Source: Journal of Current Chinese Affairs Author: Professor Rhys Jenkins an economist and Professor of Development Economics at the School of International Development, University of East Anglia , Norwich. U.K. Abstract: When China invited the Latin American countries to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, it fuelled expectations of a much closer and more productive relationship with the region. In practice, however, there is little evidence that this was happening even before the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The article…
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Author: PBEC subject matter expert contributor, Dr. Yu Hong, Senior Research Fellow of the East Asian Institute at NUS in Singapore who also spoke at our Dialogues Summit 2021 shares his latest paper and insights with us on this topical area of trade and regional developments. Abstract Despite China’s claims that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an economic co-operation initiative that will foster economic growth and industrial development for recipient countries, to create trade and investment opportunities, and…
DBS is playing its part – They are the first bank in Singapore to sign up to the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), and the first in Southeast Asia to publish a concrete and comprehensive set of targets for our Scope 3 financed emissions. These targets will guide us on strategically channelling financing away from high-emitting activities towards low-carbon alternatives. Decarbonisation targets have been set for seven sectors: 1) Power, 2) Oil & Gas, 3) Automotive, 4) Aviation, 5) Shipping, 6)…
There are obstacles to be overcome, but the time is coming soon when both traditional and digital forms of currency will be trusted and accepted by all JULY 2022 Arturo Bris Director of the World Competitiveness Center and Professor of Finance at IMD Business School For an asset to be a medium of exchange it must be fully accepted by all, and this is the role that central banks play. Photo by Dmitry Demidko on Unsplash. The basic principle…
China is posing many challenges to the Indo-Pacific region in 2022. How should Canada and Australia respond? JULY 2022 Margaret McCuaig-Johnston Senior Fellow, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa John Garrick University Fellow in Law, Charles Darwin University Neither Canada nor Australia currently has a comprehensive strategy for the Indo-Pacific region. But it’s essential that both develop one given the rapidly evolving environment in the area. First, NATO recognised the importance of the region at…
By Steven Irvine – Founder, CEO & Editor ‘Week in China’ ECONOMY, TALKING POINT A terrible second quarter China’s ‘zero-covid’ policies take toll on its 2022 growth target Jul 2022 (WiC 594) ‘Zero-Covid’ means zero growth. That was one way of responding to China’s latest economic data at the end of last week, which showed that GDP growth slowed to 0.4% in the second quarter compared to a year ago. It was the second worst performance in 30 years and trailed only…
A digital revolution is driving growth across Asia Pacific, transforming the way we live, work and do business. It is little surprise that this region is blazing the digital trail for the rest of the world: Demographically — Asia Pacific has a growing population, a growing workforce and a growing consumer class Digitally — It is home to a fast-growing population of digital natives Dynamically — A combination of better access to the internet, growing prosperity and improved education has…
Global plastics production has grown significantly in recent decades. Highly versatile, light and affordable, plastic materials are employed in countless industrial applications and have become extremely useful for modern society. They help us preserve food, insulate buildings, make electronics work and increase the fuel efficiency of our vehicles, among other things. Yet, the sheer magnitude of our societies’ consumption of plastics bears important drawbacks. Plastics use results in a high production-related carbon footprint, high volumes of waste, persistent pollution and…
Although the job climate looks uncertain, employees are enjoying a healthy work-life balance 05.07.2022 Unravel editorial team A commuter waits to board the underground rail in Seoul. Photo by Shutterstock. The pandemic uprooted changed the way we worked, communicated and lived. Amid ensuing lockdowns and social distancing measures, work shifted home. Many had to immediately get accustomed to working remotely, regardless of whether they wished to or not. Now that the world is slowly coming to grips with the…
Weaker growth in China owing to stringent COVID-19 restrictions and an increase in US interest rates could dampen the region’s economic growth prospects for the remainder of the year July 2022 Louis Kuijs Asia-Pacific Chief Economist at S&P Global An aerial view of Tanjung Priok industrial port in North Jakarta. Photo by Shutterstock. With the exception of China, Asia-Pacific is breathing easier than the rest of the world. Global obstacles have altered the outlook in the past three months….