Perspectives

Greening Asia’s supply chains

2 January 2026

It is imperative that Asia Pacific’s supply chains transition to more sustainable practices

Southeast Asia in the shadow of an AI bubble

8 December 2025

Amid growing fears of an AI bubble, the possible impacts for Southeast Asia could be significant. This paper by Samantha Cheh, senior editor at StoneBench, looks at who wins — and who loses — if the AI crash does come to fruition

Critical minerals and rare earths: ASEAN’s new moment?

26 November 2025

In the global rush to secure critical minerals supply and rare earth supply chains, ASEAN has entered the limelight as an alternative source, a new position that could position the region as a new geopolitical powerbroker, but at what cost? This paper by Samantha Cheh, senior editor at StoneBench, explores how these shifting dynamics could have a transformative impact on the region

Small steps, big gains: Nepal’s puzzling pace of poverty reduction

14 October 2025

Nepal’s dramatic fall in poverty defies conventional wisdom, driven less by growth or remittances than by hundreds of small, community-level interventions. This StoneBench paper, written in partnership with John Donaldson, associate professor of political science at Singapore Management University, explores the issue

ACFTA 3.0: Greater integration likely, but who benefits?

10 October 2025

Given the current macroeconomic and geopolitical backdrop, what are the implications of the upgraded ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement? This StoneBench whitepaper, written in partnership with Priyanka Kishore, founder of Asia Decoded and Stephen Olson, visiting senior fellow at ISEAS, explores

How is the shift from a unipolar to multipolar world impacting business?

25 September 2025

An interview with Andrew Cainey, RUSI Senior Associate Fellow, International Security and Co-founder of the UK National Committee on China

America’s new rules are redefining global trade and finance

23 September 2025

An interview with Andrew Cainey, RUSI Senior Associate Fellow, International Security, and Co-founder of the UK National Committee on China

Is China’s industrial policy working?

6 August 2025

China's industrial policy has been very successful in producing innovation, but the economic value created by these “new” industries is still limited

What the new geoeconomics means for ASEAN

5 August 2025

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is at an inflection point. This StoneBench white paper, written in partnership with Public Policy Advisory Asia, looks at the challenges ASEAN faces, and provides strategic recommendations

How are Asian businesses responding to economic uncertainty?

4 August 2025

An interview with Michael Walsh, executive director of Pacific Basin Economic Council and managing director, Aer Mobi

The tariff war is about power, not globalisation

14 April 2025

The tariff tantrums of the past weeks might have shaken the global economy, but their true impact will be seen in a pivotal shift in global power dynamics