DEVELOPMENT PROBLEMS OF THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN ECONOMIES

Year 2010, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 1 - 11, 02.06.2014

Ewa Oziewicz

Abstract

Southeast Asian economies have already gone a long way of development. Firstly, they have survived a period of economic miracle, which de facto was not a miracle, but based on good macroeconomic policy and strong foundations, such as high interest rate and macroeconomic stability. Secondly, the economies have experienced deep crisis, which has proven that good policies are not sufficient condition for development. Apart of them economy needs good, mature institutions and management. Reforming those institutions as well as political reforms is especially important, if countries open politically as well as their economies. Reforms with parallel process of transforming countries towards democracy, and sometimes still decentralization is a great challenge for them. Thirdly, dynamic development of the Chinese and Indian economies has constrained other countries and those being members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well, to certain adjustments. ASEAN countries represent different development levels, what significantly determines their future aims and policies as well as their advances in the world and region’s society. The article answers three important questions connected with further development of the ASEAN countries:

1. Are the ASEAN countries able to avoid internal disintegration while growing intolerance for deepening disparities in the societies of individual countries, increase in pollution and corruption?

2. Are the ASEAN countries going to profit on the success of China and India, or, maybe opposite, is it going to be additional competitive struggle in international markets?

3. Will the regional integration help in raising the economic effectiveness, or is it to cause external shocks in individual economies?

Keywords

Southeast Asia, Economic Development, Regional Integration

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