This book addresses the prospects and challenges concerning both soft and hard infrastructure development in Asia and provides a framework for achieving Asian connectivity through regional infrastructure cooperation towards a seamless Asia. This book is a follow-up volume to Infrastructure for a Seamless Asia, the most downloaded book on the ADBI website.

Economic ties between Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have reached a turning point. In a mere decade, Asia has become LAC's second-largest trading partner. This dynamic trade relationship has boosted LAC's strategic and economic importance to Asia. To expand these gains, governments must play a more decisive role. Their participation is critical in strengthening and balancing the three ...

Asia is at a crossroads. As the world's most populous region, with high economic growth, a rising share of global greenhouse gas emissions, and the most vulnerability to climate risks, Asia must be at the center in the global fight against climate change. Simply stated, Asia's current resource- and emission-intensive growth pattern is not sustainable, with further gains in human well-being constrained ...

The world trading system is in a state of flux characterised by new developments and uncertainties about its governance. Fundamental changes are occurring because of the rise of emerging economies, such as the BRICS, and the expansion of their trade and foreign direct investment (FDI), and also the proliferation of free trade agreements (FTAs) globally. Over the last three decades, trade and FDI ...

The 1997–1998 Asian financial crisis highlighted shortcomings in Asian financial markets, notably the underdevelopment of domestic bond markets and deficiencies in corporate governance, transparency and financial regulation. Since then, Asian financial markets have made considerable progress. This book highlights the challenges imposed by the recent global financial crisis—(i) preventing financial ...

Monetary and Currency Policy Management in Asia draws lessons from the financial crisis of 1997–1998, and the global financial crisis of 2007–2009 and makes concrete macroeconomic policy recommendations aimed at minimizing the impacts of an economic and financial downturn, and setting the stage for an early return to sustainable growth. The focus is on short-term measures related to the cycle. This ...

Effective pension management, financial education curricula in schools, internationally comparable data on financial literacy and the evaluation of the effectiveness of financial education programs are highlighted in this book. Surveys show that financial literacy levels are typically low around the world, despite the widening access to financial services and the increasing financial risks borne by ...

This major book from ADBI Press aims to provide the latest scientific evidence on infrastructure investment, including new ideas as to how to finance infrastructure. The editors believe the 500-page book will make an important contribution to help Asia and the Pacific region close their infrastructure gap and continue on the path to prosperity.

Mission incomplete! This phrase neatly captures the progress made by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) in reflating the economy. In April 2013, under its new governor, the BOJ launched an unprecedented quantitative and qualitative monetary easing policy. Haruhiko Kuroda was certain that the 2% price stability target would be achieved within 2 years. About 4 years later, the BOJ lags behind other major central ...

While overall food security has improved remarkably in Asia in the past decades, food insecurity still prevails in many developing countries in the region. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, over 500 million Asians still suffer from hunger. Sound strategies need to be developed and actions undertaken to fight food insecurity in Asia. This report suggests that institutional differences ...