ASEAN Research Center
Endowed by Maybank, the ASEAN Research Center (ARC) positions itself as the intellectual hub in Southeast Asia, focusing on impactful research about emerging markets in the ASEAN region.
ARC extends our gratitude to Maybank for their endowment and support in making our work possible.
Our Mission
01
Conduct rigorous and impactful research to inform policy-making and improve lives of ASEAN citizens, especially in emerging markets.
02
Research and publish publicly-available reports on topics related to ASEAN, including long-term “flagship” research programs developed in-house.
03
Host public events for ASEAN-based research programs to foster intellectual dialogue and public interest, advancing knowledge generation.
04
Host visiting scholars and students to lecture and conduct research in the region, enhancing academic exchange and collaboration.
Research Pillars
Economic Resilience
- RYSE
- A program designed to empower Malaysian youths through entrepreneurship and employability initiatives. Learn more
- Roadside Economy Research Project
- An extensive study on Malaysia’s hawker economy and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their operations and their livelihoods.
Sustainability and Society
- ESG Policies in ASEAN
- In 2023, ARC was commissioned by the AKC to publish the “ESG Practices in ASEAN & Korea: Pathways Towards Sustainability” guidebook which highlights green and responsible business practices in ASEAN & Korea.
- Palm Oil
- MOF Case Study
Inclusivity
- SUHAKAM
- UNHCR
- Covid-19 Mortality
- Public Perception on Refugees
Our Research Projects
Building a Malay Language Curriculum for Adult Refugees in Malaysia: Preliminary Findings
This ongoing project, a collaboration between ARC and UPM, along with funding partners UNHCR and Uniqlo Malaysia, aims to close the language gap between refugees and their hosts through an immersion-based Bahasa Malaysia curriculum.
Our Research Projects
Understanding Youth Entrepreneurship and Employability
Using RYSE as a platform for research, the methodology employed is based on two principles: (1) The integration of research and programs, leading to a two-way feedback system, and (2) Holistic Understanding towards Youth Entrepreneurship.
Our Research Projects
Ethnography on Palm Oil Labour
We conducted a labor ethnography study through semi-structured interviews with palm oil workers and smallholders in Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, and Selangor. The research explores and compares labor conditions between unionized estate workers and independent smallholders.
Our Research Projects
Focus Group Discussions conducted for Public Perception on Refugees in Malaysia Study
The research aims to understand public perception of refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia, as well as the factors that influence such perceptions.
Our Research Projects
Understanding the Role of AI in Enhancing Research
With the ongoing evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly Large Language Models (LLMs) like those employed in ChatGPT, what impact will it have on the future of research? This is the question ARC aims to address through our AI projects.
News and Events
Research Publication
ASEAN Research Center (ARC) Faculty Director
Dr. Melati Nungsari is an Associate Professor II of Economics and the Deputy Dean of Research, Asia School of Business & Research Affiliate at MIT Sloan School of Management. She is an applied microeconomist specializing in industrial organization, public economics, market design, and economic education. She received her Bachelors of Arts in Mathematics and Economics (Magna Cum Laude) with Honors in Mathematics from Knox College, and her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Her research focuses on two-sided matching platforms with search, and how firms use pricing to correct for negative externalities on the platform. She also studies public policy issues such as the labor market integration of refugees, policy design for retirement markets in Chile and Malaysia, and labor market discrimination. Additionally, she has published research on pedagogy in economic education, services marketing, and refugee studies. While at UNC-Chapel Hill, Dr. Melati was a Chancellor’s Fellow with the Royster Society.
She has won multiple teaching awards throughout her career, and is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the most prestigious academic honor society in the United States. She is an active Op-Ed writer, public scholar, and public speaker. Prior to joining ASB, Dr. Melati was a professor of economics at Davidson College and Butler University. She has given research and classes all over the world, and is originally from Penang, Malaysia.
For a full list of her research publications, presentations, and most up-to-date CV, please visit her website at www.melatinungsari.com.
Dr. Melati Nungsari
Associate Professor II Economics and Deputy Dean of Research & Research Affiliate at MIT Sloan School of Management
Research Communications Manager, ASB
Operations Manager, ASB
Principal Research Associate, ASB
Senior Research Associate, ASB
Research Associate, ASB
Research Associate, ASB
Research Associate, ASB
Ph.D. in Applied Psychology, University of Nottingham Head of Division for Organisational & Applied Psychology, University of Nottingham
PhD in Economics of Technology and Innovation from Delft University
Ph.D. in Public Health from Monash University Senior Lecturer School of Pharmacy Monash University Malaysia
Research Communications Manager, ASB
Operations Manager, ASB
Principal Research Associate, ASB
Senior Research Associate, ASB
Research Associate, ASB
Research Associate, ASB
Research Associate, ASB
Ph.D. in Applied Psychology, University of Nottingham Head of Division for Organisational & Applied Psychology, University of Nottingham
PhD in Economics of Technology and Innovation from Delft University
Ph.D. in Public Health from Monash University Senior Lecturer School of Pharmacy Monash University Malaysia