Recent studies show that almost all industrial countries have experienced dramatic decreases in both fertility and mortality rates. This situation has led to aging societies with economies that suffer from both a decline in the working population and a rise in fiscal deficits linked to increased...

<DIV><DIV>Managing fiscal policy—the revenues and spending of an individual nation—is among the most challenging tasks facing governments. Wealthy countries are constrained by complex regulation and taxation policies, while developing nations often face high inflation and trade taxes. In this volume,...</div></div>

<DIV>Considering the examples of Australia and the Pacific Rim, <I>Growth and Productivity in East Asia</I> offers a contemporary explanation for national productivity that measures contributions not only from capital and labor, but also from economic activities and relevant changes in policy, education,...</i></div>

<DIV><DIV>The imbalanced, yet mutually beneficial, trading relationship between the United States and Asia has long been one of international finance’s most perplexing mysteries. Although the United States continues to post a substantial trade deficit—and China reaps the benefits of a surplus—the...</div></div>

<DIV><P>Fluctuations of commodity prices, most notably of oil, capture considerable attention and have been tied to important economic effects, such as inflation and low rates of economic growth. <I>Commodity Prices and Markets </I>advances our understanding of the consequences of these fluctuations, providing...</i></p></div>

<DIV><DIV>Managing fiscal policy—the revenues and spending of an individual nation—is among the most challenging tasks facing governments. Wealthy countries are constrained by complex regulation and taxation policies, while developing nations often face high inflation and trade taxes. In this volume,...</div></div>

<DIV>The practice of trading across international borders has undergone a series of changes with great consequences for the world trading community, the result of new trade agreements, a number of financial crises, the emergence of the World Trade Organization, and countless other less obvious...</div>

<DIV>Extremely low inflation rates have moved to the forefront of monetary policy discussions. In Asia, a number of countries—most prominently Japan, but also Taiwan and China—have actually experienced deflation over the last fifteen years. <I>Monetary Policy with Very Low Inflation in the Pacific...</i></div>

<DIV><DIV><P>The reform in Asian financial sectors—especially in banking and stock markets—has been remarkable since the currency crisis of 1997–98. East Asia is now a major player in international finance, providing serious competition to the more traditional financial centers of London and New York....</i></p></div></div>

In less than three decades, China has grown from having a negligible role in world trade to being one of the world’s largest exporters, a substantial importer of raw materials, intermediate outputs, and other goods, and both the recipient and sources of investments. Not surprisingly,...