PAE Conference 2015

The Singapore Social Progress Index: Measuring What Matters

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Client: Social Innovation Park Ltd (SIP)
Group Members: Lina Tang, Michelle Khoo, Rahul Advani
Faculty Advisor: Associate Professor Phua Kai Hong

The Singapore Social Progress Index (SSPI) is envisioned as the first step in building a tool that will help provide a complex, multi-dimensional measure of social progress in Singapore. While there is a wealth of existing global indicators measuring social progress, none of these are suited to the Singapore context. With this goal in mind, we create a sample Singapore Social Progress Index which measures social progress in Singapore across fifteen domains and three dimensions. We then analyze the index in the local context, and provide recommendations for the next steps in the creation of the index.

Old Age Income Security in Face of Changing Family Structure in Singapore: A Comparative Study with the Experiences of South Korea

Time: 10:10 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Client: International Longevity Centre (ILC Singapore)
Group Members: Wang Xinxi, Yisi Chen, Chew Bee Leng, Marilyn
Faculty Advisor: Assistant Professor Kim Hye-Won, Erin

In Eastern Asian countries like Singapore and South Korea, the elderly has seen a dramatic change in the society as countries rapidly developed. This study started with reviewing income sources and consumption baskets of the elderly in both societies, focusing on the intersection between demographic transition, family structure change as well as the prospects of current policies. Followed by evaluating the weakness and strengths of old-age income security systems and the identification of at-risk groups, the study provides an analysis of future pension reform possibilities for Singapore with a reference to Korea’s contexts.

Expanding the Provision for People with Dyslexia in Singapore

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Client: Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS)
Group Members: Carolina Landulfo, Zeng Yi Wong, Crystal Chandy
Faculty Advisor: Assistant Professor Ng Kok Hoe

Studies show that dyslexia affects about 10% of the population. While the Ministry of Education (MOE) has provided more support for students with dyslexia in recent years, this remains inadequate. Our analysis of the existing gaps in provision is based on our discussions with stakeholders, including the MOE, Dyslexia Association of Singapore, teachers, parents, and academia, as well as a comparison with other developed countries. We recommend a broad expansion of the current provision to improve the identification, intervention, and support for people with dyslexia. This will contribute to the continued development of Singapore as an inclusive society, where all citizens have the opportunity to achieve their aspirations.

United Nations in Indonesia: Sustaining Strategic Partnership In Middle Income Country

Time: 11:40 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.
Client: United Nations Indonesia
Group Members: Lin Zaw Min Colin, Azlan Junaidi, Faizal Rianto
Faculty Advisor: Associate Professor Heng Yee Kuang

The United Nations (UN) in Indonesia, is concerned with its role in Indonesia and its significance as a strategic partner, taking into account the country‘s Middle Income Status. This Policy Analysis Exercise aims to analyse the UN position as the development partner of choice for Indonesia and its added value to technical assistance. The research is designed to look at the important stakeholders of the UN in Indonesia and the way it manages and communicates with them. A stakeholder analysis will be used as the conceptual framework to look at the relevance of the organization as a strategic partner. This will be further analysed by prescribing the stakeholder engagement and management model that would be beneficial for the UN.

Determinants Of Financial and Social Success Factors in World Bank Projects

Time: 1:30 -p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Client: World Bank
Group Members: Han Dong, Lilia Saetova, Xiao Hui Ang
Faculty Advisor: Assistant Professor Naomi Aoki

Given World Bank’s internal resource constraint for impact maximization and mounting external pressure for result effectiveness, it is important to find out what observable determinants at project and country level will affect the success of its projects. Understanding these success drivers will shed light as to why certain development projects are more likely to succeed than others. We investigated over 4000 completed World Bank projects and tested 15 project and national level indicators for predictability of future success. These indicators include macroeconomic, socio-political and governance factors which are regressed against project outcomes as assessed by the Independent Evaluation Group. A subset of 746 projects are further tested with lagged indicators for predictive capacity.

