ASEAN Research Articles

A Current Review and Global Benchmark on the Challenges and Prospect of Air Pollution Mitigation in Malaysia

The paper delves into the global air pollution issue, with a particular focus on Malaysia as a member of the ASEAN community. It underscores that air pollution is not merely a statistical concern but a daily reality impacting public health and the environment. Over time, there has been a significant increase in mortality and hospitalization rates attributed to air pollution. Human activities, including industry, transportation, and waste management, are identified as major contributors to air pollution. The paper discusses Malaysia's governmental efforts to address air pollution, encompassing air quality monitoring and control systems, environmental protection acts, promotion of alternative green energy sources, and carbon emission control measures. Despite the potential of renewable energy sources such as wind and hydropower, their limitations in fully replacing traditional energy sources are highlighted. Furthermore, the paper identifies methods to control urban air pollution by reviewing successful strategies implemented in other developed countries, such as advanced public transport systems and vehicle registration and age limitations. In conclusion, this paper provides valuable insights into the air pollution issue in Malaysia and offers suggestions for controlling and mitigating its impact, thus, contributing towards cleaner air and healthier environments.

The evolution of ASEAN's language policies: A diachronic analysis of official documents and website.

Language policy plays a pivotal role in sustaining language behaviors and transforming language ideologies into practices. While the analysis of language policies in international organizations has received increasing attention, the evolution of language policies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been understudied. Existing research on ASEAN's language policies has concentrated on its official language, often overlooking the language practices and ideologies embedded within these policies. This study seeks to investigate the evolution of ASEAN's language policy by examining its official documents and website. We employed the Wayback Machine to trace the development of the ASEAN official website and adopted a corpus-based approach, utilizing tools such as AntConc and Sketch Engine, to analyze the Chairman's Statements of the ASEAN Summit (CSAS). The study reveals three key insights: 1) The evolution of the ASEAN official website can be categorized into three distinct stages. 2) A consistent use of the collective pronoun "we" in the statements highlights the emphasis on cooperation and progress across economic and political-security domains. 3) The ASEAN community has persistently upheld its values, fostering an ASEAN identity and a genuine ASEAN community throughout its development. This diachronic analysis clarifies the characteristics of ASEAN's language policy, deepening our understanding of the intricate relationship between language practices and ideology, and their implications for regional cooperation and integration.

Determinants of foreign direct invesment in eight ASEAN countries

This research aims to analyze the influence of economic growth, labor, regulatory quality, political stability, and carbon emissions on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in eight member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). With strong economic growth, a qualified workforce, good regulations, stable politics, and low environmental degradation, ASEAN member countries have great potential for investment, which generates long-term returns. This makes the ASEAN region interesting to analyze the factors that influence FDI in the region. Using the Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) method and secondary data from the World Bank, this study combines cross-sectional and time-series data to provide a comprehensive overview. The research findings indicate that variables such as labor, regulatory quality, political stability, and carbon emissions have a significant impact on foreign direct investment in ASEAN countries. These findings underscore the importance of these factors in determining the direction and volume of foreign investment. This study contributes significantly to understanding the dynamics of foreign investment in the ASEAN region and highlights the importance of efforts to improve political stability, regulatory quality, and manage carbon emissions to drive economic growth through foreign capital inflows. The implications of these findings can serve as a policy foundation for governments and stakeholders in ASEAN to enhance the attractiveness of foreign investment.

