Can Southeast Asia Overcome the Middle-Income Trap?

High rates of economic growth in Southeast Asia in recent decades have led to rising income levels within the region. Moreover, some middle-income Southeast Asian countries have remained stuck at their current levels for many years. This situation has led some economic analysts to question whether the region is succumbing to the so-called “middle-income trap.” Education and R&D EcosystemsIn recent decades, Southeast Asian countries have greatly improved access to education, including for the poor. But other participating middle-income countries — the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia — have generally clustered towards the bottom of these league tables.