The global financial crisis emerged at an alarming rate. A global credit squeeze led to large falls in international stock markets and the world economy is weakening rapidly. The Pacific is largely shielded from the most immediate effects of the crisis, but it is not immune. This Policy Brief provides early advice on what the global financial crisis could mean for the Pacific and

The Pacific region is prone to natural disasters, experiencing droughts, earthquakes, floods, cyclones, landslides, sea surges, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. Each Pacific developing member country (PDMC) faces a different set of risks and potential losses with respect to natural disasters.

Planning for development in rapidly urbanizing Asia requires a fresh look. This book analyzes emerging urbanization patterns and explores the potential of city cluster development in Asia. City cluster development takes into account the provision of infrastructure and services in connection with spark potentials of economic growth and dispenses with the urban

This project is designed to generate insights and guidance which can contribute to the development of institutions to help the urban poor effectively resolve disputes over urban assets. Too often institutional change is initiated without a complete understanding of the social, economic and political dynamics effecting status quo institutions.

The annual Asian Development Outlook aims to present an analysis of the recent past and forecasts for the next couple of years for the developing economies of Asia. The Update presents four thematic chapters discussing recent global commodity price rises and their impacts on developing Asia. They suggest that high international commodity prices are here to stay. But, given that demand-pull rather than cost-push factors are causing high prices, the role of monetary policy is still relevant in containing price pressures.

The expected long-term impact of the Sundarbans Biodiversity Conservation Project was to secure the integrity of the environment and biodiversity of the Sundarbans Reserved Forest (SRF). Comprising 6,000 square kilometers, the SRF is a globally significant ecosystem with a rich area of biodiversity and natural resources.

India has undertaken extensive reforms in its manufacturing sector in the last two decades. However, an acceleration of growth in manufacturing, and a concomitant increase in employment, has eluded India. What might be holding

The annual Asian Development Outlook provides a comprehensive economic analysis of 44 economies in developing Asia and the Pacific. This edition examines trends and prospects in Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. This year's theme on workers in developing Asia spotlights three issues. Will the region reap the demographic advantages of its many young people about to enter the workforce? Can it resolve its silent crisis in terms of its skills shortages?

This book gives an overview of the major issues in Asian cities in providing services and investments for their citizens in a period of rapid change and new challenges of climate change and economic restructuring. It provides lessons drawn from case studies of the urban sector in the People