Action For Economic Reforms
Encyclopedia
Action for Economic Reforms (AER) is a Philippine non-government organization engaged in research and advocacy. It was founded in 1996 by a group of progressive scholars and activists as an "independent, reform-oriented and activist policy group".
AER works on macroeconomic issues, with an emphasis on fiscal policy
and tax policy
and administration , and looks at their impact on equity, poverty reduction, and sustainability. As part of its macroeconomic intervention, AER also addresses exchange rate
, monetary, and trade
issues.
AER likewise concerns itself with creating the conditions for long-term growth. In this context, AER gives attention to the role of institutions. It has pursued advocacy on building state capacity that will enable markets and correct both market and government failures. A key aspect of the work on institutions is the promotion of transparency, especially pushing for a Freedom of Information
law in the Philippines
.
AER also forges strong links with civil society organizations, legislators and other government officials, as well as technocrats and academics towards building alliances to secure progressive reforms.
While Philippine concerns occupy an extensive part of its programs, AER is also known for its regional and global work on crucial development issues like financing for development, the Millennium Development Goals
, international trade, capital flows, regional integration
as well as government transparency and disclosure. Among official multilateral institutions that AER has worked with are United Nations agencies, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank, and the European Union
. Among AER's international NGO partners are Christian Aid, Oxfam, Focus on the Global South
,the Global Transparency Initiative, the International Development Economic Associates (IDEAs) and the Tax Justice Network
. It has also collaborated with renowned economists including Nobel Prize recipient Joseph Stiglitz and UN Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development Jomo K. Sundaram.
AER writes weekly columns in two major Philippine business dailies. Yellow Pad is published in the BusinessWorld and takes on political, social and economic policy issues affecting the Philippines
. Manuel Buencamino writes political commentaries for AER in the Business Mirror column, called Dispatches from the Enchanted Kingdom. These articles, policy papers, and statements can be found on the AER website as well as in the Socioeconomic Research Portal of the Philippines. AER has publications such as The State and the Market : Essays on a Socially Oriented Philippine Economy and The Philippine Electric Power Industry Reform.
AER works on macroeconomic issues, with an emphasis on fiscal policy
Fiscal policy
In economics and political science, fiscal policy is the use of government expenditure and revenue collection to influence the economy....
and tax policy
Tax policy
Tax policy is the government's approach to taxation, both from the practical and normative side of the question.-Philosophy:Policymakers debate the nature of the tax structure they plan to implement and how they might affect individuals and businesses .The reason for such foitution effect]],...
and administration , and looks at their impact on equity, poverty reduction, and sustainability. As part of its macroeconomic intervention, AER also addresses exchange rate
Exchange rate
In finance, an exchange rate between two currencies is the rate at which one currency will be exchanged for another. It is also regarded as the value of one country’s currency in terms of another currency...
, monetary, and trade
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
issues.
AER likewise concerns itself with creating the conditions for long-term growth. In this context, AER gives attention to the role of institutions. It has pursued advocacy on building state capacity that will enable markets and correct both market and government failures. A key aspect of the work on institutions is the promotion of transparency, especially pushing for a Freedom of Information
Freedom of information
Freedom of information refers to the protection of the right to freedom of expression with regards to the Internet and information technology . Freedom of information may also concern censorship in an information technology context, i.e...
law in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
AER also forges strong links with civil society organizations, legislators and other government officials, as well as technocrats and academics towards building alliances to secure progressive reforms.
While Philippine concerns occupy an extensive part of its programs, AER is also known for its regional and global work on crucial development issues like financing for development, the Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015...
, international trade, capital flows, regional integration
Regional integration
Regional integration is a process in which states enter into a regional agreement in order to enhance regional cooperation through regional institutions and rules...
as well as government transparency and disclosure. Among official multilateral institutions that AER has worked with are United Nations agencies, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank, and the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. Among AER's international NGO partners are Christian Aid, Oxfam, Focus on the Global South
Focus on the Global South
Focus on the Global South is an international, non-governmental organisation, based in Bangkok, Thailand since its creation in 1995.Its founding director is sociologist Walden Bello, and it is affiliated with the Social Research Institute of Chulalongkorn University...
,the Global Transparency Initiative, the International Development Economic Associates (IDEAs) and the Tax Justice Network
Tax Justice Network
The Tax Justice Network is a coalition of researchers and activists with a shared concern about what they argue are the harmful impacts of tax avoidance, tax competition and tax havens, which "corrupt national tax regimes and onshore regulation, and distort markets by rewarding economic...
. It has also collaborated with renowned economists including Nobel Prize recipient Joseph Stiglitz and UN Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development Jomo K. Sundaram.
AER writes weekly columns in two major Philippine business dailies. Yellow Pad is published in the BusinessWorld and takes on political, social and economic policy issues affecting the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Manuel Buencamino writes political commentaries for AER in the Business Mirror column, called Dispatches from the Enchanted Kingdom. These articles, policy papers, and statements can be found on the AER website as well as in the Socioeconomic Research Portal of the Philippines. AER has publications such as The State and the Market : Essays on a Socially Oriented Philippine Economy and The Philippine Electric Power Industry Reform.
External links
- Action for Economic Reforms website
- Rice Watch Action Network (R1) - a group of organizations working to pursue policy changes in rice particularly in the area of trade and the nature of rice farming systems in the Philippines. Action for Economic Reforms is a member of R1.