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This paper evaluates the relationship between corruption and operational efficiency of airports in Asia, by analyzing a panel dataset of 26 Asian airports over the 2003–2019 period. Our estimation results for Asia confirm the findings for other regions that there exists a negative association between the operational efficiencies of airports and the corruption level in the country. Airports owned, operated and/or managed by government corporations (100% government) are the most affected, in that they experience significant loss of efficiency when located in a high corruption country. The residual variable factor productivity (RVFP) from the Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) airport benchmarking reports is used as measure of airport operational efficiency. Regression analyses are applied to evaluate the relationship between airport efficiency and corruption. The results are robust to alternative corruption indexes. The findings of this paper have important policy implications for the management of large public infrastructure projects and airport governance reforms in Asia. • We assess the impact of corruption on airport efficiency in Asia. • The dataset covers 26 airports located in 10 Asian countries over the 2003–2019 period. • Residual Variable Factor Productivity is used as measure of airport efficiency. • Analyses show a negative association between airport efficiency and corruption in Asia. • Corruption impacts are stronger for airports under public corporations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade, we have been witnessing an unprecedented expansion of roads and other transportation infrastructure, especially in developing countries in South America and southeastern Asia. However, comprehensive information on roadkills is not available for many countries. Mammalian carnivores are especially vulnerable to roadkill events due to their relatively large body size, high dispersion capacity, and low density. In this way, we analysed the spatial patterns of roadkills of four medium-sized carnivorous mammals, including two threatened species (the crab-eating fox, Cerdocyon thous; the maned wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus; the ocelot, Leopardus pardalis and the jaguarundi, Herpailurus yagouaroundi), at a high-traffic road immersed in the Atlantic Forest biome, a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot. We aimed at identifying whether roadkills were spatially clustered forming hotspots and analysed which landscape characteristics (percentage of urban areas, forest cover, herbaceous cover, crop fields, and proximity to water bodies) explained roadkill distribution over 12 years. Roadkills were concentrated in two areas of the BR-040 highway and were associated with areas with high percentage of herbaceous vegetation (except for the crab-eating fox). Overall, species avoided altered areas such as crop fields and urban areas, and only the ocelot had roadkills directly associated with continuous forest areas. The present study demonstrates the importance of long-term monitoring programs in evaluating the pattern of roadkills in a complex landscape and, for the first time, we were able to identify areas with a high probability of roadkill for two felid species, the ocelot and the jaguarundi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With almost 30 per cent of the global foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows channeled to Asia the region is world leading in attracting FDI. Yet, on a sub-regional level South Asia is the weakest region among all Asian sub-regions. This gives raise to the question what separates South Asian countries from their more successful East and South East neighbouring countries. The general question why certain countries manage to attract FDI while others fail has been frequently addressed in literature. Moreover, research in logistics and transportation claims on a host of determinants that explains the location considerations of MNEs based on host country logistic performance. By implementing these determinants into more traditional FDI and trade models our objective is to shed more light on the importance of the individual aspects of national transportation systems on the FDI and trade patterns in the Asian region. Moreover, we provide theoretical arguments and empirical evidence that national transportation systems moderate the effects of the different dimensions of (between-) country distance on international trade and FDI performance. Our findings show that the elements of national transportation systems positively influence both trade and FDI. Additionally, more developed national transportation systems are able to overcome the costs of distance to some degree. We also find support for the notion that the nature of the costs of geographic distance (e.g. transportation costs) differ between trade and FDI. While the former is related to international transportation and port infrastructure, the latter is based on within-country transportation and is moderated by land-based transportation infrastructure. • National transportation systems affect international trade and foreign direct investments. • The costs of distance between two countries are partly moderated by national transportation systems. • Port infrastructure mostly affects international trade but not foreign direct investments. • Modes of within-country transportation are important facilitators of foreign direct investments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are representative methods for promoting the standardization of healthcare and improvement of