The Deployment of Fiscal Policy In Five ASEAN Countries in Dampening The Impact of COVID-19
Keywords:
ASEAN, COVID-19, Economic Stimulus Package, Fiscal policy, Political Economy, Theory of Fiscal policyAbstract
The COVID-19 crisis is casting a long shadow over ASEAN and its member states. The number of individuals infected by it continues to surge daily. COVID-19 has rapidly morphed into an unprecedented health, economic and geopolitical crisis. Among the sectors that have practically ground to a halt are the tourism, aviation and travel sectors. This paper attempts to examine the initiatives taken by several ASEAN countries in mitigating the impact of COVID-19. A content analysis was employed in order to understand the economic stimulus packages employed by five ASEAN countries in dampening the effect of COVID-19. Several evidences are presented in this paper by referring to published data, and information from secondary sources such as scholarly articles and journals, newspapers and data from the web. The findings are also strengthened by connecting those initiatives with a political economy theory of fiscal policy. The study found that the majority of ASEAN countries employ fiscal policy in order to stimulate the economy and encourage full employment.
References
Ahmad Ghazali, I., Arlinah, A. R., and Azlina, H. (2017). Electricity consumption and economic growth in ASEAN. Journal of Emerging Economies & Islamic Research, 5(2), 16–27.
ASEAN Secretariat (2012). Directory of Innovative SMEs in ASEAN. Jakarta: ASEAN Secretariat.
ASEAN Policy Brief (2020). Economic Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on ASEAN. Retrieved on 11 November 2020 from https://asean.org/?static_post=asean-policy-brief
Auerbach, Alan, William Gale and Benjamin Harris (2010). Activist Fiscal Policy. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 24(4), 141–164.
Berita Harian Online (2020). Pakej Rangsangan Ekonomi 2020. Retrieved on 5 April 2020 from https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2020/02/660080/info-pakej-rangsangan-ekonomi-2020
BCCampus (2020). Using Fiscal Policy to Fight Recession, Unemployment, and Inflation. Retrieved on 3 April 2020 from https://opentextbc.ca/principlesofeconomics2eopenstax/chapter/using-fiscal-policy-to-fight recession-unemployment-and-inflation/
Battaglini, M. and Coate, S. (2016). A Political Economy Theory of Fiscal policy And Unemployment. Journal of the European Economic Association, 14(2), 303–337.
Blanchard, O. (2020). The three ways fiscal policy can be used to fight COVID-19 and the coronavirus recession. Retrieved on 10 May 2020 from https://equitablegrowth.org/the-three-ways-fiscal-policy-can-be-used-to-fight-covid-19-and-the-coronavirus-recession/
Canh, N. P. (2018). The effectiveness of fiscal policy: contributions from institutions and external debts. Journal of Asian Business and Economic Studies, 25(1), 1-18.
Castro, M. F. E. (2020). Fiscal Policy and COVID-19: Insights from a Quantitative Model. Retrieved on 10 May 2020 from https://research.stlouisfed.org/publications/economic-synopses/2020/03/27/fiscal-policy-and-covid-19-insights-from-a-quantitative-model
Chan J. F. W., Yuan, S., Kok, K. H., To, K. K. W., Chu, H., Yang, J. (2020). A familial cluster of pneumonia associated with the 2019 novel coronavirus indicating person-to-person transmission: a study of a family cluster. The Lancer, 395(10223), 514-23.
Djalante, R., Shaw, R. and DeWit, R. (2020). Building resilience against biological hazards and pandemics: COVID-19 and its implications for the Sendai Framework. Progress in Disaster Science, 6, 1-7.
