The South East Asian Central Banks (SEACEN) Research and Training Centre will be undertaking a collaborative research project between participating economists of member central banks/monetary authorities and a visiting research economist (VRE)
The SEACEN Centre is therefore seeking research proposals on any aspect of the following research themes that have been identified for 2026:
RP1: SEACEN Collaborative Research 2026 Research Project 1
The Effects of Geopolitical Uncertainty in SEACEN Economies
Scope: Monetary Policy and Financial Stability
Geopolitical uncertainty is commonly defined as instability, unpredictability, and risks arising from tensions and varying objectives and interests across jurisdictions. Unlike economic uncertainty which arises due to market forces and financial dynamics, geopolitical uncertainty occurs due contention or discord among sovereign states. More recent examples of geopolitical uncertainty include the implementation of U.S. reciprocal tariff, technological decoupling among large economies, or regional political tensions in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, among others. These events have profound economic implications. For instance, the implementation of U.S. reciprocal tariff can lead to higher prices and may have long-term effects on trade, supply networks, and investments. Technological decoupling could lead to incompatible standards, market inefficiencies, and slower innovation, research and development, while regional tensions could disrupt supply chains and may lead to higher oil and commodity prices.
These recent episodes of heightened geopolitical uncertainties warrant deeper conceptual and empirical understanding and analysis of their implications on macro-financial stability, including price and financial stability. A rigorous analysis of the effects of geopolitical uncertainty can provide new insights to policymakers, particularly for central banks/monetary authorities, in calibrating policy scenarios and in designing and implementing policy responses, if needed. Moreover, understanding the impacts and implications of geopolitical uncertainty in the context of the Asian region will be valuable and insightful given the diversity of economic structures, degree of exposure and linkages with the rest of the world, as well as policy tools and challenges.
This collaborative research project will assess the macroeconomic, monetary, and financial impacts and implications of geopolitical uncertainty, focusing on the experiences and policy challenges of SEACEN member economies. The main output is an edited electronic book volume, which will include an integrative chapter and country or thematic chapters focusing on SEACEN member economies.
One research proposal will be chosen based on (in no particular order):
- their individual merit;
- their feasibility considering available data and resources in SEACEN member economies;
- their applicability to SEACEN member central banks/monetary authorities, and
- their benefit to SEACEN member central banks/monetary authorities.
The best research proposal chosen by The SEACEN Centre will then be pursued under the supervision of the Visiting Research Economist (VREs) that submitted the best entry. Based upon the chosen research projects, The SEACEN Centre will invite research staff of member central banks/monetary authorities to participate in the chosen research projects.
The VRE will take the role of a project leader and provide guidance to Project Team Members (PTMs) from SEACEN member central banks/monetary authorities in implementing the chosen research projects. The PTMs will write country or thematic chapters which will serve as background papers for the integrative chapter which will be written by the VRE.
Prospective candidates are expected to conduct one online (inception) workshop and one in-person (interim) workshop with the PTMs and complete an integrative report based on the findings of the PTMs. The workshop will be co-hosted by the Bank of Thailand in August 2026. The maximum duration of the project is seven (7) months.
Prospective candidates should submit their application together with a cover letter, curriculum vitae and a two to three-page research proposal detailing the project’s coverage and methodology. Applicants from SEACEN member central banks/monetary authorities should submit their applications through their respective member central banks/monetary authorities.
Requests for further information or any questions concerning the VRE position can be directed to Rogelio Mercado Jr. and Nur Ain Shahrier, Senior Economists, Macroeconomic and Monetary Policy Management, The SEACEN Centre, at rogelio.mercado@seacen.org and nurains@seacen.org; and copy Masyitah Rosmin, Research Associate, at masyitah@seacen.org.
Interested?
All applications should be sent to the following e-mail address: rsu@seacen.org by 13 March 2026. Please indicate “VRE 2026 Collaborative Research Project 1: The Effects of Geopolitical Uncertainty in SEACEN Economies” in the subject header.
Click here for the Terms of Reference (TOR)