its quality. Few studies have investigated changes in the quality of CPGs published in a country over time. Our aim was to investigate changes in the quality of CPGs over time in the context of the available infrastructure for CPG development, public interest in healthcare quality, and healthcare providers’ responses to this interest. Methods: All CPGs pertaining to evidence-based medicine (EBM) issued between 2000 and 2014 in Japan (n = 373) were evaluated using the Japanese version of the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) I. Additionally, time trends in quality were analyzed. Using a cut-off point based on the publication year of CPG development literature, the evaluated CPGs were classified into those published until 2008 (pre-2008) and those published since 2009 (post-2008). Subsequently, we compared these groups in terms of 1) first edition CPGs and its second editions, and 2) patients’ version of CPGs. Results: Scores on all six domains of AGREE I improved each year. A comparison of the first- and second-edition of CPGs (n = 64) showed that scores on all domains improved significantly after revision. Significant improvement was observed in three domains (#2 stakeholder involvement, #3 rigor of development, and #4 clarity of presentation) in the pre-2008 group and in all domains in the post-2008 group. The comparison between the pre- and post-2008 groups in terms of CPGs for patients showed that the score increased in only one domain (#1 scope and purpose). Conclusions: The number of published CPGs has been increasing and the quality of CPGs, as assessed using the AGREE I instrument, has been improving. These changes seem to be influenced by improvements in social infrastructure, such as the publication of CPG development procedures, availability of CPG preparation methodology training, and increase in CPG-related skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicated on our improved understanding of the disease biology, we have seen remarkable advances in the management of multiple myeloma over the past few years. Recently approved drugs have radically transformed the treatment paradigm and improved survivals of myeloma patients. The progress has necessitated revision of the diagnostic criteria, risk-stratification and response definition. The huge disparities in economy, healthcare infrastructure and access to novel drugs among different Asian countries will hinder the delivery of optimum myeloma care to patients managed in resource-constrained environments. In the light of the tremendous recent changes and evolution in myeloma management, it is timely that the resource-stratified guidelines from the Asian Myeloma Network be revised to provide updated recommendations for Asia physicians practicing under various healthcare reimbursement systems. This review will highlight the most recent advances and our recommendations on how they could be integrated in both resource-abundant and resource-constrained facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the economic and strategic rivalry between China and India along with a number of dimensions: infrastructure, border disputes, sea power, and trade. The two countries increasingly pose a strategic challenge to each other, as India, fearing Chinese encirclement, emerges as an obstacle to China's projection of power. Insufficiently studied, the clash of visions and interests between China and India is now a central feature of global politics and the most volatile element of Chinese foreign policy. The evolution of this rivalry will dramatically impact the rest of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large hydropower infrastructure development is a key energy priority in low and middle income countries as a means to increase energy access and promote national development. Nevertheless hydropower dams can also negatively impact people's livelihoods by reducing access to local natural resources such as land, water and food. This paper analyses equity-based resource allocation from an ecological economics perspective, by looking at local resource use competition between different uses (food, energy, livelihoods) and users (villagers, urban settlers, local government and dam builders) in selected case studies in Asia and Africa. It also illustrates from a political ecology approach divergences between national priorities of energy production and growth and local development needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current unprecedented expansion of infrastructure promises to enhance human wellbeing but risks causing substantial harm to natural ecosystems and the benefits they provide for people. A framework for systematically and proactively identifying the likely benefits and costs of such developments is badly needed. Here, we develop and test at the subregional scale a recently proposed global scheme for comparing the potential gains from new roads for food production with their likely impact on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Working in the Greater Mekong—an exceptionally biodiverse subregion undergoing rapid development—we combined maps of isolation from urban centres, yield gaps, and the current area under 17 crops to estimate where and how far road development could in principle help to increase food production without the need for cropland expansion. We overlaid this information with maps summarising the importance of remaining habitats to terrestrial vertebrates and (as examples of major ecosystem services) to global and local climate regulation. This intersection revealed several largely converted yet relatively low-yielding areas (such as central, eastern, and