy in 2021 has been derailed by the materialization of key downside risks—pandemic resurgence, unanticipated domestic oil and gas production disruptions, and delays in the commencement of FDI projects.           Domestic economic activity has been severely impacted by the re-imposition of containment measures. The Brunei economy shrank by 2.2 percent year on year in the third quarter of 2021, the fourth consecutive quarterly decline. Upstream and downstream oil and gas production have been weaker than expected, while some service activities have been hampered by mobility restrictions. Retail sales declined sharply in Q3 2021, reflecting limited consumer spending due to stay-at-home orders and voluntary social distancing to avoid contracting the virus. The contractions across almost all retail activities highlight the severity of the second COVID-19 wave, contrasting the resilience during the first wave in 2020.           The recovery in the hotel sub-sector has been halted by the second COVID-19 wave. Hotel occupancy rates had

Vietnam suffered a challenging 2021, as it was hit hard by the pandemic, resulting in stringent lockdowns and affecting economic growth. Sustained pressure from COVID-19 outbreaks and supply chain disruption are likely to continue to have an impact into 2022. Nevertheless, with Vietnam slowly reopening, foreign investors maintain an optimistic outlook, with GDP projected at 6.5 percent in 2022. Vietnam Briefing examines some significant events that occurred this year and how they are likely to shape Vietnam’s business environment in 2022. Vietnam’s 2021 was by far one of the most challenging years to date. While Vietnam was lauded globally for controlling the pandemic in 2020, the Delta variant proved overwhelming, resulting in strict lockdowns, interrupted production, and disrupted supply chains. While most western countries suffered an excruciating 2020, Vietnam’s 2021 was harsh, with the pandemic hitting Vietnam’s GDP hard. In Q3 2021, Vietnam recorded its first-ever negative GDP, since 2000 significantly affecting businesses and its people significantly. Nevertheless, Vietnam still expects a positive GDP and as the government switches to a ‘living with the pandemic’ strategy, further economic gains can

In this article you will find the best advice from our professional and experienced analytic team regarding the fact that you want to start a business in Malaysia. In this post, we have put together a list of the most profitable small business ideas in Malaysia to inspire you to start your own business venture. Malaysia is a southeast Asian country. The country has a highly open, upper-middle-income economy. The country’s economy is shifting into higher value-added activities in both industry and services. In addition, the country is a leading exporter of electrical appliances, electronic parts and components, palm oil, and natural gas. Manufacturing has a large influence on the country’s economy, accounting for over 40% of the GDP. The 2016 edition of the World Bank’s “Ease of Doing Business” report ranks Malaysia at 18 in the world and the second in Southeast Asia—behind Singapore. In addition, the government is moving towards a more business-friendly environment by setting up a special task force to facilitate business called PEMUDAH. The objective of the scheme is to simplify the business environment in

With 2020–2021 so severely disrupted, our team of highly professional and experienced analysts at Thunder X Pay started looking ahead to 2022 and what changes could be on the horizon that could positively impact doing business in Myanmar (Burma). Context While Myanmar responded early and decisively to the COVID-19 pandemic thereby limiting adverse health impacts, evidence from the Myanmar COVID-19 Monitoring Platform shows that impacts on households’ welfare were significant. Border movement restrictions starting in February and a complete lockdown between March and April forced non-essential businesses to cease operations and prevented people from traveling to work. Meanwhile, about 100,000 economic migrants returned from Thailand alone. As a result, in May 2020, about 54 percent of households’ main workers reported not working and about 16 percent of firms had temporarily closed. The easing of restrictions between May and August contributed to a partial rebound of the economy, which is still suffering from the impact of reduced global demand, border trade disruptions, and potential changes in consumer behaviors. Strict stay-at-home orders were introduced in Rakhine State in mid-August, followed by similar orders