Phl Economic Society holds 52nd annual meet

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Economic Society (PES) will gather the country’s top economic policymakers, market leaders, the academe, civil society and students to discuss and debate the theme “Forging Ahead: The Philippines as a Developed Economy in 2050” during its 52nd annual meeting on Nov. 14, at the Hotel Intercontinental Manila in Makati City.

The theme addresses the forecasts of financial institutions such as HSBC and Goldman Sachs, which included the Philippines in their list of “new emergers” and projected the Philippines rise to become one of the largest economies in the world in the next few decades.

Leading the roster of prominent speakers is Sen. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, who will discuss the much-needed reforms to steer the economy towards sustained and inclusive long-run growth and his proposed legislation on income taxes.

Socio-economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, World Bank lead economist on Poverty Reduction and Economic Department for East Asia and Pacific Region Rogier van den Drink and International Monetary Fund resident representative Shanaka Jayanath Peiris will all share their insights on the Philippines’ economic prospects in 2015 and beyond during the first plenary session.

The second plenary session, spearheaded by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Guy Ledoux, will focus on reforms in another important policy area to secure the desired investments for long-term economic growth: competition.

Discussions on equity at the closing plenary in light of the recent work by Thomas Picketty will be led by Professor Raul Fabella of the UP School of Economics and Professor James Roumasett of the University of Hawaii.

In addition to the plenary presentations, over 40 research papers will be read in 15 parallel sessions covering the following topics: small and medium scale enterprises and inclusive growth; disaster management and electricity; labor markets, jobless growth and human capital; investing in Bangsamoro for the development of Mindanao; mining and development; the political economy of post-disaster recovery and reconstruction; agriculture and industry; poverty and social protection; economic integration; institutions, values and economic growth; research, innovation and development; and issues on monetary policy.