The Asia Foundation

Keynote Address by H.E. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary General of ASEAN and Trustee of The Asia Foundation, at The Asia Foundation's recent international conference: "Korea’s Changing Roles in Southeast Asia: Expanding Influence and...

Keynote Address by H.E. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary General of ASEAN and Trustee of The Asia Foundation, at The Asia Foundation's recent international conference: "Korea’s Changing Roles in Southeast Asia: Expanding Influence and Relations."

This paper utilizes a unique dataset of 500 firms in ten Cambodian provinces and a natural experiment to rigorously test one of the most important propositions in political economy; that the predictability of a corruption is more important for...

This paper utilizes a unique dataset of 500 firms in ten Cambodian provinces and a natural experiment to rigorously test one of the most important propositions in political economy; that the predictability of a corruption is more important for firm investment decisions than the amount of bribes a firm must pay, provided the bribes are not prohibitively expensive. We find persuasive evidence that this hypothesis is correct.

Cambodia, where the Provincial Business Environment Scorecard (PBES) was first implemented in 2006, and Sri Lanka where the first Economic Governance Index (EGI-SL) was conducted in 2007, are the two most recent additions to the LEGIs...

Cambodia, where the Provincial Business Environment Scorecard (PBES) was first implemented in 2006, and Sri Lanka where the first Economic Governance Index (EGI-SL) was conducted in 2007, are the two most recent additions to the LEGIs developed by The Asia Foundation and its partners.  These two indexes, based on the experience of The Asia Foundation in the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam, had to be adapted to the specific economic and administrative context of Cambodia and Sri Lanka.  They have, however, the same objectives:
• Providing updated information to the private sector about the business environment in their area, and thus creating a demand for an improved business environment.
• Creating a frame of reference for local leaders and public officials as they seek to improve policies and economic governance practices in their area.
• Stimulating a proactive and competitive process involving all relevant stakeholders in their efforts to offer a more supportive business environment.

Indonesia's "big bang" decentralization in 2001 shifted much of the responsibility for local economic development to now more than 400 district governments. But the performance of these districts has varied widely. This paper attempts to...

Indonesia's "big bang" decentralization in 2001 shifted much of the responsibility for local economic development to now more than 400 district governments. But the performance of these districts has varied widely. This paper attempts to understand the determinants of sub-national (district) growth in Indonesia and map how these determinants have changed since prior to the crisis.

In Mongolian-

Everyday across Asia men, women, and children are deceived, lured across borders and exploited. Mongolia is not immune to this crime. Cases have been recorded, but the scope and number of Mongolian victims is unknown. A...

In Mongolian-

Everyday across Asia men, women, and children are deceived, lured across borders and exploited. Mongolia is not immune to this crime. Cases have been recorded, but the scope and number of Mongolian victims is unknown. A partnership between government, civil society organizations and law enforcement officials is forming to prevent and prosecute trafficking, and to protect victims. On April 26 and 27, The Asia Foundation and USAID’s regional trafficking advisor organized a seminar to strengthen the capacity of government, civil society and police to counter trafficking, and improve prevention, protection and prosecution under Mongolian and international law.

MENDUKUNG PRAKARSA REFORMASI EKONOMI DI INDONESIA

Prakarsa Reformasi Ekonomi ini dilaksanakan Asia Foundation memanfaatkan jaringannya yang luas dengan lembaga-lembaga pemerintah dan mitra organisasi lokal yang bergerak di bidang...

MENDUKUNG PRAKARSA REFORMASI EKONOMI DI INDONESIA

Prakarsa Reformasi Ekonomi ini dilaksanakan Asia Foundation memanfaatkan jaringannya yang luas dengan lembaga-lembaga pemerintah dan mitra organisasi lokal yang bergerak di bidang studi, advokasi, dan kebijakan. Kegiatan-kegiatan yang dilakukan dalam prakarsa ini bermuara kepada tiga kelompok tujuan: menciptakan insentif bagi kebijakan ekonomi yang lebih baik; menyediakan alat untuk pelaksanaan kebijakan ekonomi yang lebih baik; dan, menjamin keterlibatan kelompok miskin. Asia Foundation mendukung penciptaan insentif bagi kebijakan ekonomi yang lebih baik melalui penguatan kapasitas bagi pihakpihak non pemerintah untuk berpartisipasi dalam pembuatan kebijakan. Sebagai contoh, Asia Foundation telah memfasilitasi pembentukan 39 asosiasi usaha kecil dan menengah di daerah (Forum Daerah UKM - Forda) dan memperkuat dialog antara

comprising lawyers, political scientists and leading academics formed and began developing an Anti-Corruption Curriculum for the National Law School, and for the Management Academy which trains most of Mongolia’s civil servants. The...

