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- Volume 15, Issue 2, 2009
Asia-Pacific Development Journal - Volume 15, Issue 2, 2009
Volume 15, Issue 2, 2009
The primary emphasis of the Journal is the publication of empirically based, policy-oriented articles, which can engage the attention of policy makers, academicians and researchers. The articles analyze development issues and problems relevant to the Asia-Pacific region.
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Are we growing smart?: New vision for urban development in Asia and the Pacific
Author: Hyunsun ChoiThe present paper explores the implications of smart growth principles for Asia-Pacific urbanization, and discusses how to use such principles for development in this region over the coming decades. After the United States of America experienced urban pathology due to sprawl, the country implemented growth management policies, and later adopted smart growth policies. While Asian cities experience rapid growth and concentration, the principles of American urban planning can benefit future urban policy and public investment in the region. The paper also argues that smart growth policies can lead to more sustainable and equitable urban development by overcoming the current unplanned sprawl. The concept of smart growth emphasizes a sense of community, the preservation of natural resources and open space, support for existing communities, and predictability in decisions and plans.
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Fiscal decentralization for poverty reduction in Asia: Opportunities, challenges and policy issues
Author: Muhammad Hussain MalikThe increasing popularity of decentralization has been due to political imperatives and the economic rationale of improving the efficiency of the allocation of resources and the responsiveness of policymaking to local needs and preferences. There are various forms of decentralization, but this paper is focused mainly on fiscal decentralization. The paper analyses the challenges and policy issues of decentralization with respect to experiences of countries in Asia. It examines the benefits and advantages of decentralization, as well as the various costs. The financial and human resources costs can be quite large, especially in the early phases of decentralization. It is essential to conduct a careful cost-benefit evaluation before making a decision on the process of fiscal decentralization. The paper concludes with some suggestions for measures and policy options that could maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of the fiscal decentralization process and make it conducive to poverty reduction.
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Trade liberalization effects on the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in Indonesia: A case study
Author: Tulus T.H. TambunanThe impact of international trade policy reform on the Indonesian economy, particularly in the areas of economic growth and development of the domestic manufacturing industry, has been studied extensively. However, the implications of such reform on the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia remain under-researched. This paper thus contributes to filling the gap by examining the impact of international trade policy reform, particularly following the 1997 crisis, on the growth of SMEs in Indonesia. Two main questions are posited: (a) how does international trade policy reform affect local SMEs?; and (b) has the growth of SME exports accelerated since the reform? The study does not find evidence that the reform has affected SMEs negatively. On the contrary, with the exception of a slight decline in 1998 due to the economic crisis, the number of SMEs has been growing. The paper suggests that such enterprises have not only managed to survive, but they have also been able to increase their output. Their exports also increased annually.
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Government finances and economic growth: A policy perspective on the developing economy of Sri Lanka
Authors: Partha Pratim Ghosh, Arpita Dhar and Debesh ChakrabortyIn this paper, we analyse the fiscal policy orientation of the developing economy of Sri Lanka in the context of the growth performance of the economy during the period 1975-2000, using an integrated input-output and macro-econometric model. The paper draws upon the Government’s policy approach towards faster economic growth. The empirical findings how that the Government’s budget deficits are not primarily the result of an excess of consumption over revenue. Rather, other current expenses, such as Government transfers and interest payments, have been the main cause of the country’s mounting public debt. The proportion of Government investment in total Government outlays has declined over time. This could be a major obstacle to economic growth. At the same time, the Government’s recurring budget deficits have led to an escalating national debt, and the monetization of deficits has created inflationary pressures. In order to arrest these trends and encourage economic growth, reducing the current deficits in the Government budgets is imperative. Domestic private investment, foreign direct investment and Government investment have to be combined as complementary forces to ensure rapid economic growth in the country.
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Stimulating income generation for the population in Uzbekistan: An econometric analysis
Author: Sergey V. ChepelThe core issue of national anti-crisis programmes in many countries is to stimulate domestic demand. Anti-crisis programme in Uzbekistan also includes such measures as reducing tax burden, expanding access to credit resources for producers and providing additional government support for small and medium-sized enterprises. These measures are expected to have an impact on income growth in small and medium-sized enterprises as well as in the population, in turn stimulating the expansion of cumulative demand and its positive influence on the dynamics of gross domestic product. This paper outlines channels and mechanisms through which these measures can be carried out, and explores methodological approaches and methods of quantitative estimation used in medium-term forecasting. Based on the results, scenarios are constructed to analyse and compare the rates of disposable-income increases that could potentially result from various combinations of measures and economic policy parameters.
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