1,720,967 research outputs found
Progress and prospects of regional financial arrangements and cooperation in East Asia: a critical survey
Full text linkThe main purpose of this paper is to provide a brief survey for the progress and prospects of regional financial arrangements/cooperation among the East Asian nations and present the summary of various conflicting points of discussion about the strategies on the establishment of an effective regional financial arrangement in the region. This critical survey derives a list of viable and practical strategies for establishing an effective RFA/RFC scheme in the East Asian region in order to prevent the reoccurrence of a financial/economic crisis and large-scale contagion in the region in the future.Regional Financial Cooperations; Asian Financial Crisis, East Asia
Regionalism as an Engine of Multilateralism: A Case for a Single East Asian FTA
Full text linkAs East Asia becomes increasingly integrated through market-driven trade and FDI activities, free trade agreements (FTAs) are proliferating. Consolidation of multiple and overlapping FTAs into a single East Asian FTA can help mitigate the harmful noodle bowl effects of different or competing tariffs, standards, and rules. A region-wide FTA will also encourage participation of low-income countries and reduce trade-related business costs, particularly for small and medium enterprises. A computable general equilibrium (CGE) model examines the economic impact of various types of FTAs in East Asia (among ASEAN+1's, ASEAN+3, and ASEAN+6) finding that consolidation at the ASEAN+6 level would yield the largest gains to East Asia among plausible regional trade arrangements.Free Trade Agreement; ASEAN; multilateralism
Japan’s response to the rise of China: implications for regional institutions.
Full text linkThis dissertation set out to establish why it was that East Asian regional organizations were proliferating even under the condition of a Sino-Japanese rivalry. In particular, it examined the effects of the rise of China on Japan‘s regional policy and its outcomes. To do so, the dissertation adopted an eclectic approach, testing each of the main international relations theories against the story of Sino-Japanese relations within the studied regional institutions of East Asia. It adopted such an approach because no one theory of international relations was able to explain both the cause of and actual outcomes of institution building. Throughout all the regional institutions examined, one trend emerged. Whether in trade, finance, security or development, East Asian regionalism has become ‘networked.’ This networked outcome is more flexible than European or American-type regionalism, allowing for any dyad to calibrate their commitments as they please without reference to a regional standard. But as long as agreement on common rules for East Asia remains unforthcoming, this networked regionalism will not lead into more formalistic, deeper cooperation. This trend toward a ‘networked‘ or bilateral-type of regionalism was traceable back to Japan‘s response to China‘s rise. Rather than trying to build a regionally hegemonic core around which institutions for trade, finance, aid and security might be built, Japan has sought to go it alone. In the field of security, this was understandable from a realist perceptive, but only after a constructivist strategy had failed earlier. In the field of aid, Japan was better able to coordinate with China in a manner that liberalism suggests, but even here Japan was building up alternative bilateral structures. In the field of finance, Japan has competed with China in a manner realism would predict, but due to world level factors this has in fact spilled over into greater regional cooperation. Likewise in the field of trade, Japan has competed with China, giving rise to a situation in which institution building is actually harmed. In conclusion, this dissertation was able to contribute to the literature by revealing the mechanisms by which a bilateral relationship impacts on institution building and to theorize about some of the likely institutional outcomes in the various fields.Thesis (Ph.D.)-- University of Adelaide, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, 201
Inclusive urban futures : from inequality to opportunity
No full textThe 2026 Asia-Pacific SDG Partnership Report: “Inclusive Urban Futures: From Inequality to Opportunity” explores how Asia and the Pacific, home to 54% of the world’s urban population and growing rapidly, can harness urbanization to create equitable, inclusive, and sustainable futures.
While cities have driven economic growth, expanded infrastructure, and improved access to basic services, deep inequalities persist. Millions still lack affordable housing, decent work, and access to clean, safe, and resilient urban environments. The report identifies a threefold inequality challenge: unequal access to housing and services, widespread informal employment, and environmental vulnerabilities, and analyses how these intersect to leave many urban residents behind.
