Comments

Truly the O'Neil Government lacks basics of economic growth and revenue raising. This Government lacks wisdom. The good this Government has done is rob the people and pay parliamentarians to keep this government in power.

I am not sure that the Devpolicy Discussion Paper (Mansur et al) can make the claim that "beneficiaries were more likely to have recovered from the shocks they faced, relative to comparable households that did not receive the additional assistance." The regression analysis of the Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD) seems missing from the paper, as the results are reported very quickly on page 28. The RDD is also not a good method for computing the average treatment effect.

I've heard about INOVASI, but that only now I've come across this thought-provoking article (forwarded by my previous doctoral thesis supervisor) about what INOVASI actually does. I hope that there are opportunities for me to be involved in this wonderful project in the near future. I'm pretty sure, there are lots of remote and disadvantaged contexts across the country that have been facing similar issues. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for the comment. I didn't actually refer to Malaysia though. I specifically referenced Japan, which is a rich country and which has a notoriously strict anti-refugee policy. I also mentioned China. China is a developing country, and it's not a democracy, but it is a safe place, and, just as it is now providing aid, should also be taking asylum seekers. South Korea and New Zealand are two other countries that could and should do a lot more. Perhaps Taiwan as well. The analogy with climate change is a good one, and I agree with you that inaction by some shouldn't be an excuse for inaction by others. It is also the case that some developing countries that are doing more than any others - look at Jordan and Lebanon. Perhaps we can agree that China and a number of Asia-Pacific developed countries could and should do more.

Thank you, Busa for the interesting and thoughts-provoking contribution. It outlines several key-areas to focus on. The one on a series of user-friendly consultations should deserve a big praise! The issues surrounding betel nut saga are much larger and wider. Some additional issues are briefed below for further deliberation, discussion and consultation. - Any type of "ban" on betel nut industry are very harmful to the nation given the tens and thousands of people involved in this and associated industries. Women are particularly affected as the production and sale of lime, betel nuts and mustard are largely in their hands. The impacts on women and their livelihoods resulting from such a ban are obviously huge and over several years - A ban without providing an alternative solution (for chewers, service providers and sellers) is not only harmful but also is not going to be effective - What would be the fate of thousands of women (in particular) involved in lime production, sale, mustard production and sale and, betel nut production, sale if this informal sector was banned? Visit to coastal villages such as in Morobe (lime), Oro and Buka (betel nut) and Central (mustard) amplify the hard-work of women in this trade as their primary source of livelihoods - A considerable land area is already under betel nuts. What alternative land use we can think of resulting from measures to reduce sale in betel nuts? Are there other uses for land under betel nuts? - Government should encourage more research on this sector. Among issues for further research are other ways to utilize betel nut and lime, collect statistics on children consumption of betel nuts, contribution of the trade to livelihoods especially women, alternative use of land currently nut into betel nuts. Collaboration with global research entities is very useful - As mentioned above, all recommendations should target NOT only betel nuts but also lime and mustard -Any future program on this matter should be inclusive of schools, churches and other social networks. History tells us one successful way to discourage future consumers of betel chew is to educate school children. For instance, Maori children smoking in New Zealand was as high as 35% in the past has come down to 5% now. If we educate children, the future is in safe hands! - The value of betel nut and associated informal industries should be worth more than Kina 100,000.

This is an excellent article illustrating the direction that educational development needs to focus on, that is, collaboratively addressing local needs and problems in context, rather than imposing solutions developed elsewhere. The limited evidence we have on the important place of 'ownership' in the sustainability of benefits from donor-supported education programs suggests that the authors' hope that the outcomes will be sustainable will be realised.

A good application of social well being uplifted by the common provider.

Malaysia hosts many legal and illigal migrants. I think we can view that as Malaysia’s contribution to an alleviation of the refugee problem, even if the refugees do not enjoy the same status as Malaysian nationals. (At least Malaysia generally does not expel refugees like Australia.) Each country can contribute to helping refugees in proportion to their capacity to help. I would have thought that wealthier countries have greater capacity to contribute, and lightly populated countries have even more capacity to take in migrants. As in climate change, the wealthy countries want to spread the burden in proportion to population. The emerging countries (legitimately in my view) would call on the wealth countries to bear most of the burden. Pointing to China’s or Malaysia’s “inadequate contribution” ought not be an excuse for inaction among wealthy countries. It’s an argument that ultimately leads to inaction, as we have seen in relation to climate change.

Great quality article! Thank you 😉

Charlie, thanks for your comment and query. The jobs in the three main migrant destinations are low-skilled which means that workers do not require post school qualifcations to do the work - so no loss of valuable human capital. On how to access the February 2018 Labour Market Outlook Timor-Leste, it was launched at a public forum at Timor Plaza Hotel on 8 February. The report has not been posted on the website of the Secretariate of Youth and Labour as yet. However, I can send you a copy to post on the La'o Hamutuk website.

Interesting, although it's disappointing that Timor-Leste is exporting some of its most valuable human capital when there's so much that needs to be done here. But more concretely, where can I find the February 2018 Labour Market Outlook Timor-Leste? I can't locate it on the ILO or DGE web sites. Thanks.

Going back to 2007 when Governor Pawes Parkop was first elected to Parliament or as Governor, one of his powerfull policy platform was this, "I did not have millions of kinas to campaign like the other canddiates, but I have millions of ideas and strategies for the city that no other candidates had," people trusted him and voted for him. Now we see the outcome of his millions of ideas to controll betel nut (buai) ban in NCD...very interesting he has a very poor idea that is not suitable for chewers and sellers of betel(buai) nuts in NCD. The sellers and chewers have millons of ideas to evade his idea of buai ban, it works the opposite way. Therefore, the good Governor should go to the people and seek advice how the buai stain and littering can be controlled in the city...sellers and chewers have millions of ideas than the Governor...Alas!