Economic And Social Development In Pacific Asia

First published in 1993. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

The Asia-Pacific region’s impressive economic growth and remarkable achievements in poverty reduction have not succeeded in closing gaps in income between the rich and poor, nor the unequal access to, for example, health care and education among other basic services. These gaps disproportionately affect women and the most vulnerable segments of society. They also hamper inclusive growth, undermine social cohesion and contribute to unsustainable production and consumption patterns. In short, these social development gaps undermine efforts to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.Sustainable Social Development in Asia and the Pacific summarizes the social development gaps as countries in the region take steps to achieve the SDGs, and sketches out a broad regional agenda for a people-centred transformation, outlining some of the key priorities and resources needed. The policy simulations reported here clearly indicate that acceleration of economic growth alone would not address the remaining development gaps. Changing the development paradigm to ensure more decent jobs, complemented by broadened coverage of social protection and universal education and health care is critical for eliminating extreme poverty from the region and achieving the other SDGs. Asia and the Pacific is already the most dynamic region in the world. By harnessing the potential of its people, the region can also be at the forefront of a global social transformation for a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable future for all.

The annual Survey provides an extensive annual review of current economic and social trends within the Asian region and analyzes these developments against the background of events in the world economy. This publication is invaluable to every multinational corporation intending to expand their business in Asia or to invest in the region.

Covers the period since 1945 with a focus on the 1990s.

The Survey 2016 assesses the region’s outlook as it navigates through global uncertainties, providing policy options and strategies to support countries in striving towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The report analyses a wide range of areas including economic growth, inflation, trade and investment, financial markets, inequality, employment, and environmental concerns. The special theme of Survey 2016 highlights how both economic growth and productivity growth have declined in the aftermath of the 2008 economic and financial crisis in the Asia-Pacific region. In doing so, the report examines underlying trends of productivity growth and argues that the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development provides an entry point to strengthen productivity as investing in the SDGs can foster productivity growth, thereby creating a virtuous cycle between sustainable development, productivity and development.

The Survey 2016 assesses the region’s outlook as it navigates through global uncertainties, providing policy options and strategies to support countries in striving towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The report analyses a wide range of areas including economic growth, inflation, trade and investment, financial markets, inequality, employment, and environmental concerns. The special theme of Survey 2016 highlights how both economic growth and productivity growth have declined in the aftermath of the 2008 economic and financial crisis in the Asia-Pacific region. In doing so, the report examines underlying trends of productivity growth and argues that the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development provides an entry point to strengthen productivity as investing in the SDGs can foster productivity growth, thereby creating a virtuous cycle between sustainable development, productivity and development.

'There is much to commend in this collection of papers to those interested in both globalization per se as well as those interested in economic and social development in South-east Asia.' - David N. Ashton, Asia Pacific Business Review The impact of globalisation on social development is a critical issue for both developed and developing countries. In Globalisation and Social Development, leading experts investigate this from the perspective of European, and more specifically, Southeast Asian economies including Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Most Asian countries have shown a strong commitment to rapid economic development. Economists have argued that the fruits from economic development will be spread equitably throughout the population. In the absence of a strong tradition of social rights, social development in Asia has long been taken for granted. This collection documents social development in the Asian countries of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand and India and concludes that social development has lagged behind economic development. This has given rise to `distorted development' in many countries. Serious development problems of poverty and inequalities have lingered even in these economically advanced countries of Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. These problems have been exacerbated in the wake of the Asian economic crisis. In order to harmonize social development with economic growth, Asian states ought to be more proactive in their development agendas. As a text on social development in Asia, this book is primarily intended for practitioners and students of social work, social administration, and social policy. It is also relevant for students and practitioners of sociology, economics, and public policy.