Social Development and Poverty

Consultant’s reports describe activities by a consultant or group of consultants related to preparing a technical assistance project.

This document dated July 2011 is provided for the ADB regional project 40320-012.

Consultant’s reports describe activities by a consultant or group of consultants related to preparing a technical assistance project.

This document dated July 2011 is provided for the ADB regional project 40320-012.

Trafficking prevention, vulnerability reduction, and strengthened monitoring, evaluation, and analysis of programmes are all mandated under the 3rd The Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative Against Trafficking (COMMIT) Sub-regional Plan of Action (COMMIT SPA III, 2011-2013) as well as the 2004 COMMIT Memorandum of Understanding. This Guide aims to support COMMIT Taskforces and partners in improving the effectiveness of trafficking prevention programmes though an analytical approach centred around the planning and measurement of behaviour change.

Trafficking prevention, vulnerability reduction, and strengthened monitoring, evaluation, and analysis of programmes are all mandated under the 3rd The Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative Against Trafficking (COMMIT) Sub-regional Plan of Action (COMMIT SPA III, 2011-2013) as well as the 2004 COMMIT Memorandum of Understanding. This Guide aims to support COMMIT Taskforces and partners in improving the effectiveness of trafficking prevention programmes though an analytical approach centred around the planning and measurement of behaviour change.

This study uses a panel database of rural households in Thailand collected from 2008–2010 to investigate the effects of rural–urban migration on economic development. One finding is that social protection policies for the rural poor in Thailand may be less effective for urban migrants. Another is that while migration increases income growth among rural households, it is less effective in reducing inequality and relative poverty in rural areas.

This study uses a panel database of rural households in Thailand collected from 2008–2010 to investigate the effects of rural–urban migration on economic development. One finding is that social protection policies for the rural poor in Thailand may be less effective for urban migrants. Another is that while migration increases income growth among rural households, it is less effective in reducing inequality and relative poverty in rural areas.

This publication presents a comprehensive discussion on the impact of the global financial crisis (2008–2009) on certain Asian economies at different levels of analysis—showcasing cross-country regression, computable general equilibrium modeling, and microeconometric modeling for Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. Using different measures of remittances, cross-country regression analyses suggest that a 10% increase in remittances leads to a 3%–4% rise in real gross domestic product per capita. At the same time, the analyses show that remittances exert a negative impact on aggregate poverty. Moreover, these money transfers from abroad exert important impacts on the macroeconomy that include improving external current accounts, alleviating debt burdens, appreciation of domestic currencies, and moderating inflation.

This publication presents a comprehensive discussion on the impact of the global financial crisis (2008–2009) on certain Asian economies at different levels of analysis—showcasing cross-country regression, computable general equilibrium modeling, and microeconometric modeling for Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. Using different measures of remittances, cross-country regression analyses suggest that a 10% increase in remittances leads to a 3%–4% rise in real gross domestic product per capita. At the same time, the analyses show that remittances exert a negative impact on aggregate poverty. Moreover, these money transfers from abroad exert important impacts on the macroeconomy that include improving external current accounts, alleviating debt burdens, appreciation of domestic currencies, and moderating inflation.

Every year South Asian countries send out a significant number of migrant workers, resulting in remittances becoming an important source of funds for economic development. However, despite its huge potential to contribute to economic growth, South Asian countries have not yet fully maximized benefits from remittances because of their limited financial sector development and financial inclusion, and because a substantial portion of remittances to the region are channeled informally. Concerted efforts by the governments, regulators, and financial sectors are required in addressing legal and policy constraints, improving formal financial systems, and enhancing customer education to expand formal remittance markets and achieve financial inclusion.

Every year South Asian countries send out a significant number of migrant workers, resulting in remittances becoming an important source of funds for economic development. However, despite its huge potential to contribute to economic growth, South Asian countries have not yet fully maximized benefits from remittances because of their limited financial sector development and financial inclusion, and because a substantial portion of remittances to the region are channeled informally. Concerted efforts by the governments, regulators, and financial sectors are required in addressing legal and policy constraints, improving formal financial systems, and enhancing customer education to expand formal remittance markets and achieve financial inclusion.