WELCOME to the Economy, Trade and Regional Cooperation Programme (ETRC) of the Cambodia Development Resource Institute's (CDRI) website. In order to assist in policy dialogue and information dissemination related to Cambodia’s economy, trade and regional integration, this site serves as a portal for gathering key policy-relevant documents. Information on this site is intended to serve policy makers and the private sector in addition to Khmer and international researchers, civil servants, consultants and students.
Programme Background
The Economy, Trade and Regional Cooperation Programme, formerly known as the Economics Programme, was established in 1995 with the objectives:
- to observe trends and monitor the impact of economic reform on different sectors of society;
- to disseminate economic research findings to policy makers, the private sector and civil society;
- to collect data for current and future research projects.
These objectives remain the programme’s focus along with other major goals set in CDRI’s Strategic Plan 2006–10, in response to evolving demands for economic research in Cambodia. These goals include:
- to monitor and analyse Cambodia’s macro-economic performance, with emphasis on growth, poverty and inequality;
- to deepen policy-relevant research and analysis on economic policy, e.g. economic integration, investment and trade policies;
- to deepen policy-relevant research and analysis on key sectoral issues e.g. garments, tourism, agriculture and the private sector;
- to enhance Cambodian capacity for economic and trade research and analysis.
Research Activities
The Economy, Trade and Regional Cooperation Programme conducts research on both a regular basis and a project-based approach. Our regular research activities generate economic reports and time-series economic data for monitoring Cambodia’s economy on monthly, quarterly and annual bases. The regular research includes:
Provincial Consumer Prices Index (PCPI)
CDRI has calculated a Provincial Consumer Price Index since 1994 in 12 provinces: Battambang, Kandal, Kompong Speu, Kompong Cham, Kompong Chhnang, Kampot, Kratie, Prey Veng, Svay Rieng, Ratanakkiri, Siem Reap and Takeo. The PCPI is complementary to the CPI constructed by the National Institute of Statistics for Phnom Penh.
Vulnerable Worker Survey
CDRI has conducted this survey since 1998 with 10 groups of vulnerable workers, of which nine (cyclo drivers, porters, scavengers, small-scale vegetable traders, garment workers, waitresses, motorcycle-taxi drivers, skilled and unskilled construction workers) are in Phnom Penh and one (rice field worker) is in Kandal and Kompong Speu provinces. The surveys collect information related to daily earnings, labour migration, schooling and land holdings.
Economy Watch
CDRI monitors economic activities of Cambodia and its main economic partners on a monthly (Flash Report) and quarterly (Cambodia Development Review) basis. Key indicators examined include: imports and exports of Cambodia and its key economic partners, Cambodian government revenues and budgeting, tourist arrivals, domestic and international prices of key commodities, Cambodian and international exchange rates, inflation rates and GDP growth.
In addition to regular economic research activities, the Economy, Trade and Regional Cooperation Programme is also involved in various economic and trade-related research projects that are of policy relevance and significant value to policy makers, the private sector and civil society. Our current research projects include:
Research Networks
Development Analysis Network
DAN is a network of seven research institutions from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, coordinated by CDRI with the support of the Rockefeller Foundation. DAN addresses a major research initiative of regional interest during each round: the Asian financial crisis (DAN 1, 1998), labour markets (DAN 2, 2000–01), off-farm and non-farm employment (DAN 3, 2002–03) and the cross-border economies of the GMS (DAN 4, 2004–05). The two themes of DAN 5, initiated in 2005, are:
- pro-poor tourism and its effects on economic growth and poverty reduction in the GMS;
- cross-border labour movements throughout the countries of the GMS and associated socio-economic issues and trends.
Asia-Pacific Research and Training Research Network (ARTNeT)
CDRI is a member of the Asia-Pacific Research and Training Research Network, an informal and open network of research and academic institutions coordinated by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) with support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada. Under this network, CDRI has been commissioned to undertake study on trade research capacity building needs of research institutions in developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The study is trying to assess the need for trade research capacity building of research institutions in LDCs and low-income developing countries in the region, and to identify innovative ways in which countries or organisations in the region have addressed or are addressing these needs.
Publications
Annual Development Review (ADR)
It covers various thematic developments in Cambodia, including macro-economic performance, the garment industry, tourism, governance and decentralisation, agriculture, poverty and natural resources and the environment.
Cambodia Development Review (CDR)
A quarterly publication reviewing various development issues in Cambodia in addition to an external and domestic Economy Watch.
Flash Report on the Cambodian Economy
A monthly review of recent key indicators in Cambodian and regional economies. These include exports and imports, investment, national budget operations, commodity prices and indicators for key economic sectors such as garments, tourism and agriculture.
Working Papers and Conference Papers
- Hing Vutha and Nou Keosothea (2006), The Early Harvest Programme: Implications for Cambodian Agriculture. Special Report.
- K.A.S. Murshid and Tout Sokphally (2005), The Cross Border Economy of Cambodia: An Exploratory Study. Working Paper No. 25. Download WP25 (pdf 499KB in English)
- Sarthi Acharya, Kim Sedara, Chap Sotharith and Meach Yady (2003), Off-Farm and Non-Farm Employment: A Perspective on Job Creation in Cambodia. Working Paper No. 26. Download WP26 (pdf 699KB in English)
- Bhargavi Rammurthy, Sik Boreak, Per Ronnas and Sok Hach (2001), Cambodia 1999–2000: Land, Labour and Rural Livelihood in Focus. Working Paper No.21. Download WP21 (pdf 407KB in English)
- Ung Bunleng (2000), Seasonality in the Cambodian Consumer Price Index. Working Paper No. 13. (Abstract Only)
- Chan Sophal, Toshiyasy Kato, Long Vou Piseth, So Sovannarith, Tia Savora, Hang Chuon Naron, Kao Kim Hourn and Chea Vuthna (1999), Impact of the Asian Financial Crisis on the SEATES. Working Paper No.12. Download WP12 (pdf 470KB in English)
- Toshiyasu Kato, Chan Sophal and Long Vou Piseth (1998), Regional Economic Integration for Sustainable Development. Working Paper No. 5. Download WP5 (pdf 639KB in English)
- K.P. Kannan(1997), Economic Reform, Structural Adjustment and Development in Cambodia. Working Paper No.3. (Abstract Only)
- K.P. Kannan, Be Kalyanna, Long Vou Piseth and Chao Kimthy (1995), Construction of a Consumer Price Index for Cambodia: A Review of Current Practices and Suggestions for Improvement. Working Paper No. 1. (Abstract Only)
- Chan Sophal, Toshiyasu Kato, Long Vou Piseth, Jeffrey Kaplan, Kun Nhem, James Robertson and Harold Pohoresky (1998), Cambodia: Challenges and Options of Regional Economic Integration. Conference Paper No. 3. Download Conference Paper 3 (English pdf 662kb)
- John P. McAndrew (1997), Interdependence in Household Livelihood Strategies in Two Cambodian Villages. Conference Paper No.2 (Introduction only).
- K.A.S. Murshid (1997), The Status of Food Security. Conference Paper No.1. (Introduction only)