Policy, Governance & Reform
Policy, Governance & Reform
Rethinking Retirement: Bridging the Gaps between Work and Old Age
Retirement is a modern concept, mostly absent in pre-industrial societies, and it remains an abstract notion for many in low- and middle-income countries even today. Historically, Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck of Germany introduced retirement with a pension in 1883. At that time, Europe faced Marxist threats, and to protect his nation from such ideology, Bismarck […]
Unleashing the Potential of AI for Indonesia’s Digital Government Transformation
The rapid advancement of digital technologies is reshaping the landscape of governance worldwide. As Indonesia embarks on an ambitious journey to transform its public services…
Truth Decay
This article draws on material first published in the Straits Times on 15 January 2024. “Fake news” is an old problem. But generative AI and…
Returns to schooling: Driven by family background or education-related policies?
‘Does schooling pay off?’ – a seemingly straightforward question, but it is in fact a puzzle among economists. Answers would differ based on how the…
The Story of Ageism in the Southeast Asian Region
Southeast Asia is home to some of the world’s most rapidly ageing countries. This is the result of increased life expectancy and falling fertility rates.…
From Caregiver to Global Advocate: A Journey of Empowering Lives Affected by Dementia
My mother, Tien Suhertini Suharya, was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2009. Looking back, I now know that she was displaying typical symptoms of the disease…
Installing a Pension Floor for All Elders in Malaysia: A Case for Social Insurance Pension
Our society is growing older. In 2020, Malaysia’s population of 32.4 million transitioned into an ageing society, with 7% of its people aged 65 and…
New Longevity — A New Perspective from Social Innovators
Asia is the birthplace of the ‘longevity noodles’ (yi mien, or mie panjang umur in Indonesian, pancit in Tagalog), which have their origins rooted in Chinese…
Leading The Way In Education and Healthcare: The HEAD Foundation
SETTING THE STAGE FOR CHANGE-MAKING There is a Chinese proverb that exhorts us, “If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are…
Conditions for Societal Progress and the Processes that Contribute to Them
The nature of human progress to modern prosperity is that such processes of action take place in forms of industry. In the opening series of…
