The Philippines narrowly missed Upper Middle Income Country status in 2025 by just 26 dollars. While the figure may seem small, it raises bigger questions about how economic growth is measured, who benefits from it, and what structural challenges continue to limit progress.
In this interview, 蝌蚪传媒 Senior Research Fellow, Dr. John Paolo R. Rivera, explains why headline growth numbers alone do not tell the full story. He discusses the role of governance, institutional trust, and long term reforms in determining whether economic gains translate into lasting improvements in people’s lives.
Watch the full discussion on Freshly Brewed:
