Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) are emerging as developing Asia's main policy tool for handling the region's excess foreign exchange reserves. SWFs represent a strategic shift of excess reserves from low-risk, low-return investments to high-risk, high-return investments, and are subject to a wide...

Developing Asian countries have accumulated foreign exchange reserves on an unprecedented scale in recent years. There is a growing consensus that Asia's reserves now substantially exceed the levels required for precautionary purposes or for self-protection against currency crisis. The central...

This paper examines the extent to which Pakistan's growth has been, or is likely to be, limited or constrained by its balance-of-payments (BOP). The paper begins by briefly considering the BOP-constrained growth model in the context of demand and supply-oriented approaches to economic growth....

The Quarterly Economic Update (QEU) provides a comprehensive and updated analysis of the recent economic performance of Sri Lanka. The QEU for October/November 2012 observes economic slowdown due to tight monetary policy restricted domestic credit expansion and weak external demand. The QEU also...

ADB’s Regional Economic Outlook Task Force led in the preparation of the revised outlook for this ADO Supplement. The Task Force is chaired by the Economics and Research Department and includes representatives from the Central and West Asia Department, East Asia Department, Pacific Department,...

The Monitor provides an update of developments in Pacific economies and explores topical policy issues.