 |
|
|
|
Strengthening Economic Research and Monitoring in Lao PDR
11,000,000 yen [Grant Project]
National Economic Research Institute (NERI/Laos)
Laos has been trying to develop a market-based economy since 1986, but the platforms (or bases) for economic policy planning are still fragile. Under the current conditions, the Sasakawa Pan Asian Fund has been promoting capacity building for economic policy planners in the Developing Economic Forecasting Model in Laos project by transferring experience from Malaysia and conducting quarterly economic evaluation, which is essential for macro economic monitoring. The project aims to foster young economics researchers in addition to promoting the quarterly surveillance and attempting to develop an environment that allows non-biased policy proposals.
The following activities are planned in the final year of the project.
- Quarterly Short-Term Economic Surveillance
Two types of quarterly economic surveys, namely business environment and consumer trend, will be continued. The number of respondents is expected to be a total of 300 enterprises in 11 municipalities and 500 households in 8 municipalities. Moreover, trainings and monitoring are planned vis-á -vis local canvassers in order to maintain and improve the survey quality. After each survey, specialists will be invited from the UNDP, the World Bank, JICA etc for open seminars (a total of four such occasions are scheduled).
- Research Activities
Researchers of NERI and others will initiate a research project under the subject of labor market. Separately, a workshop with two foreign experts acting as instructors will be held for approximately 15 participants in August 2007, and an interim report seminar will assemble about thirty participants in January 2008. Reports will be produced based on the outcome of both occasions.
- Study Trips (December 2007, 1 week, Malaysia)
Five members, mainly young researchers who will have taken part in the research project, will go through training in a development issue-related research institute in East Asia with a focus on management of research activities.
(Final year of a 3-year project)
|
|
|
|
|
|
