This is the first of two papers on issues of federal-state finance and intergovernmental transfers in Malaysia. In this paper we outline what we see as the major issues, discuss the theory of the assignment of tax and expenditure powers and the resulting need for intergovernmental transfers, and...

The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) agreement was signed byt the six members of the Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN) in 1992. The purpose of this paper is to provide some quantitiative assessment of the importance of this economic agreement for one of its signatories, Thailand.

The question of energy demand has been frequently posed in response to economic growth. This paper attempts to formally analyze the implications of energy demand due to Malaysia's economic growth scenarios.

This paper studies the competition policy for the year 2000. Two contentions are made in this paper. First, all market economies have a competition policy (CP) even if they do not have competition legislation because of the influence that other policies have on the competitive process. Second,...

The abrupt est of rapid economic growth in Malaysia has created a new mood of insecurity. However, "economic insecurity" is rarely discussed in the professional economics literature and has received little emphasis in recent economic policy making in OECD nations. This paper argues that economic...

This paper assesses the facts of the matter, searches for their implications for national economies, and considers the scope and need for local and national policies that provide a basis for balanced growth. The first section will summarize the evidence and implications leading to the conclusion...

This paper describes the experience of Canada and other OECD countries in providing retirement incomes for the elderly. This paper is intended to provide background on the options for reforming the social security system in Malaysia.

The paper provides an economist's perspective on recent conflicts over the use of water in Thailand. This paper surveys a number of the important water resource issues such as the allocation of surface and groudwater within and between river basins; and water quality and the discharge of effluents.