MGI Research

Outperformers: Maintaining ASEAN countries’ exceptional growth

| Discussion Paper
Kaushik Das Diaan-Yi Lin Anu Madgavkar Kevin Russell Jeongmin Seong Kevin Sneader Oliver Tonby Lola Woetzel
Almost half of the emerging economies that grew quickly and consistently in recent decades are in Southeast Asia. The challenges now are to maintain that momentum as circumstances change and to curb income inequality.

This discussion paper, Outperformers: Maintaining ASEAN countries’ stellar growth (PDF – 816KB), which was prepared for the 2018 Singapore Summit, takes a close look at the outperformance of ASEAN countries and focuses on two key factors: pro-growth policy agendas of productivity, income, and demand that have driven exceptional economic growth, and the underappreciated but nonetheless standout role that large companies have played in driving that growth.

It also highlights the challenge for the region is to maintain its growth momentum in changing times marked by rapid technological advances, demographic shifts, and, in some countries, concern about income inequality.