Suchergebnisse

First published in 1998, this volume brings together contributions from leading economic analysts around the Pacific Basin, reporting on their research into three of the most important issues facing the region: trade, investment flows, and the environmental effects of economic growth. Each of these issues has important domestic and multilateral ramifications and the Pacific Basin's status as the world's most dynamic economic region makes this analysis relevant to policy makers and researchers in all countries. The collection is unusual in offering appraisals from economists representing the principal economies of the region. Among other contributions in the book are insights into the forces animating regional trade and investment, detailed assessment of leading East Asian economies such as those of China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, and Singapore, and innovative research on economy-environment linkages

We use a dynamic forecasting model to evaluate a wide array of opportunities for sustained economic growth in Myanmar. Our simulation results suggest that the government of Myanmar can advance potential growth drivers, by maintaining a stable macroeconomic environment that is conducive to private investment, promoting human capital development and public investment, facilitating domestic and international private agencies for market development, and strengthening regional economic integration. The government needs a balanced approach to sector interests to promote inclusive and equitable growth. Increasing agricultural productivity, for example, will not only benefit the country's rural poor majority, but it will also release labor resources to facilitate industrial and service sector development. Conversely, industrial and urban development will facilitate agrifood supply chains, improving market access and real incomes in rural areas. Public commitments to improving infrastructure, education, and public health will also be essential to realizing Myanmar's vast economic potential.

According to the authors, the Asia-Pacific region is the most dynamic region of the world economy. In the past three decades, this region has achieved growth rates that were considerably higher than those elsewhere. Using a ten-country calibrated general equilibrium (CGE) model, the authors assess the possible effects of the removal of tariffs and non-tariff barriers (NTBs) on Pacific Basin economies. (DÜI-Sen)

Throughout human history, technology has proven its ability to contribute to higher material living standards, yet the work of poverty alleviation is far from complete. We believe that in the modern age, biotechnology holds remarkable potential for reducing poverty and its attendant adversities. However, the extent to which this promise is fulfilled will depend as much on institutions as it does on innovation. In these early stages of development, biotechnology is concentrated in the most developed, Tier I countries. In this paper, we envision future biotechnology diffusion around the world, with large emergent Tier II economies playing a catalytic role in propagating affordable and appropriate innovation products. Through the mechanism of a globally R&D supply chain, such products can ultimately reach the world's poorest and improve their dietary, health, and income status. For this to happen, three general conditions must be satisfied. First, property rights must be clearly delineated and recognized by more universal standards. Second, multilateral public and private initiative must be taken to lower barriers to diffusion. These include government intervention, imperfect contractual standards, and incomplete information. A broad spectrum of government policies— from outright protectionism to corruption—impedes the propagation of innovation between countries of all three Tiers. Incompatibility and incompleteness of legal systems are also major obstacles to international sharing of innovation. Finally, informational commons supported by institutions like the IPR clearinghouse are needed to facilitate innovation partnership. We present a general vision of R&D networks extending from the capital and technology rich Tier I, through the dynamic Tier II emerging economies, to those, finally, in Tier III who most need enhanced agricultural and human productivity. We believe that achieving this goal is not only desirable, but imperative to global sustainable development. If the poor are to enjoy the full benefits of agricultural biotechnology, its productivity gains must be conferred on both rural and urban low income households. The former will benefit directly if biotechnology is appropriate (both in terms of technology and incentives) for penetration into smallholder production systems. By contrast, the latter benefit must be indirect, with lower food prices contributing favourably to real wages of the urban poor. Only dramatic increases in productivity can thus reconcile producer and consumer interests domestically, but biotechnology represents exactly such a promise.