Tuesday, February 06, 2007 US economist blames lack of political will
FOR “permanent and lasting” changes to be felt in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-member societies, it takes more than just the signed agreements.
Dr. Charles Rarick, an economist from Florida, said implementation is a “critical factor” for the Asean.
The regional grouping’s great challenge, however, is to have the “political will” to reduce corruption, said Rarick, citing the “long established” fact that the more corruption there is, the less economic development for a nation.
Least corrupt
He compared Singapore with Myanmar, pointing out that Singapore is the least corrupt among Asean members and has a gross domestic product (GDP) of $24,000 while Myanmar, known as the “most corrupt” among Asean members, only has a GDP of $1,900.
The Philippines, he cited, is 117th in the corruption perception index that the Transparency International prepared.
Rarick was the speaker in yesterday’s forum on economic integration at the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. The director of international business at the Andreas School of Business in Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida, Rarick was the 2005 Fulbright senior specialist to Myanmar.
He said a successful economic integration will require political will not only to reduce corruption, but also to allow “economic freedom” or liberalization, and to be “forward thinking.”
Standard policy
Rarick stressed the importance for government not just to do more of everything but to focus on what the country is good at.
“There would be no use, for example, to try to compete with China on textiles,” he said. Talks among local residents on economic integration were fueled with the holding of the 12th Asean Summit in Cebu last month.
The summit’s output included an agreement for a uniform and standard customs policy among member-nations, as well as the agreement that will give freedom for nurses to practice their profession anywhere in the Asean communities. Another agreement was signed for the protection of migrant workers.
There was nothing, however, on having a single currency for the Asean although this was the most frequently asked question during the summit.
Leaders thought of filling the economic “gap” among member-nations first, and making steps for cultural integration, before discussing a single currency. (JPM)
