Trump’s hyper-neoliberalism

April 21, 2025

FEATURES

While the Trump administration represents a rupture from neoliberal globalization, its protectionist stance reflects a deeper continuity. Trump is not repudiating neoliberalism but rather accelerating and concentrating it.

Trump 2.0: The Emperor’s New Clothes

April 14, 2025

The US is undergoing a radical transition from decades of accustomed grand strategies – one that requires a political figure disruptive enough to force that change.

World Bank wants to tax Filipinos, but not the rich

April 8, 2025

Tax reforms should align with broader developmental goals like reducing inequality, strengthening public services, and promoting inclusive growth rather than narrowly focusing on revenue maximization. The government should object to World Bank conditionalities as a matter of principle.

EPIRA beyond reform

February 28, 2025

COMMENTARY

The lament borders on cliché – the Philippines has among the highest electricity costs in the region.

Looking beyond corruption rankings

February 21, 2025

The real challenges are not simply about improving the country’s Corruption Perception Index scores. It is rather in seeking real accountability for high-level abuse of power.

Making upper middle-income status matter

February 20, 2025

Understanding what upper middle-income status really means easily clarifies that it is in many respects just a fantasy.

The bright side of the economy in 2025

January 7, 2025

Public awareness and demands for a better budget are essentially demands for an economic framework that prioritizes the welfare of the many over the interests of the few. This is a potentially powerful foundation for better economic policymaking in 2025 and beyond.

2025 BBM: Budget Badly Made

December 17, 2024

The government easily decides on austerity for the poor, yet just as easily decides to give huge budgets for pork and patronage, infrastructure for the rich, and even sacred debt service.

Rate expectations: Rethinking PH credit ratings

December 12, 2024

The economic managers don’t seem to realize that credit ratings are just, well, credit ratings. These shouldn’t be overstated as any kind of measure of economic performance or much less of national development.