northeastern Thailand and the Ayeyarwady Delta), where narrowing yield gaps by improving transport links has the potential to substantially increase food production at relatively limited environmental cost. Concentrating new roads and road improvements here while taking strong measures to prevent their spread into areas which are still extensively forested (such as northern Laos, western Yunnan, and southwestern Cambodia) could thus enhance rural livelihoods and regional food production while helping safeguard vital ecosystem services and globally significant biological diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that the Chinese government’s ‘belt and road’ initiative – the Silk Roads vision of land and maritime logistics and communications networks connecting Asia, Europe and Africa – has its roots in sub-national ideas and practices, and that it reflects their elevation to the national level more than the creation of substantially new policy content. Further, the spatial paradigms inherent in the Silk Roads vision reveal the reproduction of capitalist developmental ideas expressed particularly in the form of networks, which themselves have become a feature of contemporary global political economy. In other words, the Silk Roads vision is more of a ‘spatial fix’ than a geopolitical manoeuvre. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The top priorities for urban water sustainability include the provision of safe drinking water, wastewater handling for public health, and protection against flooding. However, rapidly aging infrastructure, population growth, and increasing urbanization call into question current urban water management strategies, especially in the fast-growing urban areas in Asia and Africa.We review innovative approaches in urban water management with the potential to provide locally adapted, resource-efficient alternative solutions. Promising examples include new concepts for stormwater drainage, increased water productivity, distributed or on-site treatment of wastewater, source separation of human waste, and institutional and organizational reforms.We conclude that there is an urgent need for major transdisciplinary efforts in research, policy, and practice to develop alternatives with implications for cities and aquatic ecosystems alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses Kazakhstan's vision of long-term development and its ambitious goals. After revising the history of the infrastructure projects in the country during the tsarist period and the Soviet era, it sets out the plans of the Kazakh president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, to turn the country into a logistical hub between East and West by 2050. Later, the paper puts Nazarbayev's vision in the context of the political and economic reality of Kazakhstan, focussing, specifically, on how the government's multivector foreign policy fluctuates between Russia's regional integration projects and the Chinese push westwards to develop Xinjiang province along the new Silk Road. As a conclusion, it identifies the multiple goals that may put the future of this plan in doubt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the geopolitical situation in Central Asia, development of infrastructure and relation between Central Asia and China.

The expanding literature on climate change and water resources in South Asia includes a small number of works that stress the role of human wisdom—past, present, and future. Some studies draw attention to the “dying wisdom” of traditional water systems, whereas others seek wiser conceptual models for addressing climate change and water stresses. This article examines the historical geography of hydroclimatic adjustment in early Mughal India, with an emphasis on state formation in chronicles of the late sixteenth century. Notwithstanding claims of wisdom then, as now, water and climatic hazards had limited episodic salience in Mughal chronicles. Even so, Mughal sources identify indirect forms of human adjustment, ranging from land revenue policies to infrastructure investment, administrative reform, human mobility, and landscape interpretation that bear comparison with current deliberations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impact of rural infrastructure on economic development is indirect and complex. The present study jointly determines the impact of rural infrastructure on the decision to choose between farm and non-farm enterprises vis-à-vis income by Bangladeshi rural households (4,195 households from 139 villages) using a bivariate Tobit model. The model diagnostic reveals that the decision to choose enterprises is significantly correlated, justifying use of a bivariate approach. Rural infrastructure has a significant but opposite impact on enterprise choices vis-àvis income. Other major determinants with varying level of influences are farm size, livestock resources, education, farming experience and household assets. However, female-headed households are doubly disadvantaged as they have failed to participate in both enterprises and consequently earned significantly less. Policy implications include investment in rural infrastructure, irrigation, rural electrification, education, livestock resources, tenurial reforms, as well as targeted approach to promote welfare of the female-headed households, e.g., creation of a hired labor market for females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrastructure development in South Asia is driven by competition for geographic control—to secure resources and markets—and by fears of strategic encirclement. Two recently built ports, Gwadar in Pakistan and