Category Archives: Economics

Progress on Oyu Tolgoi?

Posted on September 25, 2014 by JDierkes

By Julian Dierkes The Mongolian government has been battling a homemade economic crisis for some two years now. It has been a largely self-inflicted crisis brought on by some hasty policy decisions regarding investments that have led to a massive … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Foreign Investment, Foreign Policy, Mining, Oyu Tolgoi, Policy, Russia | Tagged | Leave a comment

Why are American investors struggling in Mongolia?

Posted on August 1, 2014 by mendee

Unlike the 1990s, Mongolia is now in the radar of US investors. Then, Mongolians were desperate for US investors, but few responded because of the unattractive market environment, uncertain political and socio-economic development, and undeveloped regulatory framework for foreign investment. … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Foreign Investment, Mining | Tagged | 2 Comments

DFATD Announcement of FM Baird Visit

Posted on July 22, 2014 by JDierkes

On July 22 the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development confirmed previous reporting in the Mongolia press that Foreign Minister Baird will be visiting Mongolia later this week: In his first trip to Mongolia, Baird will discuss the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bilateral Aid, Canada, Development, Foreign Investment, Foreign Policy, International Relations | Tagged | Leave a comment

Mongolia in the 2014 Social Progress Index

Posted on April 8, 2014 by JDierkes

[This post was written jointly by Undral Amarsaikhan and Julian Dierkes] On April 2, the Social Progressive Imperative released its 2014 Social Progress Index. For the first time, this included Mongolia. The Social Progressive Index is an index of indices … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Pollution, Corruption, Development, Economics, Education, Global Indices, Governance, Nomadism, Policy, Policy, Primary and Secondary Education, Research on Mongolia, Social Change, Undral Amarsaikhan, Water | Tagged | 1 Comment

Results from the Corruption Perception Index 2013

Posted on December 2, 2013 by JDierkes

On Dec 3, Transparency International released its annual Corruption Perception Index. Previous Posts Last year, I wrote two blog posts that specifically focused on the CPI score for Mongolia: https://mongoliafocus.com/2012/corruption-transparency-international/ https://mongoliafocus.com/2012/more-on-corruption-in-mongolia-according-to-transparency-international-further-comparisons/ Last weekend, I wrote a post that looked ahead … Continue reading →

Posted in Corruption, Governance, Media and Press, Policy, Social Issues | Tagged | Leave a comment

Mongolia – Myanmar Comparison

Posted on November 28, 2013 by JDierkes

We are currently enjoying a visit by Dr. Aung Tun Thet to our Institute of Asian Research. Dr. Thet has worked in the UN system for a long time and is now centrally involved in policy-making in Myanmar as the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Foreign Investment, Mongolia and ..., Myanmar | Tagged | 2 Comments

If not an SWF then what?

Posted on October 10, 2013 by JDierkes

At the recent World Economic Forum’s “Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Mongolia” I heard a lot of talk about the need for the Mongolian government to shed its direct involvement in the economy, but also the recommendation to rely … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Development, Diversification, Economics, Foreign Investment, JD Mining Governance, Sovereign Wealth Fund | Tagged | 5 Comments

Solutions to the Current Economic Crisis?

Posted on October 8, 2013 by JDierkes

Previously, I have written about economic and political aspects of the challenges currently facing Mongolia. Right now, the economic situation seems a bit like a “wicked problem” or a quagmire, and I see relatively little cause for short-term optimism, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Development, Economics, Foreign Investment, Governance, Inflation, JD Mining Governance, Mining, Policy, Politics | Tagged | 2 Comments

Politics During the Current Economic Crisis

Posted on September 26, 2013 by JDierkes

There is no political crisis in the sense of any conflict within parliament or between parliament and the president. Nor are there major scandals at the moment. However, there does appear to be a crisis in the sense of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Development, Economics, Foreign Investment, Governance, Inflation, Mining, Oyu Tolgoi, Party Politics, Policy, Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

Anatomy of the Current Economic Crisis

Posted on September 26, 2013 by JDierkes

Having spent last week in Ulaanbaatar, it is clear to me that the current crisis is a) more severe than I had thought, and b) more real/less perceived than I had thought. Below, I try to list elements in this … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, China, Corruption, Development, Economics, Foreign Investment, Governance, Inflation, JD Mining Governance, Mining, Oyu Tolgoi, Policy, Politics | Tagged | 3 Comments

Mongolia Buffeted by Global Winds

Posted on September 11, 2013 by JDierkes

[For another version of  observations of the current situation in Mongolia, see my piece in the Wall Street Journal Asia on September 13. This piece has been  posted on the World Economic Forum blog as well.] For most of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Development, Foreign Investment, Governance, JD Mining Governance, Mining, Oyu Tolgoi, Policy | Tagged | Leave a comment

Review of “Mongolia’s State Policy on the Minerals Sector (2013-2024)”

Posted on September 2, 2013 by D.Byambajav

“State Policy on the Minerals Sector (2013-2024),” a document defining the policy framework for the Mongolian minerals sector in the next decade is expected to be discussed at the upcoming autumn session of the State Great Khural. President Elbegdorj decided … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Development, Governance, Mining, Policy, Sovereign Wealth Fund | Tagged | Leave a comment

2013 Presidential Candidates: Foreign Policy Proposals

Posted on June 12, 2013 by miliate

With the election right around the corner, we thought it would be helpful to offer a brief comparison of the foreign policy proposals from the three candidates. Since setting foreign policy measures is one of the primary roles of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections, Foreign Investment, Foreign Policy, International Relations, Nationalism, Politics, Presidential 2013 | Tagged | 5 Comments

Udval Election Platform

Posted on June 9, 2013 by JDierkes

Speculation about some kind of Udval retreat notwithstanding, based on information contributed by and co-written with Brian White at The Mongolist, we discuss Udval’s election platform here. Broad Goals Similar to the other candidates, Minister of Health N Udval intends … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Corruption, Elections, Foreign Investment, Governance, Judiciary, Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, Policy, Politics, Presidential 2013, Social Media | Tagged | 1 Comment

Foreign Investment to Mongolia: Restrictions, China, and Comparisons with Canada II

Posted on February 1, 2013 by JDierkes

Is Mongolia’s Foreign Investment Law freezing FDI to that high-growth economy? Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Canada, Corruption, Economics, Foreign Investment, Foreign Policy, Governance, International Relations, JD Mining Governance, Mining, Mongolia and ..., Oyu Tolgoi, Policy | Tagged | 1 Comment