The ASEAN Digital Economy

Boasting the fastest growing Internet market in the world, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is accelerating into the digital economy. 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 simulation exercises to project economic outcomes delivered by regional collaborations. It also 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 by revisiting the ASEAN economy as a whole. It points out key issues country leaders need to work on as they proceed with digital economy collaborations. This book is written for scholars, policymakers, and industrial practitioners who wish to learn the latest developments in the ASEAN digital economy.