This paper examines key determinants of class status and the relationship between class status and values. We show that class status is largely determined by factors related to higher incomes, but is highly divergent among regions. Higher class status is significantly correlated with values that...

Measuring the equity of opportunity in a given society is an essential ingredient in the formulation of policies and programs that promote inclusive growth. In this paper, equity of opportunity is defined and measured through the theoretical framework of the social opportunity function, a...

The paper develops a method to map global networks of production sharing and processing trade. Relying on highly detailed bilateral trade data across a matrix of 75 countries, a network index gauges countries' interdependence according to the extent of trade in parts and components for further...

Structural transformation — the movement of workers from low-productivity to high-productivity activities — is an essential ingredient of inclusive growth. This paper reviews the evidence on why the pace of structural transformation has differed widely across countries in Asia, with a...

This paper revisits the issue of the evolution and choice of exchange rate regimes in Asia. The paper first compiles and discusses the de jure in various developing and emerging Asian economies. It then goes on to offer a simple empirical estimation of the degree of influence of the G3...

Annual income data may provide a misleading indicator of enduring income inequality in societies where there is considerable year-to-year income mobility. Using two rounds of data on households, the paper measures income mobility in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) between the early 1990s...

This paper analyzes the degree of structural transformation in the Kyrgyz Republic’s economy by applying the new approach developed by Hausmann and Klinger (2007) and Hidalgo et al. (2007). We focus on the level of sophistication of the country’s exports, and discuss policy options to...

In this paper, we analyze the determinants of the domestic saving rate in developing Asia during 1966-2007 and find that the main determinants appear to be the aged dependency ratio, income levels, and level of financial development. We project future trends in domestic saving rates in...

This study reviews and analyzes the changes in total factor productivity (TFP) growth in 12 Asian economies – the People's Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; India; Indonesia; the Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Pakistan; the Philippines; Singapore; Taipei, China; Thailand; and Viet Nam – for the...

Although a latecomer, economically important Asia has emerged at the forefront of global free trade agreement (FTA) activity. This has sparked concerns about the negative effects of Asian FTAs, including the “noodle bowl” problem. Amid slow progress in the World Trade Organization's (WTO)...