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Articles 1 - 14 of 14
Full-Text Articles in Political Economy
Weak Law V Strong Ties: An Empirical Study Of Business Investment, Law And Political Connections In China, Wei Zhang, Ji Li
Weak Law V Strong Ties: An Empirical Study Of Business Investment, Law And Political Connections In China, Wei Zhang, Ji Li
Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law
Based on a large-scale survey of Chinese entrepreneurs, our study explores how institutions (formal and informal) influence investment decisions made by private companies. The study finds that, consistent with the conventional view, a more effective legal system is correlated with short-term general investment, and that the judiciary is important mainly because of its restraint over the state. The role of effective courts, however, diminishes when private entrepreneurs consider making long-term investment. We find a positive association between the entrepreneurs’ political backgrounds and their R&D investment, suggesting that Chinese courts, in spite of decades of reform, are not yet viewed as …
Inside The Black Box: Political Economy Of The Trans-Pacific Partnership's Encryption Clause, Han-Wei Liu
Inside The Black Box: Political Economy Of The Trans-Pacific Partnership's Encryption Clause, Han-Wei Liu
Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law
Among other provisions of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, a new clause on encryption technology (‘Encryption Clause’) is particularly noteworthy. By tracing the history of decades-long encryption control, this article underscores how this clause implicates international order. Modern encryption technology was conceived and developed during World Wars. Painted by such a war-time legacy, encryption has been treated as a ‘dual-use’ technology and has been subject to export control since the end of World War II via the Coordinating Committee for the Control of Multinational Trade (COCOM) and, later, the Wassenaar Arrangement. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Western …
Moving From Tension To Symbiosis In A Distinctive City, Tan K. B. Eugene
Moving From Tension To Symbiosis In A Distinctive City, Tan K. B. Eugene
Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law
In a commentary, SMU Associate Professor of Law Eugene Tan noted that meticulous urban planning has enabled Singapore to attain a high quality of living, delicately balancing the inherent tension between the economy and the environment. He shared his views on relevant issues such as the conflicting interests between Singapore’s immigration policy and its national identity, as well as the inherent tension between the economy and the environment. Associate Prof Tan pointed out that the quest to balance economic growth with environment concerns and social character is not a mere luxury but a growing imperative. He added that as Singapore …
Brexit Giving Shared Sovereignty A Bad Name, Tan K. B. Eugene
Brexit Giving Shared Sovereignty A Bad Name, Tan K. B. Eugene
Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law
In a commentary, SMU Associate Professor of Law Eugene Tan shared his thoughts on Britain's vote to leave the European Union (EU). He noted that if the UK’s exit, or Brexit, is poorly managed, it may presage the slow decline and growing irrelevance of the EU in the global political economy. He opined that the tragedy of Brexit is the profound misunderstanding of sovereignty, adding the concern now is the risk of populist exit contagion gaining traction in other EU member states, all in the name of sovereignty and democratic choice. Associate Prof Tan also said the entire episode holds …
Balancing Short-Term Concerns, Long-Term Goals, Tan K. B. Eugene
Balancing Short-Term Concerns, Long-Term Goals, Tan K. B. Eugene
Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law
To be delivered almost a month later than usual, this year’s Budget will be closely watched for Singapore’s strategy on economic growth, income redistribution, reducing societal inequality and the government’s role in seeking a national consensus on these key issues.
