This page shows a video recording of the press conference launching ADB’s flagship economic publication Asian Development Outlook 2019 (ADO). It provides a comprehensive analysis of macroeconomic issues in developing Asia, including economic growth projections and prospects by country and region.
The ADO 2019 theme chapter Strengthening Disaster Resilience shows that disasters, including their causes and consequences, are shaped by the dynamics of the economy, society, and environment in which they occur. Increasing disaster risk is a growing threat to the development and prosperity of countries across Asia and the Pacific, and the consequences—particularly in terms of fatalities and economic impacts—tend to be more severe in developing countries and affect poor and marginalized people disproportionally. The report analyzes how disaster risks are reduced or amplified by market mechanisms (including insurance and supply chains), by government action (including infrastructure investment, early warning systems, and recovery assistance), and through the actions of individuals and communities. Finally, the report presents a new framing for “building back better”, focusing on building back safe, fast, fair, and ensuring future economic potential.
The ADO presentation by ADB Chief Economist Yasuyuki Sawada addressed:
- Economic prospects for developing Asia and the Pacific
- US monetary policy uncertainty and its implications for Asian exchange rate volatility
- Exchange rate changes and their implications for financial conditions
- Trends in disaster impacts across the region - frequency, magnitude and the resulting losses and damages
- Policies to improve disaster resilience in developing Asia