comprising lawyers, political scientists and leading academics formed and began developing an Anti-Corruption Curriculum for the National Law School, and for the Management Academy which trains most of Mongolia’s civil servants. The group met actively through the fall and early winter, and on March 21st U.S. Ambassador Mark Minton participated in a ceremony that officially launched the new curriculum for the spring semester which is soon-to-start. The Deans of each of the institutions delivered presentations in which they pledged their support for an important initiative that will inform and influence the behavior of future Mongolian leaders.

This handbook is intended to provide international election observers in Thailand with all the information needed to effectively observe and report on the voting and counting processes on election day. It also includes suggestions for...

This handbook is intended to provide international election observers in Thailand with all the information needed to effectively observe and report on the voting and counting processes on election day. It also includes suggestions for pre-election and campaign monitoring to help assess the overall electoral environment.

The Mongolian Women Farmers’ Association (MWFA) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, established in 1999. The association’s main activities are to train single-parent women-headed households to grow and sell organic...

The Mongolian Women Farmers’ Association (MWFA) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, established in 1999. The association’s main activities are to train single-parent women-headed households to grow and sell organic vegetables and poultry, and thereby increase their income.

In 2006 and 2007, The Asia Foundation (TAF) provided grants to the MWFA as part of its program promoting economic development and fighting against domestic violence. This report is an evaluation and assessment of the benefits and impacts of the project. 

Between August 8 and September 1, 2007, The Merdeka Center for Opinion Research conducted a nationwide telephone survey of 1,508 randomly selected Malaysians between 20 and 35 years old. Sampling for the respondents was structured along...

Between August 8 and September 1, 2007, The Merdeka Center for Opinion Research conducted a nationwide telephone survey of 1,508 randomly selected Malaysians between 20 and 35 years old. Sampling for the respondents was structured along the national population profile and is specifically proportional to gender, ethnicity and state of residence. The objective of this survey was to ask young adults in Malaysia to speak on issues pertaining to their participation in community activities and politics as well as their views towards governance and democracy. Six focus groups with youths and members of youth groups were also conducted in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kota Bharu, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.

The 2007 PCI survey - the third annual edition - is the largest and most comprehensive assessment and ranking of the performance of provincial governments based on the views expressed by over 6,700 entrepreneurs and managers of small and...

The 2007 PCI survey - the third annual edition - is the largest and most comprehensive assessment and ranking of the performance of provincial governments based on the views expressed by over 6,700 entrepreneurs and managers of small and medium (SME) enterprises across Vietnam's 64 provinces.

The Asia Foundation released findings from its most recent public opinion poll in Afghanistan, which covers the largest population sample ever surveyed at one time in all 34 of Afghanistan’s provinces. “Afghanistan in 2007: A...

The Asia Foundation released findings from its most recent public opinion poll in Afghanistan, which covers the largest population sample ever surveyed at one time in all 34 of Afghanistan’s provinces. “Afghanistan in 2007: A Survey of the Afghan People”  follows polls conducted by the Foundation in 2004 and 2006.  Collectively, the three surveys establish an accurate and long-term barometer of public opinion across Afghanistan to help assess the direction in which the country is moving in the post-Taliban era. A democracy assessment survey.

Follows poll conducted by the Foundation in 2004.  Collectively, with the 2007 survey, the three surveys establish an accurate and long-term barometer of public opinion across Afghanistan to help assess the direction in which the country...

Follows poll conducted by the Foundation in 2004.  Collectively, with the 2007 survey, the three surveys establish an accurate and long-term barometer of public opinion across Afghanistan to help assess the direction in which the country is moving in the post-Taliban era. A democracy assessment survey.