State-owned enterprises, including power utilities, in many countries have collected a menagerie of assets unrelated to their core business. And they are selling cheap.

There’s one big element missing before we can create a truly transparent, seamless and open international trading framework.

Involuntary resettlement can improve the lives of the resettled while reducing poverty and delivering results for development projects

Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are working together to encourage the free flow of skilled labor within their countries. 

Here’s why the perception that skilled migration damages the source country is wrong.

India is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to disasters and it has a lot to share when it comes to preparing for them.

Reforming state-owned enterprises can be an extraordinarily complex activity but it is underpinned by a single clear goal.

State-owned enterprises face unique challenges when it comes to attracting foreign financing for infrastructure projects. But there are solutions.

The global value chains that help drive Asia’s export-driven economic miracle have widespread development impacts. We need to understand them better to maximize the benefits.

The World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement provides a roadmap for developing economies to increase trade while also increasing the benefits it provides to their citizens.

A wealth of knowledge – knowhow and wisdom – rests with the officials, professionals, practitioners and communities. The challenge is to unleash the untapped power of this information.

Making it easier for workers to move between countries is key to liberalizing the trade in services and unleashing the benefits it will produce across national and regional economies.

Global supply chains link the welfare of disaster-hit companies and their surrounding communities to a network of corporations that have an economic incentive to help them bounce back. 

Despite decreases in hunger due to economic growth, millions in Asia remain malnourished and without direct action the situation could get worse.

Climate-smart and resource-saving farming technologies could be one way to address hunger in Asia.

The transmission channels of perishables like fruits and vegetables from producers to consumers in developing countries need a revamp to provide benefits to all involved.

Infrastructure has a critical role in narrowing gender gaps and accelerating the advancement of women and girls. If women are given a say in infrastructure design and investment, projects can become more effective enablers of their growth.

The Asia and Pacific region is aging rapidly, and that is affecting the region’s workforce, but increased longevity is adding an unexpected element to the picture

Southeast Asian economies are starting to feel the pinch of trade tensions, recession fears and other global trends.

The cost of disasters far outweighs the resources available for recovery. Microfinance could be one way to fill the funding gap.  

The poor and middle class are struggling to find affordable housing across the region, but there are some basic steps cities can take to improve the situation.

Work done within the home, including caring for children, is extremely important to society but undervalued and poorly tracked. 

With no single cause, and no magic solution, the congestion of Asia’s cities requires government resolve and know-how to fix.

Past financial crises have demonstrated how adequate financial safety net arrangements—globally, regionally, and nationally—are vital to safeguarding financial stability.

Governments in the region need to invest more in prevention and response to the long-term impacts of disaster displacement.

The ‘app economy’ provides potential risks and benefits for developing countries. The right policies are needed to bring out the best in these emerging economic trends.

Despite variations across countries on policy mix and timing, a pragmatic focus on sustained growth, poverty reduction, and inclusiveness characterize Asia’s economic rise 

To offset the declining benefits of manufacturing, governments must increase the productivity of the services sector. This will boost growth and offer employment opportunities.

The delivery of services – such as clean water, reliable public transport, schools and hospitals – through economic and social infrastructure is among the most important functions of government. Resources must be well spent to ensure quality.

Asia and the Pacific is not where it needs to be to meet the Sustainable Development Goals but there remains a decade to make up for lost time.

Sir Fazle Hasan Abed dedicated his life to social development, establishing practices that will continue to help the poor for decades to come.

With key reforms, Pacific states could move toward cleaner, more affordable sources of energy that eventually eliminate fossil fuels completely.

Asian cities act as engines of economic growth, providing jobs, expertise, and the sharing of resources. But in some cases, these powerful engines are sputtering due to insufficient infrastructure, inadequate planning, and poor governance.

Solar power is helping Asia get electricity to people, particularly in rural and remote areas, but it has fallen behind in its use as a clean energy cooking source.

Girls and women today have far more opportunities and role models than their mothers and grandmothers, but there is much more to be done.

Developing a holistic national student assessment system can be a colossal undertaking but strategic measures can produce results.

A high level of external debt is linked with decreased economic growth but there are policy options that can help economies keep growing.

Medical waste disposal is a key part of pandemic planning and recovery that we must get right during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Asia’s economies have generally maintained sound macroeconomic policies that can help the region withstand this latest challenge and emerge even stronger.

The Asia Pacific region is standing together to cooperate regionally to address the transnational threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bank-held nonperforming loans in some Asian economies have risen in recent years. Policy makers should address this growing risk now.

The surge in online learning in the People’s Republic of China during the coronavirus outbreak highlights the importance of infrastructure, platforms and the preparedness of teachers, students and parents.

Many workers will be displaced and many businesses will close as a result of the slowdown caused by COVID-19. Providing support to those affected gives them a fighting chance.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need to strengthen programs and policies affecting older persons both in times of crisis and afterward.

In the fragile energy scenario of small Pacific islands, contingency plans are crucial to keep the lights on during a crisis.

For many of Indonesia’s urban poor who work in the informal sector, social distancing is nearly impossible if they want to maintain their income. Two key policies can help.

The pandemic provides an opportunity for regional financial cooperation on reforms to make Asian banks more resilient to crises.

With timely and well-targeted programs, policy makers can prevent the health crisis from deepening into a wider economic and financial crisis. This could sow the seeds of economic recovery.  

The pandemic is producing more household waste and increased amounts of dangerous medical waste. We need to manage these changes for our immediate safety and for the long-term welfare of our communities.

The Asia-Pacific region has the expertise and resources to take a leadership role in not only developing a COVID-19 vaccine but distributing it to those who need it most.