When the CLMV countries became members of ASEAN from the mid-1990s, there had already existed economic disparities within and between the six older members. Economic disparity, perceived to be a hindrance to economic integration, grew larger within the enlarged grouping with the admission of the CLMV countries, raising concerns about difficulties arising out of and now transitioning from a two-tiered to three-tier regional structure that includes high, middle, and low incomes countries.
Because of regional economic divide and the effect of unevenly distributed the benefits of globalization, ASEAN may not be able to effectively forge forward successfully its economic integration and fear looms large that the grouping may become irrelevant in the global economy.