Knowing how future orientation varies from culture to culture can help leaders shift their attitude from judgmental to understanding and focus their collaborative efforts. A true global leader doesn’t blame local teams for failing to immediately live up to their aspirations but rather helps them achieve long-term goals one step at a time. Publication: Harvard… Continue reading Forward-Thinking Cultures
Category: Economics
Raising The Retirement Age
For one, employees aged 55 and above may still be very efficient, able and productive to the organisation they are attached to and the country as a whole. It is only logical then that those who are still productive may prefer to continue working, if not for the mandatory age of retirement. In fact, the… Continue reading Raising The Retirement Age
Slower Employment Growth Ahead
Securing a healthy economic growth amid political stability is essential to achieve Malaysia’s developmental goals. Stable economic growth has managed to partly solve problems such as poverty and unemployment. For an average person, a healthy economy means better job opportunities and higher income. This has become critical with the significant rise in the cost of… Continue reading Slower Employment Growth Ahead
Wood-based Industry deserves more attention
The wood-based industry (WBI) has long been an important segment of Malaysia’s dynamic manufacturing sector, the main driver of economic growth for the country. The industry has also played a significant role as an export earner. The industry has undergone major changes over the years, with downstream activities becoming increasingly important. Malaysia is no longer… Continue reading Wood-based Industry deserves more attention
Explaining High Oil Prices
Oil prices have been increasing dramatically in recent years. As a result, consumers are forced to endure increased costs for energy and gasoline. Oil prices affect the economy as a whole. Increased oil prices have an impact on costs involved in the manufacturing and transporting of goods; as such, they tend to result in aggravating… Continue reading Explaining High Oil Prices
The Rights of Investors in Unit Trust
Unit trusts have become an increasingly attractive option for savers, now that bank deposits earn negative returns in real terms, with inflation rates rising above interest rates offered by commercial banks. To be sure, higher returns on investments are not the only reason why one might want to resort to unit trusts. Publication: MIERScan, 20… Continue reading The Rights of Investors in Unit Trust
The Malaysian Capital Controls: A Success Story?
This paper contributes to the debate on the use of temporary controls on capital outflows as a crisis resolution measure by examining the outcome of Malaysia’s radical response to the 1997-98 financial crisis. The analysis suggests that carefully designed temporary capital controls were successful in providing Malaysian policymakers a viable setting for aiding the recovery… Continue reading The Malaysian Capital Controls: A Success Story?
Pulling Arab funds into Malaysian shores
The size of global Islamic funds has dramatically increased since the incident of September 11. Investments particularly from Islamic institutions and wealthy Muslims have shifted from conventional based funds to Islamic funds. Back in 1999, these funds were estimated at about US$800 million and now up to US$200 billion. It is interesting to know who… Continue reading Pulling Arab funds into Malaysian shores
Productivity Gains Crucial For Growth
Our obsession used to be about producing at the lowest cost, but we have since passed that stage. Now, it is about increasing productivity, by delivering better quality products and services in the most efficient way by using less labour and capital resources. A commitment towards high productivity will reduce wastages and increase efficiency. Author:… Continue reading Productivity Gains Crucial For Growth
Monetary Institutions in Malaysia & the Transition to Independence
The end of the colonial era did not mark the end of the close economic and financial relations that had developed among Britain, Malaysia and Singapore. Both Malaysia and Singapore continued to maintain their pegged exchange rate to sterling until June 1973, and to hold the bulk of their reserves in sterling even after the… Continue reading Monetary Institutions in Malaysia & the Transition to Independence