This report illustrates the current state of inclusive business (IB) models in the Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies, particularly the market potentials, constraints, and necessary policy instruments for an enabling environment for IB. A profile of IB initiatives, the overview of the base of the pyramid market size, and the IB ecosystem in each APEC economy as well as a recommended a framework to guide future work on IB under the APEC regional economic cooperation agenda are also included in this report.
Doing Business sheds light on how easy or difficult it is for a local entrepreneur to open and run a small to medium-size business when complying with relevant regulations. It measures and tracks changes in regulations affecting 11 areas in the life cycle of a business: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, resolving insolvency and labor market regulation. Doing Business 2016 presents the data for the labor market regulation indicators in an annex. The report does not present rankings of economies on labor market regulation indicators or include the topic in the aggregate distance to frontier score or ranking on the ease of doing business. This regional profile presents the Doing Business indicators for economies in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). It also shows the regional average, the best performance globally for each indicator and data for the following comparator regions: East Asia and the Pacific (EAP), European Union (EU), Latin America, OECD High Income and South Asia (SA). The data in this report are current as of June 1, 2015 (except for the paying taxes indicators, which cover the period January–December 2014).Series: Doing business 2016
Fuel subsidies are widespread and debated extensively. The issues with these subsidies are fully acknowledged by many energy economists; however, the total subsidy level remains high. This is because energy subsidies are often closely related to the political economy viewpoint. Moreover, the rationale underlying fossil fuel subsidies, particularly concerning political, economic, and social contexts, is to reduce energy poverty, ensure access to energy, and redistribute the wealth that stems from the exploitation of national resources. Although there is considerable controversy surrounding the efficiency of these policies, energy subsidies confer private benefits on particular interest groups and, once implemented, tend to persist. This paper discusses and models various aspects of the political economy of fuel subsidy reform in selected Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies. Applying a panel data set from the period 1991-2018, the paper provides an empirical analysis of the economic and political perspectives of fuel prices in APEC countries resulting from the elimination of fossil fuel subsidization policies. Our findings robustly support the current economic trend of those governments that have decided to phase out fossil fuel energy policies. Based on these findings, we conclude that a range of economic, political, and social parameters systematically influence fuel prices.
A longer life brings opportunities for older adults and their families as well as for their communities. Commercial businesses can be successful in innovating on these opportunities and achieving business expansion when they better understand the market dynamics and spectrum of older adults as consumers and view them more as assets rather than as burdens to society. While there is no "typical" older adult consumer, some traits, characteristics, and physical realities may be more common, including those related to family and community, the shopping experience, brand marketing and packaging, food and nutrition, and health. The opportunities of longer life are impacted by health and underscore the importance of positive, healthy aging-related behaviors like good nutrition and active lifestyles. Healthy aging also requires a sustained commitment and action from country leaders to formulate evidence-based polices--like systematic nutrition screening and intervention—and healthcare workforce training and education that can strengthen and support an active aging population. In addition, governments should consider engaging commercial businesses to help set sustainable policies that can advance products for older adults. Finally, governments should set national and local goals to incentivize commercial business development and investment in public-private partnerships to improve quality of care, promote healthy aging, and impact outcomes for noncommunicable diseases, ultimately benefitting population health for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries.