Tracing the ties that bind: navigating the static and dynamic connectedness between NFTs and equity markets in ASEAN based on QVAR-approach

Based on market integration theory, we investigate the static and dynamic connectedness between nonfungible tokens (NFTs) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) equity markets using the Quantile Vector Auto Regressive model. We also compute optimal weights and hedge ratios for our variable of interest to establish their diversification and hedging potential. Our analysis infers a moderate level of return transmission at the median quantile, where equity markets evolved as the net recipients of return spillover from the system, while NFTs emerge as key transmitters. In extreme market conditions, transmission between variables is amplified, but the increase is symmetrical across extreme quantiles, suggesting a similar impact. However, the interlinkage among assets is symmetric across conditional quantiles. The dynamic analysis demonstrates that the system integration amplifies during uncertain times (e.g., COVID-19 and the Russia–Ukraine conflict). Our portfolio analysis shows that NFTs provide diversification and hedging in all market conditions. However, the period of turmoil dampened the diversification potential, and hedging became expensive. Our study offers detailed and insightful information about the transmission mechanism and enables the participants of financial markets to diversify and hedge their portfolio.

Accelerating ASEAN's energy transition in the power sector through cross-border transmission and a net-zero 2050 view.

Faced with energy transition objectives, the ten countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have technology options to decarbonize power sector. This study investigates the hypothetical decarbonization pathways for ASEAN's power sector. Here, we present an integrated power system capacity expansion model for ASEAN over 2018-2050. The results identify different pathways by strategically pursuing renewable energy, carbon capture and sequestration, and cross-border transmission. Transmission, while accounting for a marginal share in total cost (up to 0.5%), can reduce cumulative system costs by 11.9% and help achieve net-zero emissions. Across scenarios, generation infrastructure will require a cumulative investment equivalent to 29.6%-44.6% of ASEAN's 2018 GDP (Gross Domestic Product). The investment requirements for the expansion plan, however, are unevenly distributed across countries, especially with the ambition to achieve a carbon-neutral power sector. Country-specific investments in decarbonization are a consideration for the region.

Development of Regional Human Rights Regime in Asia: Defining the Challenges

This study analyses the progress made toward establishing a cohesive regional human rights framework in Asia while identifying key obstacles that hinder its evolution. It also explores the intricate nature of constructing a unified structure for human rights in the region through a comprehensive examination of historical, cultural, political, and economic elements. The examination of current mechanisms such as the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Asian Human Rights Declaration highlights both the constraints and potential avenues for advancement. The study posits that a collaborative approach, involving regional organizations, civil society, and international collaboration, is crucial despite historical legacies, cultural differences, and economic paradoxes. The significance of addressing these challenges is highlighted by the potential advantages of establishing a unified human rights regime, which encompasses regional stability and the safeguarding of individual rights. The imperative of promoting a transformative human rights framework in Asia necessitates the maintenance of an inclusive dialogue among stakeholders moving forward.

STEM Education in ASEAN Countries: Practices and Way Forward

Several countries have developed STEM education to boost global competitiveness. Studies on the implementation of STEM have revealed that educators and curriculum developers employ a variety of frameworks. These variances highlight the need for educators in the ASEAN community to have a shared understanding of STEM implementation to guide their teaching practice. We analyzed the literature on STEM implementation to create a knowledge base that would better guide policymakers and educators. The initial literature search identified 988 studies, but only 11 articles met the inclusion criteria for selection. We report on STEM education practices in ASEAN countries, their implementation status, and their impact on learners. We also discuss the geographical and practical gaps and highlight critical areas for future inquiries.

Comparison of Logistics Level Between China and ASEAN

As a dialogue partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China has engaged in economic and trade cooperation with ASEAN for over a decade. The process of trade liberalization and facilitation between China and ASEAN has significantly influenced logistics operations while also posing new demands. To meet the requirements of expanding trade, it is imperative to comprehensively elevate logistics capabilities. This paper undertakes a longitudinal and cross-sectional comparison of China's and ASEAN's logistics capabilities, focusing on three primary dimensions: logistics performance index, logistics infrastructure, and logistics service quality. It analyzes six specific indicators, including the quality of trade and transport-related infrastructure, transport frequency, customs efficiency and border management clearance, tracking and positioning capabilities, logistics service quality, and timeliness. The findings indicate that, in longitudinal terms, Singapore has emerged as a leading logistics power, China's logistics performance surpasses the average of the ten ASEAN member states, while the other nine ASEAN countries still have substantial room for improvement in their logistics capabilities. In cross-sectional terms, from 2016 to 2023, China's various logistics performance indicators have remained stable or seen only limited enhancements. To further elevate its logistics capabilities, China should adopt measures such as enhancing customs efficiency, promoting widespread adoption of logistics internet technologies to strengthen logistics intelligence, reducing logistics costs, expanding logistics infrastructure investments, and broadening avenues for cultivating specialized logistics talent.

