5 Challenges for the Next President
Part of an #Election2016 series called “What’s at stake?” The post-PNoy president will inherit an economy that is growing faster than the previous 40 years....
The Duterte-Marcos constituency
What is behind the rise of Duterte-Marcos? The latest Pulse Asia poll commissioned by ABS-CBN showed both Mayor Rody Duterte and Sen. Bongbong Marcos leading...
The Next President’s Budget
Part of an #Election2016 series called “What’s at Stake?” The next president will inherit a budget of 3 trillion pesos, double what the current president...
Of false memories and false hopes
During his final State of the Nation Address, Pres. Aquino framed the upcoming election of 2016 as a referendum on his administration, under the rubric...
Public Choice: Local autonomy or federalism?
By 2034 there could be 58 M living in our cities, so what will candidates do to improve local governance? It is perhaps unprecedented that...
Public Choice: Income Tax Cuts or Participative Spending?
In this election, there is a choice. Election season kicked off this week with the various presidential candidates holding their respective proclamation rallies to officially...
The waning efficacy of daang matuwid
Business leaders in the Philippines have expressed dismay at the way things are going. To the outside world, the Philippines represents a remarkable good news...
Why funding for the RH Law matters (in 6 charts)
Just when you thought the culture wars over reproductive health had finally been settled with the enactment of the reproductive health (RH) law after decades...
What the Duterte-Roxas duel says about both men (& their followers)
The descent into madness has begun. It started with Mar Roxas calling Davao’s peace and order credentials into question, and Mayor Duterte threatening to slap...
Duterte and the Failed Experiment
The 2016 election is looming large. First it was dubbed The Great Referendum by a president who wanted it to be all about him. Then,...
Daang Matuwid’s Optimism (Bias)
At his annual address to Congress earlier this year, Pres. Aquino told the nation to stick with his chosen successor at the 2016 elections. He...
Form without Function: Shortcomings of the Straight Path
Isomorphic mimicry is a biological term referring to different organisms evolving to look similar without actually being related. A certain species of snakes may imitate...
Relationships or Rules: Which form of governance best suits us?
The election of 2016 is shaping up as a contest between Daang Matuwid (Straight Path) and Pamunuang Nagmamalasakit (Caring Leadership). These represent two forms of...
Rhetoric vs. Reality: Has governance improved under PNoy?
The administration of Pres. Aquino claims to have transformed the Philippines through good governance. On 2 October 2015, Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte released a press...
The Post-PNoy President
The 2016 election is more than a referendum on Noynoy Aquino’s presidency. It represents a unique opportunity for us to reflect on the path our nation has...