The second goal of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is to achieve universal primary education. The target is to reach all the MDGs by 2015. Trends in education indicators for monitoring the second MDG suggest that Philippines may probably not meet the target on achieving universal primary...

This paper extends the analysis on microfinance and poverty from the household perspective by focusing on the role of other economically active household members in alleviating household poverty. Results show that additional other economically active household members expand the pool of income...

The strong recovery of the five crisis-affected countries of East Asia between 1999 and 2000 has revived the debate on the causes of the 1997 financial crisis. Initially there had been an emerging consensus that the crisis had originated from the capital account. However, some analysts see the...

A developing economy such as the Philippines has to create an enabling environment for economic growth and development. But how does one nudge forward the creation of such an environment? This paper departs from the usual discourse on the need for effective implementing institutions. Instead, it...

This study looks at the status of rural nonfarm enterprises (RNEs) in the Visayas area. Descriptive statistics indicate that majority of the RNEs are micro- and cottage-sized enterprises managed by the owner/operator only. Very few can be considered small-scale. Major activities undertaken are...

While previous studies utilizing P* indicates that the model is better applicable with large countries, the paper argues that the Philippine case should include a foreign gap price. Further work should also focus on estimating more appropriate values of Q* and V*.

In a democratic country, economic policies succeed or fail depending on its political support. Open trade policies that were initiated and accepted years ago, in particular, can be reversed, within the limits of the country’s international commitments, depending on the government’s...

This paper describes some emerging innovations in microfinance observed in Southeast Asian microfinance markets that make it possible for microfinance institutions (MFIs) to reach a greater number of poor households on a sustainable basis. It discusses the nature, importance and types of...

Although justification for competition policies is well founded in the economic literature, there is a need to understand their implications more fully, brought about not just by what is happening in the global arena but even more importantly by various comprehensive policy reforms that have...

This paper examines the effect of land reform and land transfer actions of farmer beneficiaries on land ownership concentration. A case study of two rice-growing villages was used to track down ownership changes over a period of time. Land reform has succeeded in the break up of huge estates in...