Chabahar in Iran, have respectively solidified strategic alliances between China and Pakistan and between India and Iran. These projects are creating an uncertain balance of regional power at a time when the United States is reducing its military role in the region. The competition for regional control could impede global shipping and exacerbate existing enmities. One solution is to develop a code of maritime conduct for the Indian Ocean that defines the process of communication between disputants in maritime territorial conflicts. However, the process of developing a code of conduct is one best initiated by the private sector, so all states can negotiate from equal positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Asian countries attain relatively high growth rates of GDP, many citizens do not seem to benefit from it. To remedy this problem, multilateral development institutions have developed the concept of inclusive growth, defined as growth that allows all members of a society to participate in and contribute to the growth process on an equal basis, regardless of their individual circumstances. The most direct way to achieve inclusive growth in Asia is to bring the objective of full employment of the labor force (i.e., zero involuntary unemployment) to the top of the policy agenda. Specific policies to achieve it are: (i) Redress the neglect of agriculture; (ii) Undertake public investment in basic infrastructure; (iii) Use of industrial policy to accelerate industrialization and structural transformation in general; (iv) Direct fiscal and monetary policies to the achievement of full employment; and (v) Devise Job Guarantee Programs (JGP) to ensure full employment with price stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Queuing models are introduced for estimating container dwell times at rail intermodal terminals and transit times through rail line-haul corridors. These models are statistically calibrated on industry data. The intent of these models is to estimate changes in container flow times stemming from changes in infrastructure, staffing levels at terminals, or import volumes passing through given infrastructure. Flow times estimated for individual line segments are aggregated to provide estimates of the total transit time from West Coast rail ramps to inland destination ramps for imports moving from Asia to the Continental United States in marine as well as domestic containers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper proposes the conceptual model of the Asian (Port) Doctrine to explain the successful development of top ranking container ports in Asia during the past four decades. This paper draws a new paradigm for the role of government as a third governance approach in addition to Anglo-Saxon and European doctrines by describing how Asian countries have developed container hub ports by investing in infrastructure as social overhead capital to support export-led growth. We survey characteristics and outcomes in major Asian container port developments and one European port in terms of a port development policy. The findings are presented in a comparative overview of government investment in functional elements of port, maritime infrastructure and landside connections to container ports. This paper confirms that the existing two doctrines—Anglo-Saxon and European doctrines—are not sufficient to explain the Asian success in major container port developments. The proposed framework contends that a newly proposed Asian Doctrine can accomplish this with the help of cross-subsidization, strategic and administered port pricing mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, The Asia Foundation (The Foundation) has conducted a series of Economic Governance Indexes (EGIs) in countries throughout South and Southeast Asia including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia. EGIs are country-specific diagnostic tools used to assess and rank sub-national units (provinces, states, districts, etc.) on various aspects of their regulatory environments.This article reviews the basic theoretical and programmatic rationale for the EGI. The overall rationale for this tool stems from the idea that economic governance impacts private sector development – independent of structural endowments such as location, infrastructure, and human capital. Therefore, good economic governance practices explain why some sub-national units out-perform others in spite of having similar initial endowments. EGIs have become an important tool to provide relevant economic governance information to policy makers, business leaders and citizens. Examining the methodological principles underlying the index approach, this article also describes how the three primary EGI methodological elements anticipate potential pitfalls and how they have been addressed within the methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the impact of climate change on the armed forces in the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on Southeast Asia. The author argues that climate change will add burdens to the region's natural resources, the infrastructures of the region's political, economic, and social alignments, and increase domestic and foreign security threats. The author asserts that the increased threats and demands upon the political and economic systems of the region will add to the necessity of devoting military resources to humanitarian relief, domestic security, and policing maritime military actions. It is argued that the traditional application of national security does not apply because climate change can lead to the necessity to adapt military policy unconventionally.

