UA&P co-founder releases new book on PH economy

University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) co-founder Dr. Bernardo M. Villegas has released his latest book, The Philippines as Upper Middle Income Economy, with Dr. Veronica E. Ramirez, University Research Office Executive Director, serving as editor.

A sequel to his 2022 book The Philippine Economy towards First World Status, the new volume examines the country's transition to upper-middle-income status and documents the opportunities and challenges that shaped its socio-economic development during the first half of the current administration.

In the book's preface, Dr. Villegas writes: “This book documents the challenges and responses, strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures in socio-economic development that characterized the first half of the BBM (President Ferdinand “Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr.) administration. As an economist, I have tried to be as impartial as possible in assessing the performance of the government... employing statistical data and other types of evidence from both domestic and foreign sources."

Organized into four major parts, the book brings together discussions on the social and moral foundations of development, Philippine macroeconomics, major economic sectors, and strategic industries. Through chapters on topics ranging from demographics, agribusiness, education, and overseas Filipino workers to tourism, housing, mining, and foreign direct investment, the volume presents an integrated analysis of the factors shaping the country's long-term economic development.

The Philippines as Upper Middle Income Economy will be available at the Center for Research and Communication (CRC) beginning at the end of July. Copies may be purchased for Php1,000. For inquiries, email crc@uap.asia.