Boasting the fastest growing Internet market in the world, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is accelerating into the digital economy. In recent years, there have been relentless efforts in digitally connecting the ASEAN member states. However, impediments exist, requiring attention from policymakers. These impediments to connecting the digital economies range from building infrastructure to establishing interoperative legislative frameworks.

This book assesses the potential economic impact of digital economy agreements (DEAs) and the readiness of some ASEAN member states to grow the digital economy in collaboration. The book presents a novel framework to assess countries’ readiness to enter digital economy collaborations, following the architecture of Singapore’s DEAs with its trading partners. It takes a bird’s-eye view of the digital economy in ASEAN and reviews the current state of digital infrastructure and regulations. 

The book also includes counterfactual analyses to project economic outcomes delivered by regional collaborations. It elaborates on the specific strengths and weaknesses of five ASEAN member states. These ASEAN member states include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The book concludes stressing the importance of government-private partnerships in growing the digital economy.

By XIE, Taojun