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Tong's Portfolio
Why y-o-y real wages in the US may be rising, yet its standard of living may have fallen — a statistical mirage
Surveys routinely show inflation and pessimism over the health of the economy topping the people’s concerns.
February 01, 2024
Tong's Portfolio
Economic policies in Malaysia are dictated by politics — why they fail
Malaysians are, on average, adequately paid relative to living costs.
January 18, 2024
Oil & Gas
How OPEC+ saw its hold on global oil markets fray despite extra production cuts
'The market seems little convinced about the petro-nations'
December 08, 2023
Tong's Portfolio
Should Malaysia force wages to rise through direct wage policy intervention?
Workers in Malaysia are lowly paid, but not underpaid.
September 28, 2023
Tong's Portfolio
‘Greedflation’, stock prices and the policy implications
The US Federal Reserve has raised interest rates at a pace not seen previously, to ease inflation back to the 2% target.
September 21, 2023
Tong's Portfolio
Tick tock tick tock … time is running out ... Malaysia needs a credible fiscal consolidation plan now
Relying on oil to fund persistent operating deficit is neither wise nor sustainable
August 09, 2023
Tong's Portfolio
End ‘state capture’ to enable economic transformation and improve livelihoods
Productivity gains, driven by competition, is key.
August 03, 2023
Tong's Portfolio
The story of the two Souths: education, competition and corruption
Quality of education is a powerful predictor of a nation’s wealth in the long run.
July 27, 2023
Tong's Portfolio
Democracy is an ideology, not a solution
Clearly, democracy is not the silver bullet, as promoted by liberal Westerners!
July 19, 2023
Tong's Portfolio
Secular decline in interest rates has ended. Cash is no longer trash
... beware risky assets
July 14, 2023