Towards Better Education in Rural Indonesia: Lessons from Indonesia Mengajar’s Community Driven Program

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Client: Indonesia Mengajar
Group Members: Chenhong Peng, Raisa Annisa, Salwa Izani Kamarzaman
Faculty Advisor: Associate Dean and Deputy Director (Academic Affairs) Suzaina Kadir

Low quality and prevalent inequality in education systems between Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek) and the rural areas have always been a challenge for Indonesia to move forward. Too many education reforms introduced by the Government and the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have focused on achieving quality and equity in the education system but to no avail. Within this discourse, this paper explores the impact and challenges of ‘Pengajar Muda’ (a 5-year community driven program led by Indonesia Mengajar), in addressing the education issues of 1) disproportionate facilities; 2) unqualified teachers and 3) lack of synergy among policy actors in 5 rural areas. This paper proposes recommendations to sustain the impact of the program, which in the end deepen the synergy among policy actors towards inclusive and better education in rural Indonesia.

Exploring The Skill Needs For Women Working In Construction In National Capital Region (NCR), India

Time: 10:10 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Client: Just Jobs Network
Group Members: Mariana Aguirre, Aprajita Singh
Faculty Advisor: Assistant Professor Namrata Chindarkar

This study explores the needs for women working in construction in the National Capital Region (NCR) of India to better understand the skilling needs, motivations and profile of this group of women. Our client, Just Jobs Network, is a think-tank that advocates for mainstreaming gender in skill development policies. Our research collects and analyses primary data from selected construction sites in the NCR. Our findings are expected to serve as an input to recommend to the Government of India on how to improve the skill development policy framework in such a way that they not only respond to national economic challenges but also address individuals’ well-being, particularly women.

Role of Labour Migration in Equitable Economic Development in Southeast Asia

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Client: World Bank
Group Members: Kidjie Ian Cordova Saguin, Avantika Dhingra, Mallika Sridhar
Faculty Advisor: Associate Professor Zeger van der Wal

The PAE aims to understand the role of liberalization of unskilled labour migration in driving economic and human development in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (otherwise known as CLMV countries). By investigating the effect of migration on equitable economic development, the study hopes to determine i) whether a liberalized migration flow for unskilled labour migration is feasible and ii) how a governance regime can be designed considering the unique regional development concerns of ASEAN. The research employed key informant interviews and review of secondary data to establish a comprehensive stakeholder analysis using Cambodia (sending country) and Thailand (receiving country) as illustrative cases. A policy simulation exercise was also performed using the Delphi method.

Labour Migration and its Impact on Sex Trafficking in Singapore

Time: 11:40 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.
Client: Emancipasia
Group Members: Kohei Wada, Matthew Graham
Faculty Advisor: Adjunct Associate Professor Ora-orn Poocharoen

Singapore’s need for low-skilled foreign labour has brought a large cohort of young male, low-wage earners to the country. Economic indicators may demonstrate on paper that their presence is favourable to the nation’s prosperity. However, the impact of increased labour migration on issues regarding social development, such as sex trafficking in particular, remains unclear. Our research project investigates the characteristics of prostitution in Singapore to establish whether or not the growing population of low-skilled foreign workers is driving up the demand for less expensive prostitutes, and in turn, increasing the frequency of women trafficked to satisfy this demand. By targeting this cohort, we hope to evaluate government policies designed to deter sex trafficking, so that we can identify deficiencies in prevention as well as enforcement and provide recommendations to help eradicate this crime.

Employment Agency Regulation in Singapore: Consequences and Spill-Over Effects of Labour Hiring Practices for Migrant Workers

Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Client: Ministry of Manpower, Singapore
Group Members: Kohei Kitazawa, Mohamad Fadhly bin Jasni
Faculty Advisor: Associate Professor Hui Weng Tat

The current employment agency (EA) regulation framework in Singapore appears fairly comprehensive when compared to that of several other labour-receiving nations. However, it has met limited success in practice in regulating migrant worker abuse in the construction and domestic help sectors. Using qualitative research, this paper outlines how labour markets in these sectors perpetuate power and information asymmetries that severely disadvantage employees. It also proposes solutions that can improve the welfare of migrant workers in a manner that is ultimately beneficial to the state and employers as well.

Creating Sustainable Income that Adds Revenue to the National Clean Energy Fund in India

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Client: Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP)
Group Members: Murali Ramakrishnan Ananthakumar
Faculty Advisor: Visiting Professor Dodo J Thampapillai

Owing to the concerns of climate change, India has been pro-actively proposing policy mechanisms to foster renewable energy (RE) such as solar and wind. However, due to its high capital cost, there is a noticeable mismatch between the penetration rate and issued targets. Currently, revenue from coal taxation feeds into a program- The National Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) that aims to create a pool of money stock based on which RE projects would be financed across the country. The objective of this study is to create a sustainable income from the coal resources that could potentially add revenue to the NCEF for bolstering India’s ambitious targets in the renewable energy sector. The proposed policy recommendations are aligned in such a way to reap benefits from the sustainable income generated.

