Asia's Developing Future

In this podcast, Vegard Skirbekk of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and Columbia University describes a new measure of aging burden that takes into account age-related health – the health adjusted dependency ratio. Skirbekk explains how this indicator overturns common assumptions about the population aging burden and its impacts across countries reflected in the traditional old-age dependency ratio. He also describes the policy significance, especially in countries with young but rapidly aging populations, including those in developing Asia.

Read the transcript: https://adbi.me/3LuupRF

In this episode of Asia’s Developing Future, Keio University professor Sayuri Shirai, a former Bank of Japan Policy Board member and ADBI visiting fellow from 2016 to 2020, explains the role of developing Asia’s central banks in reviving economic growth while dealing with volatile capital outflows.

She provides historical perspective and addresses shifts stemming from increasing interest rates and climate change risk. She also explains ways to blend risk to attract more private investment for sustainable energy and infrastructure development in the region.

Read the transcript: https://adbi.me/36PMHPh

In 2022, the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) is observing the 25th anniversary of its founding as the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Tokyo-based think tank under the theme Toward Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development in Asia and the Pacific.

In this episode of Asia’s Developing Future, Keio University professor Naoyuki Yoshino, ADBI Dean from 2014-2020 and a longtime finance official for the Government of Japan, discusses ways to effectively translate innovative policy research into government action. He draws upon his experience as chair of the Group of 20’s think tank engagement group, the Think20 (T20), during Japan’s 2019 G20 presidency. He goes on to explain how policy researchers can leverage their work to boost economic recovery in Asia and the Pacific.

Read the transcript: https://adbi.me/3vruXSl

Research has shown that when more women work, economies grow. Women’s economic empowerment also boosts productivity, income equality, and development outcomes. Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic has cast a cloud over the economic outlook for women.

In this podcast, ADBI Capacity Building and Training Economist Pitchaya Sirivunnabood describes the impacts of COVID-19 on women in the economy and policy next steps in Asia, including the importance of addressing gender gaps in digital literacy, social investment, and regulation.

The discussion draws upon her recommendations presented to policy makers from the region during a recent Healthy Women, Healthy Economies conference organized by Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC.

Read the transcript

https://adbi.me/3wRP26K

In 2022, the Asian Development Bank Institute is observing the 25th anniversary of its founding as the Asian Development Bank’s Tokyo-based think tank under the theme Toward Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development in Asia and the Pacific.

In this episode of Asia’s Developing Future, the Australian National University’s Peter McCawley, ADBI Dean from 2003-2007, discusses developing Asia and the Pacific’s policy imperatives in the face of transformational change and new risks and how these factors drove ADBI’s creation. He also explains the importance of ensuring regional peace and stability for effective physical and human development and how think tanks can address this urgent need.

Read the transcript: https://adbi.me/3JCrcja

The Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation member countries, also known as the CAREC region, extends from Azerbaijan to the People’s Republic of China, and includes some of the world’s most important producers of energy and natural resources, and emerging trade routes. So how seriously has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the region’s economies and what does the future hold in store?

In this podcast, ADBI’s Dina Azhgaliyeva and Kamalbek Karymshakov of the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University describe the heavy impact of COVID-19 on household incomes across Central and West Asia and factors disrupting the ability of businesses in the region to adapt successfully to the COVID-19 outbreak. They also share their research insights on recovery policy options and the road ahead in CAREC countries.

The discussion draws upon a joint ADBI – CAREC Institute forthcoming edited book, COVID-19 and Economic Recovery Potential in the CAREC Region.

Read the transcript

adbi.me/3hBb053

Public procurement is commonly used by governments in developed countries to promote innovation and socioeconomic policy objectives. However, the strategic use of public procurement as a public policy instrument for innovation is still uncommon in Asia.

In this podcast, ADBI’s senior CBT economist Yongwook Lee and research associate Lingfeng Zheng discuss the dynamics between public procurement and innovation and how the region can leverage public procurement to promote innovation and sustainable recovery.

The discussion is based on a related ADBI capacity building and training workshop, co-hosted by the Public Procurement Service of the Republic of Korea and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Read the transcript: https://adbi.me/3AD40gR

Register for the event: https://adbi.me/3Ab0Ocb

Digital transformation is raising the productive capacities of economies in Asia by enhancing trade, financial inclusion, and firm competitiveness, but could it provide an even greater competitive advantage?

According to ADBI Research Fellow John Beirne, the answer is yes! In this podcast, Beirne explains how improvements in infrastructure, digital literacy, and regulation can maximize digitalization’s benefits for the region’s economies.

The discussion draws upon his new co-edited book Harnessing Digitalization for Sustainable Economic Development: Insights for Asia.

Read the transcript

https://adbi.me/3tnwI3P

Download the book

https://adbi.me/3FsPYiP

Economies across Asia and globally are facing the risk of spiraling debt and inflation triggered by emergency responses to the COVID-19 crisis.

In this podcast, Indonesia Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati discusses how these challenges could impact economic recovery and strategies for addressing them, including the role of international cooperation.

The discussion draws upon her ADBI Featured Speaker Webinar on Indonesia’s G20 2022 host vision and priorities.

Read the transcript

https://adbi.me/30yiXmH

Related Page

ADBI Featured Speaker Webinar: Indonesia Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati on G20 2022 Host Vision and Priorities

https://adbi.me/3H1rY87

The COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow sought to rally global efforts to reduce carbon emissions needed to fight climate change and has prompted countries to commit to more ambitious climate actions. However, implementation challenges remain, particularly in fast-growing, highly-climate vulnerable developing countries in Asia and the Pacific.

In this podcast, ADBI’s Dina Azhgaliyeva and Frank Wolak of Stanford University explain how developing Asia and the Pacific can achieve measurable progress toward carbon neutrality after COP26 by advancing the region’s clean energy transition while relying less on public subsidies.

The discussion helps to set the tone for the 2021 ADBI Annual Conference on 1-3 December, which will feature insights from leading researchers on the next steps for climate change mitigation and green finance policy in developing Asia and the Pacific.

Read the transcript

https://adbi.me/3riT3ys

Register for the 2021 ADBI Annual Conference

https://adbi.me/31eIwcI