Evaluating the ASEAN-India FTA: Implications for India's Black Pepper trade

The impact of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA) on Indian black pepper was analysed using the SMART and gravity models. The reduction in tariff under AIFTA increased black pepper imports from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries after 2000 and caused a trade creation effect of 19.36 lakh US$. This allowed Indian consumers to benefitted from low-priced black pepper imports from ASEAN countries. Indonesia and Vietnam collectively accounted for nearly 100% of the trade creation. The distance between India and ASEAN was found to have a negative effect on trade, whereas the GDP of the importing country positively influenced the likelyhood of trade between India and ASEAN countries. The main variable of interest was the AIFTA dummy, which captured the effects of trade creation and trade diversion resulting from the regional trade agreement. The estimated coefficient of the AIFTA dummy was positive and significant, indicating a trade creation effect among AIFTA member countries as a result of the agreement.

A Comparative Study of Tourism and Advantageous Industries Between the Philippines and Thailand

The Philippines and Thailand are famous tourist countries in Southeast Asia. Against the backdrop of increasing competition in the tourism industry in Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) countries, this article undertakes a comparative and analytical examination on the development of the Philippines and Thailand's dominant tourism industry segments, namely eco-tourism and medical tourism. Compared with Thailand, the Philippines, which has a lower international reputation as a tourist destination, can enhance the competitiveness of its tourism industry by strengthening publicity on streaming platforms and promoting rural tourism while improving infrastructure construction. The Philippines' increasingly sophisticated model of environmental eco-tourism has a long-term vision. Thailand is known worldwide for its low-cost, technologically advanced medical tourism, and offers world-renowned Thai massage to further maintain its advantages in the international market. Facing the huge tourism pressure of Thailand's ecological environment, this paper puts forward some suggestions on closing scenic spots during off-season, collecting environmental protection funds from tourists, and opening digital exhibition of national culture. The Philippines and Thailand are the representatives of island and mainland tourism countries in Southeast Asia respectively. This article has a practical reference for other countries in Southeast Asia that take tourism as the pillar industry.

Communicating a vision for human resource development in Southeast Asia: a thematic analysis of the speeches of ASEAN secretaries-general

ABSTRACT In 2008, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) enacted its charter, with one of its core purposes being human resource development (HRD). From 2008 to 2022, ASEAN had three Secretaries-General (Surin Pitsuwan, Le Luong Minh, and Lim Jock Hoi) who used their platform to set the tone for how people and their development are communicated. This study seeks to understand how these leaders of the regional organisation of ASEAN represented HRD in 132 speeches (~110,000 words). Using methodological foundations of thematic analysis and qualitative content analysis, this study synthesises the explicit representations of the development of adults in the Southeast Asian workforce. Findings reveal the representations of HRD in ASEAN, the motivations for HRD, the primary beneficiaries and actors associated with HRD, and the related programmes and institutions mentioned alongside HRD by these regional leaders in the Southeast Asian context. Findings regarding the influence of regional leader communication on HRD policy and practice are discussed, and implications for research and practice are provided.