Pakistan is located at the confluence of three vital regions of South, Central and West Asia and provides the shortest access to the sea for all landlocked countries of Central Asia besides Western China. Strategic communication and trade linkages among these three regions passing through Pakistan will transform the country into an economic hub giving boost to inter-regional economic activity. Baluchistan sits on estimated reserves of 29 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 6 billion barrels of oil. The Gwader complex will provide a port, warehouses, and industrial facilities for more than twenty countries. The port will eventually be able to receive oil tankers with a capacity of 200,000 tons. The construction of Gwadar port and related connecting routes with Afghanistan actually reduce these distances by approximately 500 km for Pakistan-Central Asia traffic. Pakistan and China are up-grading the Karakoram Highway (KKH). The two countries have agreed to open four new road links through the Khunjerab Pass, bringing the total number of China-Pakistan roads links to eight. Pakistan, China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to initiate a bus service that would not only enhance trade but also be an important tool to promote people-to-people contacts between the four countries. Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan gas pipeline projects are important to meet the growing energy needs of Pakistan and India. Although Central Asia is landlocked, the tremendous untapped hydrocarbon wealth of the Caspian Sea region makes it the world's envy. Pakistan offers the critical overland routes and connectivity for mutually beneficial trade and energy transactions intra-regionally and inter-regionally. Pakistan's membership and association of the regional organizations namely SCO, SAARC and ECO lends the country a unique position to facilitate inter-regional cooperation. Pakistan's participation in these projects will symbolize the return of the Indus valley to the central place in region-wide economic and cultural interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the impacts of climate change on road transport in Asia. It presents the findings of a survey of stakeholders from Asian countries on the existing state of awareness of climate change and its impacts on road transport. Issues related to emergency preparedness, infrastructure design standards and practices, policies, institutions, and coordination essential for implementation of adaptation strategies in the transport sector are also discussed. The study identifies the need to (1) raise awareness of stakeholders of climate change impacts; (2) review existing road design standards and construction practices considering likely impacts; (3) introduce climate change impact-assessment guidelines; (4) establish organizational units to implement adaptation strategies; and (5) enhance coordination among various stakeholders to develop resilient road infrastructure. The limited literature in the Asian context indicates further research is needed on climate change adaptation in Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Community-based development projects are often argued to strengthen social capital. This paper investigates the impact of a women’s empowerment program in India on trust and cooperation, using data on 2,000 households. The program significantly increases trust and stimulates contributions to educational and infrastructural community projects. The effect on informal assistance among households is less consistent. The findings suggest substantial spillovers on the wider community. Households who do not participate in the program themselves but who live in a program village are significantly more trusting and more likely to engage in collective action than households in control villages. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

ASIAN AND AUSTRALASIAN COUNTRIES ARE BRIMMING WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN FULLY EXPLOITED. POOR INFRASTRUCTURE IS ONE OF THE MAIN OBSTACLES TO DEVELOPMENT, SAYS STEWART TAGGART, BUT SUCCESSFUL EUROPEAN MODELS CAN PROVIDE A BLUEPRINT FOR THE FUTURE. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: This paper examines the role of social capital in the sustainability of induced community-based organizations (CBOs). Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 14 villages and 129 CBOs in Southern Nepal. This paper argues that social capital can be both positive and negative, affecting collective action and the sustainability of CBOs. Major problems include rule breaking with impunity and elite capture of resources, especially during the transition phase from external to internal management. While external agencies play an important role in inducing and sustaining CBOs, they should also address the complex issue of social capital and its downside. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In recent years, BOT approach has provided an increasingly popular project financing to move toward infrastructure development in Asian countries such as Iran. There are many complexities in projects because of the variety of factors in project’s trend and also the dependence of project on mainly national factors. Due to these complexities and their long-term operating, the projects meet with uncertainty and numerous risks. In this paper, an attempt is made at identifying common risks in BOT projects. A novel hierarchical structure of risks is presented on the basis of the project-oriented point of view; next, some effective criteria for risk ranking in BOT projects are introduced. Then, the problem is defined in Fuzzy Multi Attribute Decision Making (FMADM) field. Therefore, Fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS) and Fuzzy Linear Programming Technique for Multidimensional Analysis of Preference (FLINMAP) methods are presented in order to rank high risks in BOT projects. In this study, these two methods are compared