Economic Research Publications

Bangladesh: Looking Beyond Garments - Employment Diagnostic Study

This study highlights the role played by growing female workforce in the positive economic turnaround in Bangladesh. It is now essential to shift workers to more highly productive sectors through structural transformations.

Skills and Activity Upgrading in Global Value Chains: Trends and Drivers for Asia

Findings suggest that technological change in global value chains that is biased toward skilled activities is important in accounting for the trends observed.

Developing Local Currency Bond Markets in Asia

Asian economies have come a long way in building local currency bond markets, but more needs to be done to strengthen market infrastructure and institutions, address inconsistent policies and regulations, and enhance corporate governance.

The Impact of a People’s Republic of China Slowdown on Commodity Prices and Detecting the Asymmetric Responses of Economic Activity in Asian Countries to Commodity Price Shocks

Adopting a structural dynamic regression and censoring positive and negative shocks, findings suggest limited evidence of any asymmetric response of economic activity to positive and negative commodity price shocks.

Effects of the People’s Republic of China’s Structural Change on the Exports of East and Southeast Asian Economies

The People’s Republic of China’s structural transformation from an export- and investment-led economy to a domestic demand- and consumption-led economy is likely to have a significant impact on its import structure.

Asian Development Outlook 2016 Supplement: Asia's Growth Prospects Undimmed by Brexit Vote

Developing Asia’s growth outlook this year is revised slightly down from that published in March in Asian Development Outlook 2016 with growth forecast for developing economies at 5.6%. For 2017, growth is seen unchanged at 5.7%.