Negative inflation, stagnant wage growth and an ageing population are forcing Japanese policy-makers to take innovative and, some would say, counterproductive measures to revive the economy. Stefania Palma reports.
Latest articles from Stefania Palma
Japanese private equity: at a turning point?
June 1, 2017Japan's private equity market may contribute only a small percentage of the country's GDP but, amid a sluggish economic revival, there are signs it is beginning to have a greater influence, reports Stefania Palma.
CEO fine-tunes Maybank's business at home and abroad
May 2, 2017Maybank’s president and CEO, Abdul Farid Alias, tells Stefania Palma how the lender is refining asset and liability management in its home market of Malaysia while growing in south-east Asian markets such as Indonesia.
Pemandu chief takes Malaysia down moderate path
May 2, 2017The CEO of Malaysia’s Performance Management and Delivery Unit, more commonly known as Pemandu, tells Stefania Palma how his decision to avoid a high-leverage economic model is benefiting the country.
Top 100 Asean Banks: Singapore stays strong but Cambodia on the rise
April 3, 2017Though Singapore’s ‘big three’ continue to take the top spots in The Banker’s Top 100 Asean Banks ranking, the more notable performances come from lenders in Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia. Stefania Palma reports.
Asian Development Bank president looks forwards on 50th anniversary
April 3, 2017As the Asian Development Bank celebrates its 50th anniversary, president Takehiko Nakao talks to Stefania Palma about the organisation’s achievements, future objectives and approach to the effects of geopolitical risk on the region.
Connecting Indonesia: bringing finance to a population of 250 million
April 3, 2017The fourth most populous country in the world spread across more than 6000 islands, banks have struggled to reach out beyond Indonesia's big cities up to now. However, a digital transformation is gripping the country, bringing with it the promise of huge increase in financial inclusion. Stefania Palma reports.
Indonesia’s finance authority plans to deepen bond market
April 3, 2017Indonesia’s financial supervisory authority has been rolling out reforms to deepen the local currency bond market. Now, the country’s national infrastructure investment plans could help the sector expand further, as Stefania Palma reports.
Malaysia's shot in the arm for Islamic wealth management
April 3, 2017While Islamic finance is popular within Malaysia, concerns have been voiced about the country's sluggish growth as an international centre. To combat this, regulators in the country are pinning their hopes on sharia-compliant fund and wealth management. Stefania Palma reports.
Finance minister Indrawati takes on Indonesia’s most taxing problem
March 27, 2017As finance minister of Indonesia, one of Sri Mulyani Indrawati’s priorities is to boost government revenue by tackling low tax receipts. These are caused by an overly complicated system – but modifying regulation will be a slow process. Meanwhile, she has major industries that are paying relatively low levels of tax in her sights, as Stefania Palma reports.