EconTU and ADB Hold Seminar on Asia’s 2026 Economic Outlook, Addressing High Energy Prices and El Niño
EconTU and ADB Hold Seminar on Asia’s 2026 Economic Outlook, Addressing High Energy Prices and El Niño
On 14 October 2026, the Faculty of Economics, Thammasat University, together with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), held a seminar titled “Asian Development Outlook September 2026: Navigating Prolonged Energy Shocks and El Niño” via Zoom. Mr. John Beirne, Principal Economist, ADB, served as presenter, while Asst. Prof. Dr. Alongkorn Tanasritunyakul, a faculty member at the Faculty, served as moderator.
Key takeaways from the seminar:
Slowing growth: Asia’s GDP growth is projected to fall to 5.0%, while inflation rises to 4.2% on supply-side pressures.
Pressure on two fronts: a prolonged energy crisis has pushed oil to $90 per barrel, while El Niño is driving up food prices.
AI, a double-edged sword: AI-related goods remain a key export engine, but AI stocks risk being overvalued.
Policy options: hold interest rates steady for now, and shift energy subsidies toward targeted support for vulnerable groups.
In summary, Asia’s path forward lies in managing supply-side volatility by holding interest rates steady and using targeted fiscal subsidies to support sustainable growth.
