Economics

By Wan Saiful Wan Jan

16/08/09: This week (16 – 22 August 2009) is World Water Week. To mark this global event, the Malaysia Think Tank is publishing the report “Water Provision in Malaysia: Privatise or Nationalise?”. The report looks at what we can learn from the global successes and failures of water management. The aim of this report is to make clear that the priority for any public policy, including the management and provision of water, must be the general public good. Policymakers need to put in place the policy that is best for the public, not the one that best suits their personal, political or ideological agenda.

Press statement:
25 May 2009

The Malaysia Think Tank (MTT) is pleased with recent developments in our international trade relations and hopes that more will done by Najib’s administration to embed freer trade in our policies and practices.

While bilateral agreements are good first steps, we believe unilateral liberalisation is a better step forward. Unilateral liberalisation at a steady pace should be our ultimate aim. The trade barriers and subsidies that we practice in Malaysia are domestic policies that do not require the agreement of other countries for us to reform. We can remove them for the benefit of the rakyat without waiting for any actions from other countries.

1 – 3 May 2009 (Friday - Sunday)
The Virtues of Entrepreneurship and The Morality of Capitalism: Lessons from Ayn Rand’s novel ‘Atlas Shrugged’
Venue: Bayview Hotel, Penang, Malaysia

The Malaysia Think Tank is inviting applications to attend the third Freedom Academy. This time the Freedom Academy will analyse and debate ideas around entrepreneurship and free market capitalism as presented in Ayn Rand's magnum opus Atlas Shrugged, exploring their relevance to the economic situation today.

America is one of Indonesia’s biggest trading partners, and America’s trade policies will have impact on Indonesia’s economy and employment. Will the G20 agreements improve situations? How will President Obama’s trade policies affect developing countries, especially Indonesia? How can Indonesian companies and Indonesian policy-makers prepare for the challenges? What can be done to stem the rising tide of protectionism?

London - 1 April 2009. The Freedom to Trade Coalition – comprising over 60 civil society organisations from 44 countries including the Malaysia Think Tank – launched an open letter calling on all governments to eliminate trade barriers. The open letter is available at a new website supported by the Malaysia Think Tank – www.freedomtotrade.org – which will feature news stories, exclusive webcasts, statements by signatories of the open letter, and many other items.

Wan Saiful Wan Jan

19 March 2009: Poverty eradication can only happen in Malaysia if measures to strengthen property rights protection, both physical property as well as intellectual property, are incorporated as an important pillar of the nation’s poverty alleviation strategy. Policy-makers, including those in the Ministry for Rural and Regional Development, and political leaders should take heed. IPRI 2009 provides clear evidence of this.

by Daniel Ikenson

12 March 09: The global economic meltdown has prompted fears of resurgent protectionism and some governments have already raised tariffs and other trade barriers. But, despite the occasional dalliance with protectionism, treaties and good sense prevent a more serious romance.

by Wan Fadzrul Wan Bahrum and Wan Saiful Wan Jan

2 March 09: The 14th ASEAN summit in Thailand concluded on 1 March. In facing the global economic crisis, ASEAN leaders issued a statement reaffirming their determination to ensure the free flow of goods, services and investment, and facilitate movement of business persons, professionals, talents and labour, and freer flow of capital. They also agreed to stand firm against protectionism and to refrain from introducing and raising new barriers.

24 Februari 2009, Kuala Lumpur: In a study released today by the Malaysia Think Tank, data shows that countries that protect the physical and intellectual property of their people enjoy nearly nine times higher GDP per capita than countries ranking lowest in property rights protections. The study, the 2009 International Property Rights Index (IPRI), compared the protections of physical and intellectual property to economic stability in 115 countries representing 96 per cent of the world's GDP.