The Philippines, a country of great promise in the 1950s, has greatly lagged behind many other Asian countries. Between 1991 and 1994 urban poverty declined from 26% to 29%; but rural poverty virtually stagnated at a much higher rate: 55% and 54%, respectively. Poverty lending programs were...

This paper contributes to the literature on financial inclusion in the Philippines by examining three key financial services, namely, savings, credit, and insurance, and identifying individual socioeconomic characteristics that are associated with access to these financial services. Financial...

Set against a rapidly changing global environment, Philippine industries now, more than ever, are facing new demands that will require more innovation for firms to remain competitive across the global market. The PIDS Survey on Innovation Activities (PSIA) conducted among firms in food...

Digital technology applied to banking and financial transactions or e-finance in general has made financial services more widely available and affordable to consumers. And with appropriate and affordable technologies and applications, the financially excluded and the unserved can participate in...

Globally, the rise of new and unexpected risks and shocks has impacted stable and poor societies alike, and some, especially the latter, have become increasingly dysfunctional. The Philippines is peculiarly challenged to build economic resilience as indicated by its high-risk exposure and...

This paper looks at the existing credit programs for smallholders, including agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). It also assesses the Agrarian Production Credit Program, which is a program being implemented in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and the Land Bank of the...

Everyone has an opinion on how to solve the terrible traffic plaguing Manila every hour of every day. Many people blamed the behemoth cargo trucks plying the roads everyday, inconveniencing thousands of commuters and car drivers by taking up too much space. People across the metropolis rejoiced...

Social enterprises are gaining popularity in many parts of the world due to their great potential to advance the agenda of inclusive and sustainable growth. The uniqueness of social enterprises lies on their core advocacies, i.e., the attainment of community well-being and human development....

The EDSA bus market is fiercely competitive. In theory, allowing competition among many bus operators is expected to result in cost-effective and reliable transport services, and efficient use of roads. However, in reality, the outcomes are far different: daylong traffic jam and poor bus service...

Using a purposive online and paper-based survey and focus group discussions with select target groups, this study makes inferences about the level of awareness of the Filipino people on ASEAN; their perceived problems confronting the Philippines and ASEAN; and their aspirations, concerns, and...