Creating Fiscal Space for Social Protection Programs in Asia
Countries in developing Asia can extend basic and robust levels of social protection to the “missing middle,” but whether there’s enough political to do so is another matter.
Asia in Search of the Second Demographic Dividend
The sheer speed and scale of Asia’s demographic transition will deprive the region of one of the main drivers of its past economic success.
Working with Civil Society and Fiji's Kava Culture
Civil society participation becomes meaningful only when one learns to understand the local context, and appreciate the community’s inherent capacity to address issues that affect them.
Infrastructure and Safeguards
As multilateral development banks gear up to fill serious gaps in infrastructure in Asia, attention also focuses on safeguards, which should be a top concern for established lenders such as the World Bank and ADB as well as new players like the AIIB.
Extending the Reach of Flood Insurance
Disaster preparedness should include extending the reach of insurance to cover flooding to help individuals, businesses and governments to get back on their feet more quickly after a disaster strikes.
Working in Conflict-Affected Areas – The Myanmar Experience
ADB is committed to finance the last stretch of a regional transport corridor that includes a road passing through Myanmar’s restive Kayin State. It would have been easier for ADB to simply avoid a conflict-affected area, but we did not shy away from the challenge.
Actions for Inclusion Amid Rising Inequality
A focus on inclusion in the new SDGs is vital for Asia and the Pacific, where inequality has risen some 20% in the past two decades, and around 1.4 billion people live under $2 a day.
Why People Don’t Buy Insurance in Asia
Insurance is often viewed as a product of the sophisticated, capitalistic system of the West, and those who are outside this cultural group are less likely to value insurance protection. Asians, who rely on informal insurance such as a family network, are thus typically less focused on buying insurance.
Fiscal Policies, Inequality and Climate Change: How They Make or Break the Rich-Poor Divide
Do fiscal policies respond appropriately to reduce vulnerabilities, or actually widen the pre-existing inequality that is exacerbated during disasters?
5 Reasons for Getting CSR in Your Workplace in Asia
CSR brings so many benefits to the bottom line of a business and organization that is no longer an issue for debate in Asia, where the tipping point has been reached.