Comprehensive Cosmetic Regulations comparison of selected Emerging markets with US

A comprehensive analysis of cosmetic rules in selected emerging markets, specifically the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the East African Community (EAC), and compared them with those of regulations in United States of America. The historical context of cosmetics emphasises its long-standing function in society, as well as the dual character of cosmetic items as both beauty enhancers and possible sources of health hazards due to hazardous substances. The US regulatory frameworks are distinguished by severe regulations for consumer safety, ingredient transparency, and ethical manufacturing practices, which are principally implemented by the Food and Drug Administration. Although emerging markets are working towards harmonised guidelines that are consistent with international standards, there are still significant disparities in enforcement and compliance. This study dives into significant regulatory issues such as cosmetic definitions, production procedures, safety regulations, and labelling laws. Understanding these regulatory landscapes is critical for firms navigating the intricacies of the global cosmetics market.

Institutional Quality and Trade Competitiveness in ASEAN Region: Implication for Inclusive and Sustainable Development

This study examined institutional quality and trade competitiveness in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) using panel data and a fixed effect model. It was revealed that while control of corruption, government effectiveness, and political stability, absence of violence and terrorism significantly encourage trade competitiveness by about 33.126%, 91.958%, and 55.004%, weak regulatory quality, rule of law, and lack of voice and accountability significantly discourage trade competitiveness by about 25.331%, 95.599%, and 7.561%. ASEAN governments and their citizens should strive harder to effectively run all-inclusive and democratic governments, encourage strong regulatory quality, impartial rule of law, and voice and accountability.

China-ASEAN Collaborative Governance of Energy Transition under the Belt and Road Initiative: Status, Challenges and Approaches

This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of the collaborative governance practices between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the realm of energy transition. It examines how the actions of Chinese energy-related entities have fostered political trust among ASEAN member states under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The process of energy transition is characterized by its regional nature, high investment, and prolonged transition period. ASEAN member states have demonstrated a commitment to achieving regional energy transition, yet they are deficient in the critical elements necessary to translate proposals into actionable practices. Supported by the BRI, various spatial levels of Chinese entities have entered ASEAN to participate in cooperative governance of energy transition. The cooperation between the China-ASEAN community on the issue of energy transition has enabled an orderly and efficient progression of energy transition in Southeast Asia. Concurrently, it has bolstered the trust of ASEAN member states in China, reducing their indecisiveness in regional affairs.

Regional Approaches to Enforcing MARPOL: Lessons from the European Union and ASEAN

This paper provides a comparative analysis of the enforcement of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) within two regional frameworks: the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Using a mixed-method approach, the study examines key factors such as regulatory coherence, institutional capacity, compliance monitoring, and economic challenges that affect MARPOL enforcement in these regions. The results reveal that the EU's enforcement is more advanced due to its harmonized legal frameworks, centralized oversight through the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), and robust technical capacity. In contrast, ASEAN faces fragmented enforcement, limited institutional capacity, and economic constraints, leading to varying levels of compliance across member states. The study identifies best practices from the EU that could inform improvements in ASEAN’s enforcement mechanisms, emphasizing the need for enhanced regional cooperation and capacity building. These findings offer valuable insights for global efforts to strengthen MARPOL enforcement, particularly in developing regions with similar challenges.

Bridges Across the Pacific: Peru-Philippines Foreign Policy and Trade Dynamics Five Decades After Diplomatic Relations

Peru and the Philippines, linked by a shared Spanish colonial past, seek to deepen their bilateral relationship despite the geographical distance. Diplomatic relations between the two countries, formally established in 1974, have been intermittent, with closures and reopening of embassies. Currently, neither country has an embassy in the other.Regarding bilateral trade, it has grown in recent decades, albeit with moderate dynamism, but with great potential yet to be developed. Peruvian exports to the Philippines have concentrated on fishmeal and copper, while imports from the Philippines have been more diversified, with products of low and medium-high value added. Despite the growth, trade between the two countries is still relatively small compared to Peru's other trading partners in Asia.Although there is still no Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in place, the possible entry of the Philippines into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the recent first meeting of the bilateral consultation mechanism, the first meeting of Peru with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) under the framework of a development partner, and the interaction in multilateral mechanisms such as APEC and the Pacific Alliance are key elements to promote greater trade and strengthen ties between both nations.

