The Underlying Constraints on Corporate Bond Market Development in Southeast Asia

Abstract

There has been little analysis on the underlying institutional constraints to corporate bond market development in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Research so far has concentrated on weaknesses in market infrastructure. This paper illustrates the interlocking relationships between corporations, banks and governments to have dissuaded bond issuance by companies and also contributed to the underdevelopment of the demand side of the market. The implication of this research is that, in addition to the oft-recommended measures to strengthen the market infrastructure, corporate bond market development in these countries is also contingent upon deep-set institutional change.

Keywords: Corporate bond markets, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, institutional settings

JEL Classification: G3, O16