This essay focuses on regional economic cooperation and the Foundation's pivotal role in supporting multilateral discussion, negotiation, and engagement that led to the creation of significant regional institutions, most notably Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
This essay focuses on regional economic cooperation and the Foundation's pivotal role in supporting multilateral discussion, negotiation, and engagement that led to the creation of significant regional institutions, most notably Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
by Wong Tze-Kin. ; Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. ; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 191-199). ; Abstract also in Chinese. ; ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.i ; ABSTRACTS --- p.ii ; LIST OF TABLES AND DIAGRAM --- p.ix ; ABBREVIATIONS --- p.x ; Chapter PART ONE: --- APEC AND THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ; CHAPTER ; Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 ; Chapter 1.1 --- Background: the First APEC Meeting in 1989 --- p.1 ; Chapter 1.2 --- Thesis Statement --- p.4 ; Chapter 1.2.1 --- Propositions of Thesis --- p.6 ; Chapter 1.3 --- Conceptual Framework --- p.9 ; Chapter 1.3.1 --- Premises --- p.10 ; Chapter 1.3.2 --- The Political Economy of Globalization and Regionalization --- p.12 ; Chapter 1.3.3 --- International Cooperation and the Differentiation between Strong Regimes and Weak Regimes --- p.14 ; Chapter 1.3.4 --- "Functions of Regimes: Information, Institutional Nesting and Cross Issues-Linkage" --- p.16 ; Chapter 1.4 --- Sources of Materials and Organization of the Study --- p.20 ; Chapter II. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.22 ; Chapter 2.1 --- Concepts of Globalization and Regionalization --- p.22 ; Chapter 2.2 --- Theories of Cooperation Among States --- p.25 ; Chapter 2.2.1 --- Realist Theories --- p.25 ; Chapter 2.2.2 --- Neo-Liberal Institutional ism --- p.27 ; Chapter 2.2.3 --- Remarks --- p.32 ; Chapter 2.3 --- The Study of APEC --- p.33 ; Chapter 2.3.1 --- Objectives of APEC --- p.33 ; Chapter 2.3.2 --- Constraints on APEC --- p.35 ; Chapter 2.3.3 --- Theoretical Implications of APEC --- p.37 ; Chapter 2.4 --- Concluding Remarks --- p.39 ; Chapter PART TWO: --- "INTERDEPENDENCE, INDIVIDUAL VISIONS AND THE BIRTH OF APEC" ; Chapter III. --- THE CREATION OF APEC AND INCENTIVES OF ORIGINAL PLAYERS --- p.40 ; Chapter 3.1 --- Interdependence and the Development of Non-governmental Organizations in the Asia-Pacific Region --- p.40 ; Chapter 3.1.1 --- Historical Development of Non-governmental Organizations --- p.41 ; Chapter 3.1.2 --- Problems of Economic Cooperation in the ...
This book reviews progress with regional cooperation and integration in Asia and the Pacific and explores how it can be reshaped to achieve a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive future. Consisting of papers contributed by renowned scholars and Asian Development Bank staff, the book covers four major areas: public goods, trade and investment, financial cooperation, and regional health cooperation. The book emphasizes how the region can better leverage regional integration to realize its vast potential as well as overcome challenges such as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
With three-quarters of Asia-Pacific countries currently facing water scarcity and the vast majority of the region's river basins categorised as transboundary, water managers in the region need to manage water resources in a cooperative manner that promotes sustainable development. Numerous macro trends in the region make this challenging: rapid urbanisation and economic growth, and increased demand for energy and food along with the impacts of climate change. In Europe, the Danube River Basin also faces challenges to water quality and quantity. As Europe has developed a strategy to increase the river basin's water quality and quantity, best practices and lessons learned regarding integrated water resources management in the Danube River Basin can be transferred to the Asia-Pacific region.
This empirical study examines the determinant of economic growth among Asia Pacific countries. While many other studies focused on specific economies with particular determinants identified from previous studies, this study expands the boundaries of countries to examine different factors that are expected to affect the economic growth in Asia Pacific countries. Estimation results of this study are based on the analysis of a panel data for the period 1994–2011. The impact of total population, industry share of GNI, interest rate, gross fixed capital formation, and tax rate are statistically examined to be strongly significant for the whole sample. In the case of government expenditure and trade openness, they are examined to be significant to some degree. Finally, though human capital is expected to be the main driver of economic growth, the result from correlation analysis revealed that there is a high correlation between expenditure on education and health. To show the impact of human capital on economic growth in Asia Pacific countries, estimation with years of schooling may enhance the study instead of using expenditure on education and health.
