Malaysia Can Weather the Coming Storm — But Only If We Choose To
By Lok Chen Yue Global energy markets are in turmoil. The conflict in the Middle East has sent oil and gas prices soaring, even if Monday’s surge was quickly reversed within the day. Nobody knows how long this will last. The Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway between Iran and the Gulf states through […]
When Platforms Become Policy Infrastructure — Driving Practical Implementation
Digital platforms are increasingly shaping how public policy is delivered in Malaysia and across Southeast Asia. In this insight, Dr. Wan Khatina Nawawi, Managing Director of EconWorks Advisory, reflects on the evolving role of platform-government collaboration, drawing on discussions from the Digital Platforms for Public Benefit roundtable organised by the Tech for Good Institute (TFGI) […]
When Airspace Closes: Navigating the competition economics of a crisis
Dr. Wan Khatina Nawawi | 2 March 2026 The closure of Middle Eastern airspace following US–Israel military operations against Iran has suspended two of the world’s largest hub carriers overnight and severed the primary Europe–Asia corridor. The immediate disruption is operational. The competition economics consequences, in pricing, market structure, and regulatory scrutiny, will outlast it […]
When is a 10% discount not really 10%?
By Dr. Wan Khatina Nawawi Pricing architecture, behavioural economics and the economics of clarity. This article builds on the themes explored in the Truth and Accountability series, which examines how market claims align, or fail to align, with how consumers actually make decisions. Earlier articles explored greenwashing and loyalty design. Here, the focus shifts to […]
Government Procurement Act 2025: Aligning Markets, Discipline, and Integrity
By Dr. Wan Khatina Nawawi Government procurement is one of the largest markets in the economy. Its rules shape incentives, and the new Act brings long-needed clarity and discipline. When the Parliament passed the Government Procurement Act 2025, it did more than tidying up Malaysia’s administrative rules. From the perspective of economics, it marked a […]
Greenwashing and Market Truth: When Deception Distorts Competition and Undermines Reform
By Dr. Wan Khatina Nawawi Greenwashing is increasingly recognised as a source of consumer harm. But its wider implications for market competition, regulatory governance and trade deserve closer attention. This article is the third in the Truth and Accountability series, which examines how rules, systems, and market practices align, or fail to align, with how […]
Points, Perks, and The Price of Loyalty: When Rewards Come With Hidden Costs
By Dr. Wan Khatina Nawawi Loyalty programmes shape decisions and limit mobility in subtle ways. Their impact deserves greater clarity, and their design greater accountability. This article is the fourth in the Truth and Accountability series, which examines how rules, systems, and market practices align, or fail to align, with how consumers and businesses actually […]
Why Credit Rules Must Understand Human Behaviour
By Dr. Wan Khatina Nawawi Law protects what it understands. And to understand credit today, we must first understand behaviour. This article is part of the Truth and Accountability series, which explores how rules, systems and market practices align, or fail to align, with what people actually see, understand and experience. When it comes to […]
Influence without substance When visibility masks value
By Dr. Wan Khatina Nawawi Not all visibility is value. Not all influence is earned. And not all markets reward the right things. I only recently started posting on LinkedIn, and like many others, I am now learning to navigate its built-in analytics. One word that stands out is impressions. It tells you how many […]
Typography, Regulation, And The Power Of Legibility In Consumer Protection
By Dr. Wan Khatina Nawawi Typography shapes trust. This article explores how MAVCOM and BNM regulate font and layout to protect consumers and why it matters. Typography is often dismissed as a matter of taste or branding; something left to the graphic designers or marketing teams. But in the world of regulation and consumer protection, […]