This study takes stock of the challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the CAREC landlocked economies in terms of their access to finance resulting from demand-side, supply-side and institutional constraints. This includes identifying cultural, procedural, institutional...

Credit is a crucial factor in agricultural development. This study explores the reality in the commonly practiced sources by farmers for acquiring agricultural credit, its uses and environmental and socio-economic determinants. A total of 236 rice farmers with agricultural credit activity at...

The paper discusses state, regulative framework, and recent developments in leveraging access to finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the Kyrgyz Republic through global value chain (GVC) examples in the Kyrgyz Republic. Access to finance in the Kyrgyz Republic is...

This paper analyzes the situation of SMEs in Mongolia, especially their financial situation and financing mechanisms, the business environment, the existing policies, and value chain analysis, and makes suggestions for enhancing their development. Value chains that have their potential developed...

A strong small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector can contribute much to a country's economy by fostering innovation, creating jobs, and reducing poverty. This paper examines the status of SME finance in Georgia and the involvement of Georgian SMEs in global value chains. The role of SMEs...

This study evaluates infrastructure investment and finance in Asia from a global perspective. It provides an overview on infrastructure needs and the various sources of private finance, globally and within Asia, and creates a "bigger picture" for the demand and supply of capital for...

Urbanization has both benefits and costs. In a market economy, the trade-off between benefits and costs determines the level, speed, and pace of urbanization. This paper summarizes research findings on how urbanization enhances productivity and economic growth in both rural and urban sectors,...

This study explores the relationship between inequality and structural transformation by constructing a theoretical model, developing analytical frameworks, and implementing a case study. The general equilibrium model we develop demonstrates that inequality exhibits an inverted U shape as...

The People's Republic of China (PRC) is experiencing a trend toward population concentration in its large coastal cities. However, at the same time, there is also a distortion of city size toward small cities in the country. That is to say, the urban population in the PRC should further...

Infrastructure plays a key role in facilitating trade, especially since recent trade liberalization in Asia has resulted in significant tariff reductions. This study quantifies the impacts of both hard and soft infrastructure on trade volume for exporters and importers in the region as well as...