Catherine Bugayong studied International Studies and Economics at the University of Washington. Her academic interests include (but are not limited to) economic development in Southeast Asia and the Greek debt crisis. As an Issue Analyst on the topic of “international financial architecture,” Catherine looks forward to sharing her enthusiasm for current international events and economics.
Catherine Bugayong
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Emerging Market Countries Emerging as Foreign Aid Donors
March 4, 2011 By 2 Comments
While the United States continues its retreat from the realm of foreign aid, emerging market countries have been joining the ranks of foreign aid donors despite being foreign aid recipients themselves. In January, South Africa announced its plans for an official development aid agency to be made operational by mid-2011. Dr. Ayanda Ntsaluba, Director-General of South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation, noted his country's role as a foreign aid recipient but further pointed out its role in Africa. "We're in the African … [Read more...]
Foreign Aid and the Deficit: Choosing the Right Cuts
February 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Between their desire to tame the deficit through spending cuts and the suddenly embarrassing fact that Egypt's authoritarian regime is the second largest receiver of US foreign aid (behind Israel), it's no surprise that the House Republican majority aims to slash foreign aid. AIDemocracy's Mukul Sharma breaks down the potential repercussions of the smaller budget: setbacks in the Iraq and Afghanistan missions, percentage cuts to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR), fewer resources for environmental issues and food security, among … [Read more...]
Less Risk, More Money (Risk Mitigation in the Global Economy)
January 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
We all know that the #1 priority of businesses/the private sector is to make money, but we should keep in mind priority #1a: mitigate risk. I say #1a because risk mitigation is an essential part of any viable "make more money" business plan. New ideas are high risk: investors don’t know if they’re putting their money into a black hole or the next Facebook. The former nets investors a loss—the latter can potentially make it so they never have to work again. Only the promise of greater riches makes high risk ventures attractive in the first … [Read more...]
Procrastinating Policymakers in the EU
December 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment
As it turns out, procrastination is not a mindset you grow out of. I had thought (or perhaps just hoped) that it would go by the wayside along with all the papers and projects I am no longer subjected to since graduating this past June. No such luck. Instead, procrastination remains a plague in my adult life, a nearly incurable disease I am only beginning to realize infects more than just current and recent students. In fact, I suspect that even our policymakers experience moments of procrastination: one can see it in the policies they put into … [Read more...]
The Power of National Governments
November 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment
As part of our training as analysts on international financial architecture, we reviewed the roles of the IMF and World Bank in the global economy. It was a familiar story in activist circles about how the ideology and policy of “The Terrible Twins” wreaked havoc on the environment, native peoples, and in the late 1990s, many of Asia’s most promising economies. These are indeed things the two institutions need to be held accountable for—my purpose with this post is not to excuse their behavior but to suggest that the anger and disappointment … [Read more...]
US and China- The Threat of Trade War
October 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The United States’ complaints about China have only progressively increased in volume since the economy crashed in 2008. At issue here is the exchange rate, which China holds “fixed” at 6.65 yuan to US$1. Unlike the Chinese yuan, the US dollar and (other major trading currencies such as the euro and the Japanese yen) are on a “floating exchange rate regime:” the value of the US dollar automatically changes in reaction to demand and supply in markets. For China to place the yuan on a “fixed exchange rate regime,” it must continuously buy … [Read more...]
Youth and the international financial system
October 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment
By Catherine Bugayong Catherine is one of AIDemocracy’s 2010-2011 Issue Analysts. Find out more about Catherine below or take a look at the Student Issue Analysts. The ongoing economic recession marks a critical time for international financial architecture. The effects of our international financial architecture’s weaknesses have been all too palpable, and promise to fundamentally alter the lives of young people. Jobs after graduation have been scarce, leaving many of us unemployed and underutilized, frustrated and disillusioned. According to … [Read more...]
