
Asian Trade Has Rebounded Strongly, Yet Uncertainties Persist
These charts illustrate the strong momentum of Asia’s trade growth during 2021, showing its resilience amid continuing uncertainties around the pandemic and a potential slowdown in the pace of global economic recovery.

During The Pandemic, Asia Went Online Yet the Digital Economy Declined
As the pandemic embedded “digitalization” into our daily lives, the digital sector suffered along with other aspects of the economy. The rise of the digital economy has made defining and measuring it imperative for policymaking.

Vaccinated Asia is Prospering While Other Countries Struggle
To benefit from the demand for Asian exports, rapid and widespread vaccination – particularly in light of the Omicron variant – is needed to stop the divergence in economic recovery paths among Asia’s economies.

Farmers are Rolling On and Rolling Off to Increased Revenue in the Philippines
RORO transport systems can help level the playing field and diminish the use of middlemen as farmers get their products to market.

Capital Markets Can Power Southeast Asia’s Sustainable Pandemic Recovery
With the right policies in the sustainable finance market, Southeast Asian governments can add momentum to the region’s post-pandemic recovery and improve lives through the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Does Economic Growth Lead to Greater Inequality? The Answer Might Surprise You.
Finance, globalization, technology and urbanization – key drivers of economic growth – can lead to more or less inequality—depending on how prevalent they are in the economy.

Linking Asia’s Financial Markets Will Help the Region Respond to the Next Crisis
Just as past crises triggered international and regional financial cooperation, the pandemic offers an opportunity to collectively improve financial resilience and soundness.

Why Have Bankruptcies Fallen During the Pandemic?
Government assistance programs, and relaxed insolvency procedures, have helped keep businesses afloat during the pandemic.

Vaccinations Won't Lead to Vacations Anytime Soon Unless We Take Action Now
Vaccination programs and travel bubbles are still in their infancy. They could help revive tourism in Asia and the Pacific but governments need to pave the way with the right policies.

Prices Matter When Tracking Economic Development and Recovery After the Pandemic
Measuring purchasing power is an effective way to track economic recovery after the pandemic, estimate the real sizes of economies, and gauge poverty.