Wage A Measured Battle Against The Bottle, Tan K. B. Eugene
Wage A Measured Battle Against The Bottle, Tan K. B. Eugene
Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law
In a commentary, SMU Associate Professor of Law and Nominated Member of Parliament Eugene Tan believed that there are legitimate and pressing concerns to justify the close scrutiny of the existing regime on alcohol sale and consumption. He felt that the authorities could leverage market research data to understand the drinking culture and norms here and generate nuanced regulatory responses to alcohol sale and consumption. The insights gleaned from such research could aid our understanding of the dynamics of the drinking culture here. Associate Prof Tan added that the key policy challenge in the review process is to tackle the …
Relevance Of The Regulatory State In North/South Intersections, Mark Findlay, Si Wei Lim
Relevance Of The Regulatory State In North/South Intersections, Mark Findlay, Si Wei Lim
Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law
Purpose – What seems like a new social anthropology of global regulation is an endeavour much too grand for this paper, even though it has much merit. To contain the analysis which follows, the discussion of social embeddedness will be restricted to a comparison of markets which retain some local or regional integrity from those which have become largely removed from cultural or communal social bonds. An example is between markets trading in goods and services with a consumer base which is local and subsistence, and markets in derivative products that are inextricably dependent on supranational location. The paper aims …
Budget 2014 Is About Doing The Right Thing, Tan K. B. Eugene
Budget 2014 Is About Doing The Right Thing, Tan K. B. Eugene
Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law
In a commentary, SMU Associate Professor of Law and NMP Eugene Tan opined that the Budget’s move for the Pioneer Generation Package (PGP) was important and the right thing to do, as it mattered politically, and provided benefits and assurance to the pioneers. He said it was wise to set aside the $8b cost of the package, so future generations would not bear the cost of financing it. The Budget had acknowledged its role in caring for the elderly as well as preparing for the future and promoting social mobility through education assistance schemes for the children of lower earners, …
The Makings Of A Social Investment State, Tan K. B. Eugene
The Makings Of A Social Investment State, Tan K. B. Eugene
Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law
In a commentary, SMU Associate Professor of Law and NMP Eugene Tan opined that the Budget was an economic, political and social instrument, and not just a fiscal policy instrument. He said that key economic themes persisted in Budget 2014: productivity, restructuring, reducing reliance on foreign labour and long-term planning. He highlighted that the Budget was dominated by social themes, as it exuded inclusiveness, equity and gratitude. The Government’s expansion of schemes to reduce the income gap and improve social mobility was actually a move to make up for its lack of investments in the social sector in past years, …
Overcoming Fear Of The ‘Other’, Tan K. B. Eugene
Overcoming Fear Of The ‘Other’, Tan K. B. Eugene
Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law
In a commentary about the political and economic changes in Myanmar, SMU Associate Professor of Law and NMP Eugene Tan opined that deep-seated sectarian conflict could prove to be the Achilles heel of Myanmar’s reforms. He noted that the mere introduction of democracy anywhere will not miraculously transform voters into fair-minded citizens and that democracy requires the rule of law, a minimal level of education and political maturity, or it would degenerate into the tyranny of majority rule where might is right. Associate Prof Tan said that Myanmar must guard against this tendency and embrace the rich diversity in its …
Why It’S A High-Speed Game Changer, Tan K. B. Eugene
Why It’S A High-Speed Game Changer, Tan K. B. Eugene
Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law
SMU Assistant Professor of Law Eugene Tan said that the agreement to build a high-speed rail (HSR) link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore marks a milestone in bilateral relations. He noted that the HSR project is a manifestation of the imperative for Singapore and Malaysia to collaborate closely, leveraging on each other’s complementarities and strengths. Ideally, the HSR link would have a knock-on effect in engendering confidence and momentum in bilateral ties. In the meantime, with the HSR in the making, both governments should work resolutely on other existing plans, such as the Rapid Transit System (RTS) link between Singapore …
A Tilt In Favour Of The Older Generation, Less Fortunate, Tan K. B. Eugene
A Tilt In Favour Of The Older Generation, Less Fortunate, Tan K. B. Eugene
Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law
Assistant Professor of Law Eugene Tan writes that although there are generally no significant handouts, offsets or goodies, Budget 2012 addresses some of the key genuine concerns of Singaporeans during the May 2011 General Election. It is also expected to generate a surplus of S$1.3 billion at a time when many advanced economies are in recession and with significant deficits.
The Singapore Town-Hall Meeting, Tan K. B. Eugene
The Singapore Town-Hall Meeting, Tan K. B. Eugene
Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law
Professor Eugene Tan forecasts what the Prime Minister might say in his National Day Rally speech. He predicts it will touch on the ecomomy, Presidential election and social cohesion, among other issues.
To Build A Nation From The Bottom Up, Tan K. B. Eugene
To Build A Nation From The Bottom Up, Tan K. B. Eugene
Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law
After 45 years of economic achievement, genuine political participation has to be the next stage