One of the key challenges facing most nations is anticipating the possible paths of social, economic and political development. This forum brings together leading scholars and policymakers to engage in a discourse regarding the possible ways in which these ‘futures’ could be imagined. Ideally, underwriting these ‘futures’ ought to be the commitment for ensuring or enhancing what we imagine to be the various forms of the common good or a life of value/ decent standard of living. Much of the discourse on development in this region have focused primarily on economic growth, without giving sufficient emphasis on its holistic aspects. This forum attempts to broaden the discourse, to put economic growth in its proper context, as part of the larger puzzle of development as a whole.
Day 1 Programme: Wednesday 31 May
9.30 am - 9.45 am
Opening Address
Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Chairman, Khazanah Research Institute (KRI), Malaysia.
9.45 am - 10.45 am
Keynote Address: The current global development crisis with debt-distress at its core: Covid, Ukraine, and the banks, and what should be done.
Professor Dr Robert Wade, Professor of Political Economy and Development, LSE
11.00 am - 12.30 pm
Session 1: Economic Futures
Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and Global Value Chains (GVC) present both opportunities and challenges. Can Malaysia leverage on GVCs to advance its economic dynamism? What are the specific strategies?
Dr Guanie Lim, Assistant Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Japan
Professor Dr Pavida Pananond, Professor of International Business,Thammasat Business School, Thammasat University, Thailand
Emeritus Professor Dr Tham Siew Yean, National University of Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia
Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dato' Seri Dr. Noor Azlan Ghazali, Professor of Economics, UKM- Graduate School of Business (UKM-GSB) Malaysia
Moderator: Nithiyananthan Muthusamy, Deputy Director of Research, KRI, Malaysia
2.00 pm - 3.30 pm
Session 2: Urban Futures
More human settlements will be in urban spaces- how do we reconcile private property rights vs right to the city? Can cities create affordable and sustainable/ecological-friendly futures? What are the specific policy changes needed?
Dr Koh Sin Yee, Senior Assistant Professor of Asian Migration, Mobility and Diaspora, Institute of Asian Studies (IAS), Brunei Darussalam
Yin Shao Loong, Senior Research Associate, KRI, Malaysia
Professor Dr Tim Bunnell, Professor in the Department of Geography and Director of Asia Research Institute (ARI), National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore
Dr Kristian Saguin, Associate Professor of Geography, University of the Philippines, Philippines
Moderator: Prof Hyun Bang Shin, Professor of Geography and Urban Studies, and Director of the Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre (SEAC), LSE
3.50 pm - 5.20 pm
Session 3: Institutional Futures
In governing growth, when should Government intervene or retreat from the market; specific examples from housing, agriculture and manufacturing. With trade agreements, can Government act with national self-determination and sovereignty to achieve their developmental aims?
Professor Dr Chua Beng Huat, Professor in Urban Studies, Yale-NUS College and Professor of Sociology, NUS, Singapore
Professor Dr Yeah Kim Leng, Professor of Economics and Director of Economics Studies Programme, Jeffrey Cheah Institute Southeast Asia (JSI), Sunway University, Malaysia
Dr Kim Dong Soo,Senior Research Fellow, Korea Institute for Industrial Economic and Trade (KIET), Korea
Dr Sarena Che Omar, Deputy Director of Research, KRI, Malaysia
Moderator: Yin Shao Loong, Senior Research Associate, KRI, Malaysia
5.20 pm - 5.30 pm
Concluding Remarks
Prof Hyun Bang Shin, Professor of Geography and Urban Studies, and Director of the Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre (SEAC), LSE
Sr Dr Suraya Ismail, Director of Research, KRI, Malaysia
Day 2 Programme: Thursday 1 June
9.45 am - 10.45 am
Special Address: Recent World Trends and Threats to Malaysian Prospects
Emeritus Professor Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Senior Advisor, KRI, Malaysia
11.00 am - 12.30 pm
Session 4: Digital Futures
A digital-first future, powered by technologies such as artifical intelligence (AI) and smart cities, brings new opportunities and challenges. How can the public, private and civil sectors shape the direction of digital adoption to improve social well-being and reduce inequalities?
Adilah Junid, Director of Legal and Government Affairs, Microsoft, Malaysia
Farlina Said, Senior Analyst, Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), Malaysia
Dr Orlando Woods, Associate Professor of Geography, Associate Dean (Research and Postgraduate Programmes) and Lee Kong Chian Fellow at the Collegeof Integrative Studies, Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore
Dr Jun-E Tan, Senior Research Associate, KRI, Malaysia
Moderator: Dr Rachel Gong, Deputy Director of Research, KRI, Malaysia
2.00 pm - 3.00 pm
In Conversation with Prof Danny Quah: Growth and Welfare: Policy-Making in Emerging Economies
Professor Dr Danny Quah, Li Ka Shing Professor in Economics and Dean, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, NUS, Singapore
Moderator:
Sr Dr Suraya Ismail, Director of Research, KRI, Malaysia
3.00 pm - 4.30 pm
Session 5: Socio-Economic Futures
Low wages, low productivity, heavy reliance on foreign workers. What are the specific counter measures that can be done? Is this a case of more returns to capital than labour?
Hawati Abdul Hamid, Deputy Director of Research, KRI, Malaysia
Dr Ye Junjia, Associate Professor in Geography, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
Bryan Lim, Head of Healthcare and Head of Dana Impak, Khazanah Nasional Berhad (KNB), Malaysia
Datuk Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour, Deputy Governor, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), Malaysia
Moderator: Sr Dr Suraya Ismail, Director of Research, KRI, Malaysia
4.45 pm - 5.00 pm
Concluding Remarks
Prof Hyun Bang Shin, Professor of Geography and Urban Studies, and Director of the Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre (SEAC), LSE
Sr Dr Suraya Ismail, Director of Research, KRI, Malaysia
5.00 pm - 6.00 pm
Young Researcher's Network Event and Poster Presentations
A special session for early career researchers and students to showcase their work, and network with leading scholars and policy makers from around the world.