II - The Role of Private Services in ASEAN Countries' Balance of Payments

Summary

Traditionally, services play very different roles as sources of export earnings in ASEAN countries. They are least important for Indonesia where they accounted for only 5 per cent of total earnings including merchandise exports in 1987, although there has been a gradual increase since 1980 (Table 1). Malaysia is the other ASEAN country relying on earnings from services but to a small extent (about 12 per cent in 1987) whereas the three other members display service shares of 20 per cent and more. The Philippine result, however, has to be discounted somewhat as it depends on a catch-all sub-sector in the IMF accounting scheme (“other goods, services and income”) and hence cannot be verified with respect to clearly defined non-factor services.

In terms of surplus or deficit positions of individual countries in individual service sectors, the basic results analysed by Lee Yuan (1988, Table 5.1) for 1984 and reported again by Arndt (1989, p.6) still hold: first, Indonesia remained a net importer of shipment services and other transportation as well as of all services. Secondly, Malaysian residents seem to have travelled abroad more frequently, although the country enjoyed a surplus in passenger services and a balanced position in other transportation services. Thirdly, the Philippines, the smallest ASEAN trader in services, has maintained surplus positions in other transportation as well as in travel but displays large deficit positions in shipment and - less importantly — passenger services. Fourthly, Singapore is a net importer of shipment services and a net exporter in other transportation services which, however, as far as the latter sector is concerned, appears to be a net position. Its travel surplus is still remarkable though it has declined since 1984. Singapore's service performance in general is subject to special attention because of the country's role as an entrepôt trader. Finally, Thailand as a tourist resort has continuously expanded its travel surplus which was larger than its deficit in other identifiable services.