COVID-19 is Boosting Inequality but Government Policies can Help
The pandemic has worsened inequality on many fronts. Pro-active macroeconomic policy combined with labor retraining programs and increased social protection are needed.
COVID-19: How Quickly Can Asia Bounce Back?
The pandemic is challenging policymakers across Asia. The shape of the economic recovery is uncertain but pro-active government and central bank policies can improve outcomes.
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.
Factories or Call Centers? Asia Charts its Development Path
Asia’s industries, primarily manufacturing, fueled phenomenal economic growth and poverty reduction in recent decades. But today many countries are looking to the service sector as an alternative.
How the COVID-19 Crisis Can Spur Economic Transformation
The pandemic represents a severe challenge for policymakers in Asia. They need a response that will help economies achieve a more efficient and fairer allocation of resources in the economy, enhancing productivity, economic growth and employment.
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.
Tax Reform: Learning from Hong Kong, China’s Reform Challenges
Hong Kong, China’s tax system and prudent approach to fiscal policy are two pillars of its success. Despite this, aging and climate change will require tax reforms to ensure fiscal sustainability and competitiveness.
The Pandemic has Left Millions in Asia Struggling for Food
COVID-19 has resulted in broad impacts on food security in Asia. Policymakers must respond quickly and aggressively to these challenges to avert long-term damage from this emerging crisis.
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.
Vaccines are Key to Easing Asia’s Lockdowns
As new virus outbreaks emerge in developing countries in Asia, vaccines are changing the nature of the pandemic by rendering COVID-19 a much less deadly disease. Governments are responding with milder containment measures.