Some major trends in world income inequalities and relevant economic trends are reviewed here. In recent decades, there have been indications of a reversal of the growing income divergence between North and South after over half a millennium, especially in the last two centuries. Meanwhile,...

Various different and sometimes contradictory lessons have been drawn from the 1997-1998 East Asian crisis experiences. The ideological implications and political differences involved have complicated the possibility of drawing shared lessons from the crises. The seeming calm and increased...

This paper critically reviews the impact of globalization on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) since the early 1980s. The large gains expected from opening up to international economic forces have, to date, been limited, and there have been significant adverse consequences. FDI in SSA has been largely...

Among newly industrialising economies, Malaysia has mounted notably comprehensive efforts to build a national innovation system. Despite continuously updating Science and Technology (S&T) policies to reflect prevailing understandings of successful innovation strategy, its achievements in...

These immortal lines from Allama Iqbal make me very humble standing before you today to deliver the Allama Iqbal lecture. Mr Chairman, Mr President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, friends all,. thank you very much for this honour and opportunity to speak to you on a very difficult subject....

Where large-scale investments are needed, especially for infrastructure projects, public-private partnerships (PPPs) have been touted as an option. With encouragement by the international financial institutions, PPPs have been promoted in developing countries, especially those facing large...

Among newly industrialising economies, Malaysia has mounted notably comprehensive efforts to build a national innovation system. Despite continuously updating Science and Technology (S&T) policies to reflect prevailing understandings of successful innovation strategy, its achievements in...

Mahathir’s “Malaysia Incorporated” policy is reviewed here against how the Malaysian state evolved before the mid-1980s recession, including the first half decade of Mahathir’s premiership. After a decade and a half of growing regulation and public sector expansion, ostensibly to...

Experience shows that special government efforts are needed to achieve rapid progress in the eradication of hunger, malnutrition and undernutrition. Reviewing how different countries have responded to the food security challenges they face, three main priority areas for public interventions...

This paper critically reviews the impact of globalization on sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) since the early 1980s. The large gains expected from opening up to international economic forces have, to date, been limited, and there have been significant adverse consequences. Foreign direct investment in...