Ng Hoi Lam. ; Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. ; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 138-149). ; Abstracts in English and Chinese. ; Abstract --- p.ix ; Acknowledgments --- p.xi ; List of Abbreviations,Tables and Figures --- p.xii ; Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction: Summit in Sino-American relations --- p.1 ; Chapter 1.1 --- Magic Figure --- p.1 ; Chapter - --- 30th Anniversary of Rapprochement between the US and China ; Chapter 1.2 --- Puzzle --- p.3 ; Chapter - --- The Central question ; Chapter 1.3 --- Layout --- p.6 ; Chapter 1.4 --- Argument --- p.6 ; Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review: Linking the internal politics to decision-making process of foreign policy Rational model VS Power model in High politics --- p.8 ; Chapter 2.1 --- What is a Summit? --- p.8 ; Chapter 2.2 --- Who is/ are the person(s) in-charge of foreign policy making process? --- p.11 ; Chapter 2.3 --- Foreign Policy decision making model(s) ; Chapter - --- Rationality model VS Power model --- p.16 ; Chapter 2.4 --- Linking internal and external politics ; Chapter - --- Two-level game instead of realism --- p.21 ; Chapter 2.5 --- Value of summitry --- p.25 ; Chapter - --- A photo-taking arena ; Chapter - --- Symbolism or substance? ; Chapter 2.6 --- Summitry in APEC --- p.32 ; Chapter Chapter 3 --- Methodology & Theoretical Framework: Summitry for settling legitimacy dilemma by two-level game --- p.34 ; Chapter 3.1 --- Focusing the subject --- p.34 ; Chapter 3.2 --- Research Method and Data --- p.38 ; Chapter 3.3 --- Nature of Sino-American relations --- p.39 ; Chapter 3.4 --- Summitry under two-level game --- p.47 ; Chapter 3.5 --- Pattern in APEC summits --- p.53 ; Chapter 3.6 --- "Modeling in 3 'I's´ؤInternational, internal and individual" --- p.55 ; Chapter Chapter 4 --- A Year of Presidential Elections: The case of 1996 --- p.61 ; Chapter 4.1 --- Manila APEC --- p.61 ; Chapter 4.2 --- Jiang's Taiwan Policy ; Chapter - --- How did the 'Eight Points' work under internal politics --- p.62 ...
The export oriented economies in East and Southeast Asia have formed one of the most vibrant regions in the world. Due to their openness they have enjoyed increasing shares in world trade. Concomitant with their integration into the world market, the countries of the region have developed closer economic relations in terms of trade links and financial interdependence among each other. Especially, the governments of the ASEAN countries are pursuing a strategy of explicitly encouraging the exchange of goods and factors of production by extending regional trade preferences to each other as well as through other measures of industrial and financial cooperation (See Devan, 1987; Hiemenz, Naya, 1985; Amelung, 1989). For some ASEAN members, however, bilateral economic relations with non-member countries such as the USA, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea have still remained more important than those within the ASEAN group.
Human capital development is important for economic growth. The main channel by which human capital can be enhanced is education, which is characterized by the issues of availability, access, and quality. Domestic reforms can be complemented by regional cooperation in education. The main mechanisms for regional cooperation are: People Exchange, Transnational Education, Information Exchange, Regulatory Reform, and Development Partnerships. The main argument in this paper is that the relevant mechanism for a particular economy - including what should be prioritized - depends on its position in the development ladder and history with regard to education attainment. The experience of Malaysia and the Philippines with regard to these mechanisms and education in general are compared with the expectation that other developing countries can draw lessons from this comparison. Malaysia's high economic growth in the past three decades has enabled it to implement an effective program in transnational education while the Philippines has failed to exploit its competency in the English language largely due to its poor record with regard to infrastructure development. What would be useful for the Philippines is to harness regional cooperation in order to effect regulatory reform. In particular, accreditation of colleges and universities in the Philippines is still voluntary while Malaysia has opened its universities to international standards. A long-run goal would be a regional agreement on education standards somewhat akin to a Free Trade Agreement. Meanwhile, developing countries can benefit from existing institutions like the ASEAN Universities Network and the ASEAN Quality Assurance Network in order to improve the quality of their education systems.
Japan's meteoric economic rise, the hardly less impressive growth of a number of newly industrialised countries in South-East Asia and the enormous mineral wealth of the region have long caused academic and political observers to show keen interest in the economies of the Pacific. Proposals for institutionalised economic cooperation in this region have been under discussion since the mid sixties but have increased in number and significance in recent years; this paper analyses their objectives, limitations and chances.