in four respects: separation among alternatives, fuzzy error in criteria’s weights, risk response planning, and numerousness of alternatives in proportion to criteria. The proposed model is used for identifying and assessing risks in Iran BOT power plant project. Finally, the rankings of high risks are determined according to their results at the end of this paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Studies of youth violence have usually examined social capital using qualitative methods, but remain limited by small sample sizes. In addition, few studies examine violence among Asian/Pacific Islander (API) youth, even though they are one of the fastest-growing youth populations in the USA. Aims: To contribute to a better understanding of culture and ethnicity in youth violence among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders by quantifying ethnic forms of social capital. Methods: We use an n = 326 sample of three API groups from Oahu, Hawaii. Defining social capital as ethnic practice, we test Filipino, Hawaiian and Samoan forms of youth social capital on intimate and non-intimate violence. Results: Bivariate findings associate lower violence with language ability among Filipinos, coming-of-age practices among Hawaiians, and community leader engagement among Samoans. Multivariate tests showed language to be the strongest correlation. Bivariate tests also suggested potentially risky forms of social capital. Conclusions: Results lead us to hypothesize that social capital that deliberately places individuals within their respective ethnic communities are risk-reducing, as are those that promote formal ethnic community structures. Those that formalize ethnic practice and social capital into commercial activities may be associated with higher risk of violence. Given the relatively small sample size and the exploratory approach for the present investigation, further research is needed to determine whether the findings can be replicated and to extend the findings of the present preliminary study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earning differences between South Korean women and men were compared to better understand how gender differences in wages have changed between 1988 and 1998 for five age groups. Utilizing labor market data from Korea's Occupational Wage Survey (OWS) for the years 1988 and 1998, we found that men enjoy a wage advantage over women in all age groups in both time periods. For all but the oldest group (55 and over), such bias was less in 1998 than in 1988. As hypothesized, the wage gap was narrower among younger age groups compared with older ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fast growth of the manufacturing sector in Indonesia during the 1970s and 1980s and its relatively steady growth during the 1990s and early 2000s were argued to be the result of the kind of industrial policy reforms that were implemented. However, another important development since the early 1970s has been the rapidly deteriorating quality of environmental conditions in the country. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to analyse how industrial policy reforms have impacted on the environmental performance of industry, as well as to describe whether the introduction of industrial environmental policies has reduced industries' environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tertiarisation of the labour market has been associated globally with economic progress. In developing countries, labour market deformities may push people into the service economy out of distress. This paper examines the tertiarisation process in the Indian labour market to identify the reasons behind such trends and the likely impact of such movements. It is observed that the employment growth in the tertiary sector had been dynamic and growth-induced during the 1980s, but in recent times has become distress-driven. Sub-sectors within the tertiary sector are behaving differently, indicating the heterogeneity of this sector. Policymakers should note these issues and take appropriate steps not only to boost high-end jobs but also to improve productivity and returns in low-end jobs. Only then will a tertiary sector revolution in India be beneficial to the workers en masse and be sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unemployment and underemployment are the most pressing problems in Asia today, as reflected in the widespread underutilization rate of about 29% of the total labor force. Most labor forces in developing countries cannot afford to be completely unemployed and the standard labor force framework currently in use worldwide is biased toward counting the labor force as employed rather than unemployed. This systematically undervalues the full extent of the unemployment problem. The underemployment indicator is then introduced to overcome the issue but the existing guidelines for measuring time related-underemployment using the cut-off point for working full-time, set the threshold too low, resulting in the considerable under-representation of underemployment. This paper suggests a better way of determining the threshold using the cluster method. The robustness of its results is assessed and the overall results suggest that the proposed cut-off point of 40 working hours per week is the best one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers an assessment of the mainstreaming of fisheries in national development plans and Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers within the Asia-Pacific region. Fisheries and aquaculture in the region make a significant contribution to world fisheries production. Importantly, those directly involved in the sector are predominantly small-scale artisanal producers, a group traditionally regarded as extremely vulnerable in poverty terms. Therefore, mainstreaming - integrating a sector into every stage of the national policy process - may have important welfare implications for those drawing