Elgin, Basbug and Yalaman (2020). Economic policy responses to a pandemic: Developing the COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Index. Retrieved on 10 May 2020 from https://voxeu.org/article/economic-policy-responses-pandemic-covid-19-economic-stimulus-index
Gaspar, V., Lam, W. R. and Raissi, M. (2020). Fiscal Policies to Contain the Damage from COVID-19. Retrieved on 10 May 2020 from https://blogs.imf.org/2020/04/15/fiscal-policies-to-contain-the-damage-from-covid-19/
Hooi, W. K. and Kandar, F. W. (2020). COVID-19 Stimulus Measures & Incentives With Special Focus on Projects & Infrastructure Sectors. Retrieved on 24 December 2020 from www.zicolaw.com
IDN Financials (2020). Pertamina projects revenue decline due to COVID-19 pandemic. Retrieved on 9 May 2020 from https://www.idnfinancials.com/news/33570/pertamina-projects-revenue-decline-covid-pandemic
Ing, L. Y. (2020). Improving ASEAN COVID-19 Management. Retrieved on 11 November 2010 from https://theaseanpost.com/article/improving-asean-covid-19-management
Hancher, L. and Moran, M. (1989). Introduction: Regulation and deregulation. European Journal of Political Research, 17, 129-136.
Hutt, D. (2020). Mass unemployment the new normal in SE Asia. Retrieved on 11 November 2020 from https://asiatimes.com/2020/05/mass-unemployment-the-new-normal-in-se-asia/
Kimura, F., Thangavelu, S. M., Narjoko, D. A., and Findlay, C. (2020). Pandemic (Covid-19) Policy, Regional Cooperation, And The Emerging Global Production Network. Retrieved on 9 May 2020 from https://jci.edu.my/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/JCI-JSC-WP-2020-01-Pandemic-COVID-19-Policy.pdf#
Kokalari, M. and Tran, H. (2020). COVID-19’s Economic Impact on Vietnam Intensifies. Retrieved on 9 May 2020 from https://vinacapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/COVID%E2%80%99s-Economic-Impact-on-Vietnam-06-APRIL-2020.pdf
Martinus, M. and Seah, S. (2020). Are ASEAN Stimulus Dollars Going towards Sustainability? Retrieved on 24 December 2020 from https://www.iseas.edu.sg/articles-commentaries/iseas-perspective
McKibbin, W. J. and Fernando, R. (2020). The global macroeconomic impacts of COVID-19: Seven scenarios. Retrieved on 9 May 2020 from https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-global-macroeconomic-impacts-of-covid-19-seven-scenarios/
Muhammad Umer, N., Roberts, J. Muller, N. L., Macri, F., Mohammed, M.F., Akhlaghpoor, S. Parker, W., Edtekhari, A. Rezaei, S. Mayo, J. and Nicolaou, S. (2020). The Role of Emergency Radiology in COVID-19: From Preparedness to Diagnosis. Canadian Association of Radiologists’ Journal, 71(3), 293-300.
Medina, A. F. (2020). ASEAN Incentives to Counter COVID-19 Impact. Retrieved on 1 April 2020 from https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/asean-incentives-to-counter-covid-19-impact/
Menon, J. (2020). Assessing the economic impacts of COVID-19 on ASEAN countries. Retrieved on 2 April 2020 from https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2020/03/27/assessing-the-economic-impacts-of-covid-19-on-asean-countries/.
