Asian and ASEAN 'Tigers' Besieged

Two tough analytic comparative articles published today in the U.S. press nicely illustrate the worsening economic distress of the four Asian Tigers and key ASEAN hitherto thriving economies prior to the worsening global economic recession. Keith Bradsher reported his findings in The New York Times and Anthony Faiola in The Washington Post. Empowered in earlier years by strong export-oriented economies and stable profitable investments in industrialized countries, state sovereign wealth funds, state-owned corporations, private companies, and individual investors have suffered heavy losses almost across-the-board. Further anticipated drops in international trade will make matters worse in the ever-lengthening 'short-run.'

Outdated entries like Wikipedia's Economy of Singapore now read like very bad jokes. But ordinary Singaporeans are being officially reassured their government is on top of these so complex problems. Are you so confident as the Finance Minister ? Or do you feel more like the growing number of dubious expats? And what about this old lady who has no investments at all? I leave the abused maids, prostitutes, and beggars to your clicking fingers.