Strategic Positioning Behavior and the Inter-Granger-Causality of Alternative Securities Investments in Thailand: A Study

In this study the strategic positioning behavior of Thai investors from 1997 to 2022 was evaluated in order to explore the deterministic variables of why they might prefer to invest in either money markets or mutual funds/bonds, relative to equity market investments. Using factor analysis and publicly available financial data to answer these questions, it was discovered that attractive yields and the tradeoff of risk-return were essential factors that led to such investment behavior. Using a cointegration Autoregressive Distributed Lag method, an Error Correction Model, and Granger causality to verify these findings, dividend yield and risk-return tradeoff were the only predicted causes. The multiplier effects of marginal propensity to invest and equity market investment turnover in Thailand are catching up in terms of economic development in other Association of Southeast Asian Nations. These findings point to a need for further innovative development of Thai equity and alternative investment markets.

Diplomacy and International Cooperation in ASEAN: An Analysis of Politics, Economy, and Law in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore

This article explores ASEAN's pivotal role in contemporary regional development and global change, focusing on politics, economics, and law in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore. ASEAN, as a major actor in state studies, offers theoretical innovations rooted in abundant empirical material, with diverse strategic outlooks and potential interactions. This research seeks to understand how ASEAN, through an interdisciplinary approach, utilizes the existing resources in Southeast Asian studies and the advantages of multidisciplinarity to build a dynamic, distinctive, and autonomous ASEAN studies. The article also discusses how the construction of ASEAN studies not only responds to contemporary propositions from regional and national studies, but also promotes the enhancement of global knowledge systems through systematic learning, research, and application practices. In addition, it evaluates current opportunities and challenges in the political, economic, and legal contexts of the five ASEAN countries mentioned earlier. The ultimate goal of this research is to help build a community of shared future for humanity by consolidating the intellectual foundation of the ASEAN community for a shared future.

Digital Convergence and Divergence in EU and ASEAN Economies

Abstract This study examines the evolving digital economy in terms of convergence and divergence in European Union (EU) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries over the period from 2010 to 2024, including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This research uses a range of digital economy indices, including the ICT Development Index, E-Government Development Index, Online Service Index, Telecommunication Infrastructure Index, and Human Capital Index. It aims to identify and compare the patterns of convergence or divergence in digital indicators within and between the EU and ASEAN regions. The study employs beta convergence analysis, sigma convergence analysis, and difference-in-difference analysis to compare digital performance and assess the impact of the pandemic on the digital economy. By contrasting the digital development paths of the EU and ASEAN, the study provides insights into the digital gap and offers policy recommendations to promote more equitable digital development in both regions. The findings indicate that while the EU demonstrates more consistent convergence across digital indices, ASEAN exhibits both convergence and divergence, particularly during the post-pandemic period. The results reveal the urgent need for policy interventions aimed at reducing regional digital gaps, especially by enhancing digital infrastructure and improving human capital. This research offers valuable insights for policymakers in both regions, providing actionable strategies to foster inclusive digital development, enhance resilience in the face of global crises, and bridge the digital divide in an increasingly interconnected world.

Perceived values of luxury fashion brands—evidence from Indonesian Millennials

Consumers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries represent rapid growth, and they are anticipated to become next wave of important markets for luxury fashion sector. This empirical study aims to examine millennials’ perceptions towards luxury fashion brand values and how these influence their purchase intentions in Indonesia, the biggest market in the ASEAN. Through quantitative research, the primary data was collected from 301 self-completed online questionnaires. It is revealed that Indonesian millennials regard the consumption of luxury fashion brands as an investment. Meanwhile, ethical and sustainability issues have become increasingly important in consumers’ decisions to purchase luxury fashion brands. Based upon the value-based segmentation of luxury consumption, the present study recognizes that Indonesian millennials prioritize symbolic and financial values and seek conspicuousness in line with self-identity.