Menon, J. (2020b). COVID-19 and ASEAN+3: Impacts and Responses. SSRN papers. Retrieved from https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3595012
New Straits Times (2020). Cambodia allows tax exemption for aviation, tourism sector. Retrieved on 5 April 2020 from https://www.nst.com.my/world/region/2020/04/580928/cambodia-allows-tax-exemption-aviation-tourism-sector
New Straits Times (2020a). PM's speech on Additional Prihatin SME Economic Stimulus Package. Retrieved on 8 April 2020 from https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/04/581935/full-text-pms-speech-additional-prihatin-sme-economic-stimulus-package
Norlin, K. (2020). Impact of Pandemic on Economy and Recovery Policy. Retrieved on 10 May 2020 from https://www.bernama.com/en/features/news.php?id=1829686
OECD (2020). Tax and Fiscal Policy in Response to the Coronavirus Crisis: Strengthening Confidence and Resilience. Retrieved on 10 May 2020 from https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/view/?ref=128_128575-o6raktc0aa&title=Tax-and-Fiscal-Policy-in-Response-to-the-Coronavirus-Crisis
OECD (2020b). COVID-19 crisis response in ASEAN Member States. Retrieved on 11 November 2020 from https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/view/?ref=129_129949-ehsuoqs87y&title=COVID-19-Crisis-Response-in-ASEAN-Member-States
Robertua, V. (2016). ASEAN Economic Community And Small-Medium Enterprises: An English School Perspective. Jurnal Hubungan Internasional, 5(1), 22-30
Salim, N., Chan, W. H., Shuhaimi, M., Nor Erne, N. B., Safiya, A., Ahmad Athif, M. F., Anazida, Z., Sharin, H. H., Hooi, E. K. J. and Shaekh, M. S. (2020). COVID-19 epidemic in Malaysia: Impact of lockdown on infection dynamics. Unpublished Manuscript. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.08.20057463
Singapore Business Review (2020). Tourism sector to receive tax rebates in 2020. Retrieved on 5 April 2020 from https://sbr.com.sg/hotels-tourism/news/tourism-sector-receive-tax-rebates-in-2020
Strangio, S. (2020). Southeast Asian Economies Face Generational Downturn from COVID-19. Retrieved on 12 November 2020 from https://thediplomat.com/2020/09/southeast-asian-economies-face-generational-downturn-from-covid-19/
The Nation Thailand (2020). Indonesia unveils $742 million stimulus to counter virus impact. Retrieved on 5 April 2020 from https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30382831
The Star (2020). Indonesia unveils US$742mil stimulus to counter virus impact. Retrieved on 5 April 2020 from https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2020/02/25/indonesia-unveils-us742mil-stimulus-to-counter-virus-impact
Lu, H., Stratton, C. W., & Tang, Y. W. (2020). Outbreak of pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan, China: the mystery and the miracle. Journal of Medical Virology, 92(4), 401-402.
Louis, J. (2020). Tourism in Thailand and Cambodia take a virus hit. Retrieved on 5 April 2020 from https://theaseanpost.com/article/tourism-thailand-and-cambodia-take-virus-hit
World Health Organization (2020). Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Situation Report-12.
Peng, L., Zhang, J., Li, M., Li, P., Zhang,Y., Zuo, X., Miao,Y., Xu,Y (2012). Negative life events and mental health of Chinese medical students: the effect of resilience, personality and social support. Psychiatry Research, 196(1),138-41.
Kernan, W. D. (2019). Health-related impediments to learning among dental and oral surgery students. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community, 47(1),32-44.
KPMG (2020). A Bridge Past COVID-19: The path for the economy. Retrieved on 2 April 2020 from https://www.kpmg.us/insights/2020/bridge-past-covid-19.html
Searight, A. (2020). Southeast Asian Responses to COVID-19: Diversity in the Face of Adversity. Retrieved on 2 April 2020 from https://www.csis.org/analysis/southeast-asian-responses-covid-19-diversity-face-adversity
UNCTAD (2020). Global trade impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic. Retrieved on 5 April 2020 from https://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/ditcinf2020d1.pdf
Venkateswaran, L. and Huani, Z. (2020). Dealing with COVID-19 in ASEAN. Retrieved on 5 April 2020 from https://www.mizuhobank.com/singapore/macro/ad-hoc/pdf/MI200309-ASEAN_and_the_COVID-19_outbreak.pdf
WHO (2012a). WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19. 11 March 2020. Retrieved on 9 May 2020 from https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020
WHO (2020b). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Situation report. 75. Retrieved on 9 May 2020 from https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200404-sitrep-75-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=99251b2b_2
Wooi, Y. K. and Selvaratnam, D. P. (2018). Empirical analysis of factors influencing the public health expenditure in Malaysia. Journal of Emerging Economies & Islamic Research, 6(3), 1–14
Yunanto, M. & Medyawati, H. (2014). Monetary And Fiscal Policy Analysis: Which Is More Effective? Journal of Indonesian Economy and Business, 29(3), 222 – 236.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2021 Mohd Rozaimy bin Ridzuan, Noor Amira Syazwani Abd Rahman
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.