Extractive Industry and Public Management: Exploring the Dynamics in the Coal Industry of East Kalimantan

Time: 10:10 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Client: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Group Members: Nquyen Quynh Duong, Dessy Septiane Sukendar, Kadawathgama Naveen
Faculty Advisor: Assistant Professor Chen Jie, Yvonne

Indonesia is one of the world’s major producers of coal, producing up to 421 million tonnes in 2013. Hence, coal mining is an important aspect of Indonesia’s national resource development strategy and East Kalimantan is one of the principal contributors to the national coal industry. Therefore, this study focuses on determining the level of good governance in the coal extractive industry in East Kalimantan by analysing nine predetermined characteristics of good governance. The research uses a case study methodology that utilises qualitative and quantitative data with a descriptive approach to predict the level of governance through the perceived relationship between the three key stakeholder groups (the local government, mining firms and civil society organisations). The study objectives include delineating the prominent and recessed characteristics of good governance in the coal industry in East Kalimantan and recommending a framework for industry management and administration that can successfully uphold the pillars of good governance.

Strengthening the Presence of Australian Small-and-Medium Sized Enterprises in the Southeast Asian Region

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Client: United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB-CIIF) Finance and Development Corporation
Group Members: Ye Miao, Qin Mengqi
Faculty Advisor: Assistant Professor Li Hui

Microfinance, a way to alleviate poverty especially in rural areas, has been widely accepted in many developing countries. Our study aims to evaluate whether COCOFINANCE programs in the Philippines provided by UCPB-CIIF have benefited coconut farmers’ income and well-being and how the determinants influence the magnitude and distribution of the effect. Based on the data analysis, we find that the microfinance program has actually influenced coconut farmers’ income in some areas and improved happiness for most farmers at the significant level. It concludes that although microfinance may not substantially increase coconut farmers’ income in the short run, it provides them with a platform to self-fulfilment in the long run.

ASEAN BANKING INTEGRATION: Impediments in Implementation and a Strategic Policy Framework to Foster ASEAN Banking Integration

Time: 11:40 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.
Client: ASEAN Bankers Association
Group Members: Nicholas Choon-Jin Tan, Yee Htet (Sam), Rizky Novrianto
Faculty Advisor: Associate Professor Vu Minh Khuong

Financial integration is an integral part of ASEAN’s plans to form a regional community based around economic cooperation by promoting the freer movement of capital and ultimately a single economic market. Integration may bring benefits to the ASEAN community by strengthening its competitiveness through regional cooperation and regional commitments. This report discusses impediments to the integration process and provides policy recommendations to overcome them. This is done from an economic, political and international relations perspective, based on an understanding of the disparities among countries and perceptions about the ASEAN Economic Community. The focus is on the ASEAN 5 countries plus Vietnam.

Evaluating the Implementation of RA 9003 on Solid Waste Management: A Case Study of City of Manila and Marikina City

Time: 1:30 -p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Client: Development Academy of the Philippines
Group Members: Ririn Radiawati Kusuma, Derma Taksiah Ariffin
Faculty Advisor: Assistant Professor Yee Wai-Hang, Henry

This PAE research aims to find the implementation gap of Republic Act 9003 about Solid Waste Management in the Philippines by examining the success of Marikina City and comparing it with the slow progress of the City of Manila. The research problem is concerned with questions of the imbalance of law implementation between cities, the adoption of the institutional mechanism provided in the act, the solid waste management plan and the effectiveness of the barangay in complying with the rules and guidelines of the act and of the local ordinances. We focus on public management problems to find the implementation gap of the act. Based on literature reviews, interviews and observations, our findings show that there are public management problems on the implementation that includes: political will and leadership. The recommendations will be divided into three time frames; short term, medium term and long term. These recommendations are made in recognition of the seriousness and the importance of the implementation of RA 9003 in the City of Manila and the Philippines as a whole.

Collaborative Governance in Haze Management—Case study in ASEAN and Beijing

Time: 2:10 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Client: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Group Members: Bai Zhe, Yujing Liu
Faculty Advisor: Assistant Professor Naomi Aoki

In Asia, collaborative governance has been well adopted to tackle trans-boundary haze management by many countries. The project aims to provide a map for situating and exploring components of cross-boundary governance systems in haze management that ranges from the international level to the local level. We choose two cities to conduct analysis – ASEAN model with respect to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur (KL), and Beijing in the context of Beijing-Tianjin- Hebei (BTH) collaboration, and conducted research on the differences and contributors in these two models.

