. . . is the topic of my latest Trade Tripper column in this Friday-Saturday issue of BusinessWorld. Excerpt:
"Competition policy, in its simplest form, primarily deals with the state of competition internally, that is, with regard to the state of competition within a country’s borders. However, what Philippine policymakers and lawmakers should consciously focus on, considering the present economic situation, is competition policy viewed from an international perspective, particularly when monopolies or cartels reach across borders and where price-fixing is done not within a single country but in a number of such. This is a highly complex but profoundly significant matter that needs to be recognized. Our problem is not the huge and competitive Philippine company that is really doing well. The probability that the concept of "natural monopolies," considering the small size of our domestic market, is applicable is with merit. If anything, therefore, Filipinos should perhaps be supportive of an even larger Filipino conglomerate. A San Miguel Corporation, for example, despite its size and reach, could not really be considered as possessing monopoly power due to the nature and threat presented by its external (i.e., foreign) competition."
8.7.09
Age of me
In today's youth obsessed i-Pod culture, this article rings so true:
"Everything is about ME. Life is, and should be, about ME and what I want, what I decide will make ME happy, and get ME the most I can possibly get. Decisions made by other people must not make any requirements of ME, or place any restrictions on ME. If they do, I have every right to disregard them, denounce them, and demand change."
"Everything is about ME. Life is, and should be, about ME and what I want, what I decide will make ME happy, and get ME the most I can possibly get. Decisions made by other people must not make any requirements of ME, or place any restrictions on ME. If they do, I have every right to disregard them, denounce them, and demand change."
5.7.09
Praying the Liturgy of the Hours
I have committed, starting today (although I'm really very much still in the learning stage) to daily pray the Liturgy of the Hours. More accurately, recognizing the fact that I'm a layman, I'm praying the shorter version, from the book Christian Prayer (and not the 4 volume Breviary, which members of the clergy use).
I invite fellow Filipino Catholics to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. As Jesus told us, "pray always". Here are some sites for further info on it and get you started: here, here, here, and here. A copy of the Christian Prayer is available in any St. Paul bookstore.
I invite fellow Filipino Catholics to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. As Jesus told us, "pray always". Here are some sites for further info on it and get you started: here, here, here, and here. A copy of the Christian Prayer is available in any St. Paul bookstore.
Pope deplores Cotabato attack
Pope Benedict XVI deplored the attack in front of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Cotabato.
It is suspected that the attack, killing 5 (including a 3 year old child) and wounding 45, is the work of the rebel Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Archbishop Orlando Quevedo declared - rightly - that the attack is “not only a crime, but a sacrilege." The Pope, on the other hand, condemned "the use of violence, which is never a way of solving problems."
It is suspected that the attack, killing 5 (including a 3 year old child) and wounding 45, is the work of the rebel Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Archbishop Orlando Quevedo declared - rightly - that the attack is “not only a crime, but a sacrilege." The Pope, on the other hand, condemned "the use of violence, which is never a way of solving problems."
2.7.09
Go easy on the stimulus
The ADB says that we should go focus more on stimulus spending.
Really?
After all, stimulus spending doesn't seem to be working for the US (as can be seen from this rather neutral article from an Obama-friendly magazine):
". . .public doubts about the stimulus have, if anything, deepened. The economy deteriorated faster than economists expected, with unemployment now predicted to exceed 10% next year, higher than the White House had projected in January."
In the end, how comfortable is the Filipino in letting the government have more money and deciding where to spend it? For me, the way out of the economic hole we have right now in a more fundamental sense (which should be our focus as our economic situation isn't as dire as the other countries) is dependent on our private sector competitiveness and improving the quality of our education (the latter of which does not necessarily mean substantial increase in spending in that regard).
Really?
After all, stimulus spending doesn't seem to be working for the US (as can be seen from this rather neutral article from an Obama-friendly magazine):
". . .public doubts about the stimulus have, if anything, deepened. The economy deteriorated faster than economists expected, with unemployment now predicted to exceed 10% next year, higher than the White House had projected in January."
In the end, how comfortable is the Filipino in letting the government have more money and deciding where to spend it? For me, the way out of the economic hole we have right now in a more fundamental sense (which should be our focus as our economic situation isn't as dire as the other countries) is dependent on our private sector competitiveness and improving the quality of our education (the latter of which does not necessarily mean substantial increase in spending in that regard).
Climate change trade-offs
. . . is the topic of my latest Trade Tripper column in this Friday-Saturday issue of BusinessWorld. Excerpts:
"Nevertheless, the probability that border tax measures will be implemented by developed countries against developing countries is considerable. The additional costs are simply too disconcerting to a lot of developed countries’ domestic industries. The American Petroleum Institute estimates that one in six US refineries would most likely shut down by 2020 because of such additional costs, with related transport industries increasing their own costs by an additional $178 billion annually."
"And wait for developed countries’ attempt to curb — due to climate change concerns — immigration from and job outsourcing to developing countries."
In relation to protectionism vis-a-vis migration, this article from The Economist is a worthwhile read.
"Nevertheless, the probability that border tax measures will be implemented by developed countries against developing countries is considerable. The additional costs are simply too disconcerting to a lot of developed countries’ domestic industries. The American Petroleum Institute estimates that one in six US refineries would most likely shut down by 2020 because of such additional costs, with related transport industries increasing their own costs by an additional $178 billion annually."
"And wait for developed countries’ attempt to curb — due to climate change concerns — immigration from and job outsourcing to developing countries."
In relation to protectionism vis-a-vis migration, this article from The Economist is a worthwhile read.
1.7.09
Philippines as failed State
The Philippines is apparently a "failed State", if Foreign Policy's 2009 Failed State Index is to be believed (click here). The Index makes use of 12 indicators (i.e., Demographic Pressures, Refugees/IDPs, Group Grievance, Human Flight, Uneven Development, Economic Decline, Delegitimization of the State, Public Services, Human Rights, Security Apparatus, Factionalized Elites, and External Intervention) of State cohesion and performance, compiled through a close examination of more than 30,000 publicly available sources.
A "failed State" is said to have certain attributes. One of the most common is the loss of physical control of its territory or a monopoly on the legitimate use of force. Other attributes of State failure include the erosion of legitimate authority to make collective decisions, an inability to provide reasonable public services, and the inability to interact with other states as a full member of the international community. The 12 indicators cover a wide range of elements of the risk of state failure, such as extensive corruption and criminal behavior, inability to collect taxes or otherwise draw on citizen support, large-scale involuntary dislocation of the population, sharp economic decline, group-based inequality, institutionalized persecution or discrimination, severe demographic pressures, brain drain, and environmental decay.
Of 177 States examined in order from most to least at risk of failure, 60 most vulnerable states are then listed in the failed State Index rankings. The Philippines ranks 53.
A "failed State" is said to have certain attributes. One of the most common is the loss of physical control of its territory or a monopoly on the legitimate use of force. Other attributes of State failure include the erosion of legitimate authority to make collective decisions, an inability to provide reasonable public services, and the inability to interact with other states as a full member of the international community. The 12 indicators cover a wide range of elements of the risk of state failure, such as extensive corruption and criminal behavior, inability to collect taxes or otherwise draw on citizen support, large-scale involuntary dislocation of the population, sharp economic decline, group-based inequality, institutionalized persecution or discrimination, severe demographic pressures, brain drain, and environmental decay.
Of 177 States examined in order from most to least at risk of failure, 60 most vulnerable states are then listed in the failed State Index rankings. The Philippines ranks 53.
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