Philippine Conglomerates and Inclusive Development: Tracking a Unique Trajectory in Asia

This book interrogates the relationship between the rise of conglomerates and inclusive development; it highlights the case of the Philippines and compares it with the experiences of other Southeast and East Asian economies, notably Vietnam, Indonesia, and South Korea.Compared to their larger Asian counterparts, Philippine conglomerates have followed a unique growth trajectory within the context of continuing poverty, economic inequality, and political conflicts. Thus, it is worth taking a closer look at how some of the most successful conglomerates have helped engineer a successful turnaround of the Philippine economy, considered a perennial laggard over the past two decades.The focus on the Philippines capitalizes on its unique growth and development trajectory. Have Philippine conglomerates been central to this economic miracle? How have they contributed to addressing inclusive development? What can be learned from the successes and failures of other Asian conglomerates? This book discusses these key themes to shed light on how conglomerates have affected the course of the country's economic development.