In this paper, we propose that development trajectories in Philippine provinces are not just influenced by the concentration of power within certain families (fat dynasties) but also by the economic and institutional contexts that they are characterized with. Building on a typology of dynasty...

The global financial crisis that erupted in 2008 coupled with food and fuel price volatility are likely to affect developing countries, and within them the vast majority of the world's poor population in profound ways. This paper maps the different channels through which their effects could be...

The past thirty years or so has seen microfinance take off from small group-based lending experiments to several thousand financial service providers (FSPs) serving a growing portion of the developing world today. Nevertheless, the challenge to improve broadbased access to financial services -...

The “blue economy” is a version of the “green economy” made relevant to our seas and oceans. It is a model of economic development that focuses on the sustainable management and use of natural and other resources in the maritime sector. Given the Philippines' archipelagic nature and...

How did political dynasties fare in the 2019 midterm elections? This paper extends and analyzes the Ateneo Policy Center's political dynasties dataset, covering the period from 1988 to 2019. It finds evidence that over the past 30 years (or 10 election periods), political dynasties have become...

With the lifting of the quantitative restrictions on rice imports, the Philippines is expecting an inflow of rice to enter in the next few months. Although this is expected to lead to a decrease in rice prices, this could similarly put pressure on some farmers' incomes to the extent that they...