
Countries in Central and West Asia Must Avoid a COVID-19 Race to the Bottom
Governments in Central and West Asia must commit to reforms and get them right, or face a downward spiral. The costs of the crisis are already obvious in rising deficits and debt. There is no room for complacency.

What Works to Control COVID-19?
An analysis of global responses to the virus indicate that expanding the capacity to test, trace, and isolate potential carriers is effective, as is the expansion of paid sick leave benefits.

Here’s How We Used Satellite Data to Map Poverty in Thailand and the Philippines
Innovative, new methods are needed to estimate poverty due to the high costs and long time frame of traditional methods.

Wellness in Worrying Times
Policies that promote wellness can help Asians navigate the uncertain, stressful COVID-19 world and achieve a better post-pandemic lifestyle.

How to Drive the Economy by Reforming State-Owned Debt
The more Viet Nam’s state-owned enterprises can access capital through the strength of their own balance sheets, the more they can help fund infrastructure, social development and COVID-19 response.

Private Debt, a Hidden Menace to Asia’s Financial Stability
Asian regulators and policy makers should undertake prudential financial supervision and regulation to improve the quality of private debt and reduce the risk of financial instability in the future.

Protecting the Remittance Lifeline from COVID-19’s Economic Fallout
Families throughout Asia and the Pacific rely on money sent by relatives overseas. These remittances are threatened by the pandemic but policy actions can help.

The Pandemic’s Economic Impact Will be Deep, But Proactive Policies Will Help
To mitigate the damage, governments should focus on containing the pandemic, helping families and supporting businesses
Tracking COVID-19’s Devastating Toll on Asia’s Remittances
Our research indicates that the global economy could lose more than $100 billion in remittances. Governments need to act fast to protect the most vulnerable in society from this loss of vital income.

Asia is (Cautiously) Getting Back to Business
Governments and the private sector are working together in Asia and the Pacific to chart a path toward re-opening businesses during the midst of the pandemic.