This paper reviews the empirical literature on the impact of economic downturns on infant mortality. Drawing on this, it examines the possible impact of the presently unfolding global economic slowdown. While there is scope for further improving our understanding of the links between economic...

The Philippines’ social protection system is anchored on the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Under the management of the Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD), the 4Ps covered over 3 million families and about 7.5 million children for a period of 64 months (February...

This paper reviews the empirical evidence linking political dynasties to the imposition of term limits under the 1987 Constitution. It finds evidence that political clans have found a way around this Constitutional constraint, by fielding more family members in power -- giving rise to more fat...

Build, Build, Build (BBB) is the ambitious P8- to P9-trillion infrastructure development program of the current Duterte administration, pledged to usher in a “golden age of infrastructure.” This paper aims to independently assess critical governance dimensions of BBB, focusing on the...

Inflation in the Philippines has accelerated over the course of 2018, with year-on-year headline inflation rising from 2.9 percent in December 2017 to 6.7 percent as of September 2018. Amidst such trends, calls have been sounded for the advanced suspension of scheduled increases in oil levies...

Trade facilitation is defined as the simplification and harmonization of international trade procedures, referring to activities, practices, and formalities involved in collecting, presenting, communicating, and processing data required for the movement of goods in international trade.4 The need...

The Philippines is among the youngest countries in the world. It will be the youngest ASEAN economy by 2050, and if one considers only those countries with populations over 100 million, globally, the Philippines will be in the top 10. Due to their economic and political role, the youth will be...

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected over 200 countries and territories, leading to well over 40 million confirmed cases and over 1.1 million deaths worldwide (covid19.who.int/). While many are hopeful, an effective vaccine is not yet assured, and the world still struggles with the so-called...

This paper elaborates on the economics of the taxi sector in the Philippines, and the impact of emerging competition such as Uber. It argues that a better understanding of the economics of the taxi industry could help inform regulators on whether and to what extent they should regulate Uber in...

The Philippine government's Comprehensive Tax Reform Program Package 1 (CTRP-1) has sparked considerable discussion on its effects on households at different income levels. This paper focuses on the impact on income inequality of the CTRP-1, discerning gaps that continue to exist in the...