Against this backdrop, the report calls for urgent action to make cities more affordable, inclusive and resilient. It showcases people-centred solutions that deliver results, including community-led housing and service delivery, initiatives to expand decent work and social protection for informal workers, and approaches to improve air quality, waste management and climate resilience. The report identifies key policy actions–backed by governance, financing, science and technology and partnerships–to scale these solutions and support sustainable urban growth that leaves no one behind.Table of Contents
Foreword........................................................................................................... vi
Executive Summary.......................................................................................... vii
Summary Infographic ...................................................................................... xiii
Acknowledgement........................................................................................... xiv
Abbreviations .................................................................................................. xix
Explanatory notes............................................................................................ xxi
Introduction........................................................................................................1
Chapter 1 Urban Divides .....................................................................................................5
1.1. Urban inequality in access to housing and basic services........................................................ 5
1.1.1. Housing: slums and informal settlements ................................................................................................6
1.1.2. Access to drinking water and sanitation................................................................................................ 10
1.1.3. Access to electricity and clean energy................................................................................................... 12
1.1.4. Access to the Internet .................................................................................................................. 14
1.1.5. Access to finance .................................................................................................................... 16
1.1.6. Access to public transport systems....................................................................................................... 17
1.2. Urban informal employment...................................................................................................... 18
1.2.1. Trends in urban informal employment................................................................................................... 20
1.2.2. Sectoral and supply chain linkages........................................................................................................ 22
1.2.3. Occupational structure, skills and education......................................................................................... 24
1.3. Urban environmental liveability ................................................................................................. 28
1.3.1. Air pollution and urban inequality........................................................................................................... 28
1.3.2. Solid waste and urban inequality ........................................................................................................... 31
1.3.3. Disasters, risks, and urban inequality..................................................................................................... 34
1.4. Governance and policies ........................................................................................................... 39
Chapter 2 Addressing Urban Inequality: Good Practices from the Region..........................42
2.1. Addressing urban inequality of housing and access to basic services.................................. 42
2.1.1. Supporting community-led solutions for informal settlement and slum upgrading.............................. 42
2.1.2. Implementing holistic planning and cross-sectoral collaboration to provide affordable housing and basic urban services .............................................................................................................................. 45
2.1.3. Bridging last mile access to basic services and infrastructure for marginalized and vulnerable groups47
2.2. Advancing decent and inclusive urban employment for all .................................................... 51
2.2.1. Promoting better and more secure jobs ................................................................................................ 51
2.2.2. Improving working conditions and social well-being ............................................................................. 53
2.2.3. Fostering an enabling environment for a gradual and inclusive transition to formality ........................ 56
2.3. Improving urban environmental liveability................................................................................ 57
2.3.1. Interventions to reduce urban air pollution ............................................................................................ 58
2.3.2. Improving solid waste management and addressing problems faced by waste-pickers...................... 60
2.3.3. Strengthening urban resilience, including through nature-based solutions and green spaces............. 62
2.4. Enablers for inclusive urban transformation................................................................................................ 64
2.4.1. Financing innovation for sustainable urban development..................................................................... 65
2.4.2. Science and technology as catalysts for urban solutions ..................................................................... 66
2.4.3. Governance for integrated and accountable urban systems................................................................. 68
2.4.4. Multilateral and multi-stakeholder partnerships .................................................................................... 70
Chapter 3 Conclusions and recommendations..................................................................73
3.1. Overarching recommendations................................................................................................. 73
3.2. Addressing urban inequality of informal settlements and affordable housing, and
access to basic services ........................................................................................................... 75
3.3. Advancing decent and inclusive urban employment for all .................................................... 77
3.4. Enhancing urban environment and resilience .......................................................................... 79
Annexes ...........................................................................................................82
Annex 1: Methodology for identifying gaps in access to opportunities in Asia and the Pacific... 82
Annex 2: Urban slum populations in Asia and the Pacific and their socio-economic circumstances/
characteristics .................................................................................................................... 91
Annex 3: Trend in access to drinking water and sanitation in select countries in Asia and the Pacific
(2015-2024) (%).................................................................................................................. 93
Annex 4: CART analysis results on access to Internet, at household level .................................... 95
Endnotes ..........................................................................................................9
The role of foreign banks in post-crisis Asia: the importance of method of entry
Full text linkThis study examines the role of foreign banks in post-crisis Asia, focusing particularly on the four countries most affected by the Asian Crisis of 1997 - Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia and Thailand. First, using data on the presence of foreign banks via branching as well as subsidiaries, the study shows that the presence of foreign banks in the four crisis-hit countries is actually much larger than has been previously reported once the presence of foreign branches is accounted for in the data. However, the percentage of assets controlled by foreign banks in Asia is still lower than that of other emerging economies, despite great increases in the post-crisis period. The author reviews regulations on foreign bank entry that may have limited the presence of foreign banks or influenced the method of entry (branching versus subsidiary). Given recent regulatory changes and the need for bank recapitalization in the region, the presence of foreign banks is expected to increase in the near future, so this study next takes up the policy implications of this trend. To date, foreign banks in most Asian countries appear to perform relatively worse than their domestic counterparts as measured by return on equity, cost to income ratios, and the ratio of problem loans to total loans. This finding contradicts previous research in other emerging economies, and may be due to the fact that foreign bank entry in Asia is still a very recent phenomenon, and has occurred mostly through the takeover of troubled banks in the region. The second policy issue examined here is the stability of lending by foreign banks relative to domestic banks. Macroeconomic data suggests that foreign bank lending may in some cases be more stable than domestic bank lending, particularly during crisis, but that the stability of foreign bank lending varies greatly by method of entry. Cross border claims of foreign banks are the most volatile, followed by foreign bank branch lending. Lending by foreign bank subsidiaries capitalized in the host country appear to be more stable than domestic lending, perhaps providing much needed capital during times of crisis. Therefore, foreign banks play an important role in Asia, not only in the traditional ways by providing new services and stimulating competition and efficiency, but also by contributing to stability of the banking sector in the face of macroeconomic fluctuations. However, the mode of foreign entry seems to have important implications for the contributions of foreign banks. Since lending by off-shore banks and foreign bank branches seems to be more volatile than locally capitalized foreign subsidiaries, policy makers in Asia should encourage foreign players to enter via fully-owned subsidiaries or joint ventures and move away from the previous pattern of branch-based entry.bank; Asia; foreign
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Standards and Agricultural Trade in Asia
Full text linkThe markets for agri-food products are changing at a pace that is unparalleled in modern history. Markets are increasingly open and increasingly homogenized toward international tastes and requirements for levels of quality, packaging, safety, and even process attributes such as socially or environmentally friendly methods. New distribution channels, dominated by larger firms including supermarket retailers, are imposing high performance demands on their value chains. In order to respond to these increasing demands, developing countries are facing an inexorable shift toward more industrialized models of farming systems. This shift presents new challenges for small and medium farmers’ access to markets and their ability to compete. The question for many countries—and not just developing countries—is what options are there for small farmers, which still comprise the great majority of the world's agricultural producers?value chain; supply chain; commodity; agriculture
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
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