Features
Yearstarter: Seeking better normal in 2022
January 14, 2022
The administration that is exiting and the new one entering can take a more rational and humane approach to recovering and reforming the economy.
Yearender: Unrepentant economics in 2021
December 31, 2021
For the economic managers, managing the economy is really about making big business prosper most of all. It’s unfortunately not about doing everything to improve people’s lives or alleviate their distress.
Of fake democracy and open dictatorship
November 2, 2021
How do we vote then in 2022? We need champions of human rights and social justice, an economy governed by the people for their needs and their prosperity, equality, sovereignty, and freedom from the shackles of neoliberalism and foreign dictates and from the control of the few.
Who is afraid of degrowth?
A Global South economic perspective
October 12, 2021
Environmental scientists, economists, academics and social movements have been talking about “degrowth” as an approach in dealing with the climate crisis. The concept makes perfect sense, but it has provoked doubts and objections, even among well-meaning environmentalists.
The neglect of PH education: Where do we go from here?
October 5, 2021
The Philippines is one of two remaining countries in the world that have not reopened schools and conducted in-person classes. This is quite telling not only of the Duterte government’s poor pandemic response but also of the pre-existing problems of the Philippine education system. This is aggravated by the administration’s budget mispriorities, where it allocates more for infrastructure projects than education.
Golden years?: The real long-lasting economic damage wrought by Marcos
September 21, 2021
The Marcos administration was notorious for world-beating cronyism and corruption. But this is not enough to fully explain the worst economic collapse in Philippine history and continued decline long after the dictatorship was overthrown.
On military modernization: Money for nothing
September 16, 2021
There have been a series of mishaps lately, involving newly acquired AFP aircraft. Yet, the Duterte government continues to prioritize defense in the 2022 budget, particularly AFP modernization.
Ayuda urgently needed to mitigate worsening poverty
August 21, 2021
The government has just announced the transition from ECQ to modified ECQ so the economy can supposedly recover. But the Duterte administration’s over-reliance on destructive lockdowns without effective and substantial health and economic response, like much-needed ayuda, is what’s really worsening the crisis and pushing more Filipinos into poverty.
Duterte administration’s shift to MECQ meaningless without urgent COVID-19 steps
August 20, 2021
The government has announced the easing of community quarantines. But new cases are still rising and there are no signs of government taking additional measures to fix the health system during the last two weeks of stricter lockdowns. If the health system is as weak as ever, what’s our way out of the pandemic?
