South East Asia’s tiger economies should prize the long-term health of their environment above the ongoing short-term gains provided by foreign firms that pollute, economists have claimed.
Academics believe many South East Asian nations have been misled into accepting that increased pollution is a price worth paying for the future well-being of their economies.
But groundbreaking research by the prestigious Globalisation and Economic Policy Centre (GEP) at The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus shows that the flow of money from overseas cannot sustain a nation's economic growth and that policy-makers should consider tightening the lax environmental regulations that have encouraged much foreign investment.
Mr Chew Ging Lee, an associate professor of quantitative methods, used Malaysian data to carry out what is thought to be the first-ever study into the links between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), pollution and output.
He said: "FDI has been a major engine for the rapid economic growth of many South East Asian countries, but the success of these economies has been achieved at the expense of the environment.
“Lax environmental policies and lenient regulations have encouraged foreign investment in industries which pollute and damage the environment.
“But this does not have to continue. This research shows that the conventional wisdom that FDI is a key factor in sustained economic growth may provide an incomplete picture.
"It is clear from our analysis that the effects of FDI on the growth of Malaysian productivity may be transitory rather than permanent."
Malaysia attracted 94-million US dollars' worth of FDI in 1970, 934-million in 1980 and 3,788-million in 2000.
But like fellow ASEAN-5 countries Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, the country has seen rising pollution-levels often as a result of the relentless inflow of FDI.
Lee said his research suggested the ASEAN-5 countries could afford to turn their back on polluting industries and do more to power their own sustained growth.
He said: "Energy conservation and strict environmental regulations may temporarily harm the expansion of the economy.
"But it is now clear that the appropriate response to environmental problems will not prevent long-term expansion if these countries invest in their people, new technology and infrastructure rather than adopting weak environmental regulations and enforcement which may attract polluting FDI that has the potential to actually harm the country in the long-term."
Notes to editors:
The Globalisation and Economic Policy Centre (GEP), based at the University of Nottingham, is a major international centre studying the impacts of globalisation and economic policy. GEP has a prestigious international reputation, with its academics advising the World Bank, the WTO, the OECD and the Commonwealth. GEP opened its Malaysia research centre at The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, 30km from Kuala Lumpur, in January 2008.
The University of Nottingham is ranked in the UK's Top 10 and the World's Top 70 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong (SJTU) and Times Higher (THES) World University Rankings.
It provides innovative and top quality teaching, undertakes world-changing research, and attracts talented staff and students from 150 nations. Described by The Times as Britain's "only truly global university", it has invested continuously in award-winning campuses in the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia.
Twice since 2003 its research and teaching academics have won Nobel Prizes. The University has won the Queen's Award for Enterprise in both 2006 (International Trade) and 2007 (Innovation — School of Pharmacy).
Its students are much in demand from 'blue-chip' employers. Winners of Students in Free Enterprise for three years in succession, and current holder of UK Graduate of the Year, they are accomplished artists, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, innovators and fundraisers. Nottingham graduates consistently excel in business, the media, the arts and sport. Undergraduate and postgraduate degree completion rates are amongst the highest in the United Kingdom.
More information is available from Martin Stott, Bulletin PR, +44 (0)115 9228264, mstott@bulletinpr.co.uk; Mimi Rashid, PR/Communications Manager, The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, +603 8924 8034, Mimi.Rashid@nottingham.edu.my; or Media Relations Manager Tim Utton in the University of Nottingham’s Communications Office (UK) on +44 (0)115 846 8092, tim.utton@nottingham.ac.uk.