livelihoods from the industry. This paper examines the significance of fisheries and aquaculture to developing Asia-Pacific economies, and evaluates the extent to which the sector has been mainstreamed in national development and poverty reduction strategies using a content analysis framework. We conclude that the representation of fisheries issues, the recognition of sectoral poverty, policy responses, and stakeholder representation, is typically greater than in other fish producing regions, and there are many examples of best practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides the robust stylized facts for recent Japanese business cycle fluctuations, by examining the cyclical component of macroeconomic time series based on the frequency domain analysis. The results confirm many of the conventional views on business cycles in Japan. Among the most interesting findings are that non-scheduled hours worked plays a key role as a buffer for labor inputs. Distinctively, because of the behavior of non-scheduled cash earnings and bonuses, wages in Japan are very sensitive to changes in the level of economic activity. Also significant, the relationship between money and output has changed dramatically after the collapse of the bubble economy in 1991. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within current poverty reduction programmes, focus on the social-welfare millennium development goals is widening to embrace a concern with infrastructural investment, particularly for remote areas. The previously popular assumption that rural disadvantage can be remedied by road-building is resurfacing. Using survey data from Ethiopia, Zambia and Vietnam, this article explores how effective such investment is in addressing mobility and social-service accessibility in rural areas. The findings indicate that, in extremely remote areas, road improvements may catalyse the expansion of social-service provision, as evidenced in Ethiopia. However, given the poor's relative lack of motor vehicles and ability to pay for public transport, they are, by no means, a sufficient condition for enhancing the mobility of the rural poor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phnom Penh, ‘re-entering’ urban history as it did just some three decades ago becomes an important arena in which to focus on the intensifying contestation of rights, practices and development trajectories related to city making. Far from being comprehensively marginalized by emerging urban economies, residents with limited economic means, through their configurations of space, social relations and infrastructure continuously attempt to construct the conditions that enable the city to act as a flexible resource for the viable organization of their everyday lives. These issues are taken up in an analysis of some of the ways in which residents of a large low income housing tract, popularly dubbed ‘Building’, in the Bassac River neighbourhood collaborate to maximize their access to resources and opportunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides perspectives on some key issues countries need to consider in rethinking their priorities to achieve greater social, environmental and economic sustainability from increasing urbanization in Asia. It discusses three areas where such new thinking is needed: improved governance requiring clearer assignment of responsibilities, more extensive use of information and communications technology, and performance and results management to increase urban government productivity. The advantages of establishing a more competitive business climate and increased reliance on markets and market mechanisms for problem solving in Asian cities also is emphasized. The importance of increased infrastructure investment and development are noted, followed by conclusions and recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contrast to social capital, moral capital remains an under-researched topic in political science. In Asia, however, moral capital is one of the core assets of women politicians on their way to power. Kane defines moral capital as a specific political value of virtue that inclines others, in particular the political public and followers, to bestow (ethical) prestige, respect, loyalty, and authority on a political actor or the representative of an institution that the actor herself/himself can use as a resource to mobilize for political goals, activities, or support. This article addresses two questions. First, in which circumstances does moral capital become a significant asset for women on the rise to the top echelons of political power in Asia? Second, how do women politicians use moral capital as a political strategy, campaign instrument, and/or asset of public imaging? The authors discuss four case studies of female opposition politicians — Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi, Malaysia's Wan Azizah, South Korea's Park Geun-hye, and Japan's Tanaka Makiko — in three types of political systems: democratic, semi-authoritarian, and authoritarian. All four women are descendants of political dynasties and each of them used moral capital to reach top political offices in their countries. But significant differences emerge regarding the importance of moral capital as a prime asset in the development of each of their political careers. These differences originate from (a) the power configurations in the political context in which each woman operates, and (b) the legacies of their fathers or husbands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High levels of investment, by both domestic and foreign firms, have contributed to the impressive growth rates achieved in Asia This article examines the broad set of political, economic, legal and physical conditions -- together comprising the investment climate -- which are influencing investment decisions in the region. It shows that the investment climate varies considerably both within and between countries, with East Asia