In a commentary on the Eurozone, SMU Adjunct Professor and Institute of Southeast Asia Studies Visiting Senior Research Fellow Joergen Oerstroem Moeller observed that growth, jobs and debt figures have been painting a positive picture of the area, in contrast to other parts of the world. He was of the view that Eurozone austerity has worked, with labour costs in a number of "weak" Eurozone countries such as Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal falling, competitiveness improving and structural reforms leading to a more flexible economy.