There is a growing consensus that stronger health systems are crucial to achieving a further reduction in child mortality. On the other hand, socioeconomic status has also long been considered to be a crucial factor to affect peoplefs health status. Nevertheless, there exists no consistent...

The prevalence of stunting and underweight among Lao children is amongst the highest in the region. This paper provides a theoretical framework which integrates the mechanism of child malnutrition and a household decision-making behaviour and investigates the relationship between socioeconomic...

This paper tries to verify how the establishment of investment promotion agencies (IPAs) affects the decisions of foreign firms regarding their subsequent investment by combining firm-level data from the World Bankfs Enterprise Survey with city-level information on (IPAs) in China. After...

Asia-Pacific countries are currently negotiating two mega-regional free trade agreements (FTAs), namely Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The objectives of this paper are twofold. First, by using a dynamic applied general equilibrium model...

Consequences of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) are investigated using a dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model. Quantitative assessments of the effects on economic welfare, trade flows and sectoral output are offered. When the removal of trade barriers are combined with...

We construct a dynamic assignment model that explains persistent productivity differences between firms. Large expected organization capital (firm-specific knowledge) attracts skilled workers, who help to accumulate organization capital. Accumulated large organization capital leads to good...

Growing number of firms in developing countries have earned certifications such as International Standards Organization (ISO) as it enhances reputation of their company or brand and attract buyers particularly in export market. This study evaluates the effect of international standards...

This study estimates the response of Japanese consumersf demand for poultry meat to the food safety regulations at the border using the almost ideal demand system (AIDS) with a particular focus on the maximum residue limits (MRL) on pesticides and veterinary drugs. The AIDS model allows for...

This paper assesses the performance and progress of the ASEAN economies in trade facilitation, and the effect of improved trade facilitation on the regionfs manufacturing trade with a focus on port efficiency, customs environment, regulatory environment and service sector infrastructure. Under a...