having implemented more measures considered in line with best practice than South Asia. Infrastructure constraints, particularly electricity, and perceptions of political and macroeconomic risk are acting as barriers to investment in Asia. The article argues that reform efforts should be focused on encouraging investment in infrastructure and reducing regulations which increase the time cost of doing business. As agriculture has more impact than any other sector on poverty reduction in Asia, reforms that reduce the constraints faced by agricultural and rural enterprises need to be prioritised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the relationship between infrastructure, economic growth and poverty reduction in Asia. It identifies the policies required to stimulate the necessary investment and ensure it is employed in the most effective ways to help reduce poverty. The importance of physical infrastructure in fostering economic growth and poverty reduction is widely recognised. However, current provision is uneven both between and within countries and falls well below the levels needed to meet projected demand It is shown that particular benefits accrue to specific investments; for example, investment in education and roads will have most impact on reducing poverty in rural areas. The article puts the case For increases in both public and private investment in infrastructure in Asia in order to meet demand. Reforms will also be necessary in a range of areas including the rationalisation of subsidies, regulatory independence, reducing corruption and involving poor people in decision making about infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public-private partnership-based services could be one of the better solutions for developing urban environmental infrastructure--which includes sewage treatment and municipal solid waste disposal services--in developing countries. Due to the low availability of funds for investment in the public sector and operating inefficiencies in government-run utilities, public-private partnership (PPP) can help to provide environmental services by calling on private-sector investment and managerial and technical skills. The Chinese government is facing a "capital bottleneck" and low efficiency in the existing government-run system for developing urban environmental infrastructure (UEI). To achieve the environmental targets under the Tenth and Eleventh Five Year Plans (2001-2010), the Government needs to draw up financial strategies and implement financial mechanisms that include PPP. There is no substantial experience of establishing PPP systems in most developing countries, including China. This study identifies the role of PPP, and examines the necessity of introducing the PPP system in China. It also clarifies the reform process in the UEI sector, existing policies, and important options for PPP-based projects and services. The study focuses on key issues like target setting, pricing regulations and tariff policy design, policies for promoting PPP, and contractual arrangements. It is based on international experiences and seeks to examine how these can be applied in China in order to enhance UEI implementation capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on issues concerning India's participation in the regional economic bloc called BIMST-EC, short for Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand-Economic Cooperation. Economic and social infrastructure; Trade; Transport linkages.

Concession agreement is one of the infrastructure privatization models. In Asia, the rise of concession projects began in the 1980s, and the number of such projects continues to grow. This research provides an overview and detailed analysis of the Asian concession market. Eighty-seven concession projects awarded between 1985 and 1998 covering 12 Asian countries were examined. Findings show that Asia has been implementing concession models actively in response to the high demand of infrastructure development in the power, transportation, and water sectors. Approximately 30% of the total concession projects had disappointing performances resulting in financial loss, cancellation, delay, and suspension of the project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary. This paper is a sequel to an earlier paper on Nigeria published in this journal. Using the fresh results obtained from the sample survey of manufacturing establishments conducted in Indonesia and Thailand (a sample of 290 and 300 establishments, respectively), the authors contrast and compare the findings from these new data with those of an earlier study on Nigeria. The main elements of comparisons include: the extent and incidence of public infrastructure deficiencies; the extent of manufacturers' private provision responses to the deficiencies; the capital shares of various private infrastructure investments including electric power, water, telecommunications, transport and waste disposal; and, costs of producing their own electricity and water. The extent of public infrastructure deficiencies and private provisions varies across the countries and firm sizes. For example, 92 per cent of the Nigerian firms had their own generators to supplement the inadequate public supply, while the figure was 66 per cent in Indonesia and only 6 per cent in Thailand. However, the quality of electric power in Thailand was not very different from that of Indonesia. The total share of capital investment in private infrastructure was 16 per cent of the total capital in the case of the Indonesian firms which is comparable with 14 per cent in the case of the Nigerian firms, but is twice that of the Thai firms. The private costs of infrastructure deficiencies are substantial and the burdens are much greater for small firms than large firms, which has a negative implication for the birth and growth of firms, hence employment and income generation, in cities in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]