Fostering FDI Inflow from Singapore into Vietnam

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Client: Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), Vietnam
Group Members: Maria Elena Gapas Ramirez, Ngo Duy Tuan, Imran Khan
Faculty Advisor: Associate Professor Vu Minh Khuong

Although Singapore is currently the third largest contributor in terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Vietnam, its investment amount only captures 3.4% of the overall Singapore FDI stock in 2012. Since FDI is vital to the development of the Vietnam economy, this paper aims to foster and realign such economic sustenance towards government priority sectors by gauging factors that affect the satisfaction of current Singapore investors in Vietnam. Specifically, the factors include: (1) strategic location, (2) openness, (3) labour, (4) infrastructure, (5) land and natural resources, (6) institutions and government, (7) local business environment, and (8) Vietnam market.

The Movement to Reform Copyright: Where Does Creative Commons Fit In?

Time: 10:10 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Client: Creative Commons
Group Members: Katri Stanley
Faculty Advisor: Assistant Professor Wong Marn Heong

This project examines the efforts to reform copyright law and regulation, asking what policy changes are needed to better preserve the balance between the rewarding productions of new ideas, on the one hand, and allowing space for creativity to flourish, on the other. There is a specific focus on the role of Creative Commons, a US-based NGO with global reach, in the context of this broader movement.

Strengthening the Presence of Australian Small-and-Medium Sized Enterprises in the Southeast Asian Region

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Client: AustCham Singapore
Group Members: Enkhzul Orgodol, Masahiro Kawakami
Faculty Advisor: Associate Professor Vu Minh Khuong

This PAE investigates how the Australian government can stimulate her Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) interested in entering or strengthening their presences in the ASEAN region along with best policies in several countries. Based on quantitative and qualitative analysis about demand (through survey) in SMEs and the ASEAN region, specific policies for SMEs’ business expansion overseas in different countries will be shown in this report. At the end, as our conclusion, we show policy recommendations to the government and our client, Australian Chamber of Commerce.

Finding Opportunities in Silver Tourism

Time: 11:40 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.
Client: Singapore Tourism Board (STB)
Group Members: Gayanjali Pathirana Paboda, Manda Foo, Sumaiya Rahman
Faculty Advisor: Assistant Professor Yumin Joo

This PAE examines the trends and opportunities in inbound silver tourism to Singapore. It will add value to the Singapore Tourism Board’s existing research and statistics by providing a body of research and analysis that is focused on silver travel. The data collection and analysis of this PAE will reveal which areas need support and policy changes to enable tourism in Singapore to appeal to active and affluent travelers in the targeted market. The key policy recommendations made by this PAE will assist Singapore Tourism Board in its mission to enrich and enhance tourism experiences and increase tourism revenue in Singapore.

Harmonization of E-Payment Regulations in the ASEAN Region: Opportunities and Challenges

Time: 1:30 -p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Client: eBay
Group Members: Neha Mishra, Salman Arshad
Faculty Advisor: Associate Professor Ashish Lall

The PAE examines whether (a) regional harmonization of e-payment regulations can be adopted in the ASEAN region and if so, the scope and framework of harmonization; and (b) the potential costs and benefits of harmonization, keeping in mind the capacities of the regulators, service providers, and customers in the region. Based on detailed literature review, analysis of regulatory frameworks in the region and interviews with regulators and industry experts, policy options ranging from “complete” to “no” harmonization are assessed for adoption in ASEAN. The paper concludes by providing recommendations for e-payments regulatory harmonization.

Export Diversification in the South Asian Least Developed Countries

Time: 2:10 p.m. – 2:40 p.m.
Client: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Thailand
Group Members: Aibek Sattybayev, Jianying Yang, Prashanta Pradhan
Faculty Advisor: Assistant Professor Wong Marn Heong

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal are the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in South Asia. These countries have high incidence of poverty, lower economic growth and limited base of export products and destinations. Several studies have suggested that export diversification has a positive role on economic growth of countries. Based on this premise, this study aims to provide a regional analysis of export diversification patterns and trends in South Asian LDCs. The study takes a deeper look into some of the major constraints these countries are facing and provide feasible recommendations that can enable them to achieve export diversification leading to economic growth.