One of developing Asia's foremost structural economic challenges is the need to rebalance demand and growth toward domestic sources in the face of one of its most significant structural shifts - the demographic transition to an older population. The scope for investment-led growth may be quite...

Our previous assessment of debt sustainability in developing Asia, conducted in 2011, found that the region's fiscal outlook was mostly benign. In this study we update the debt sustainability assessment, taking stock of the latest data and including a larger number of countries. With the benefit...

Recent key challenges highlight the need to revisit Asia's financial development. These include the region's growth slowdown since the global crisis, compounded by a less benign external environment; internal structural challenges, such as population aging; and the maturing of much of the region...

A potentially important side effect of quantitative easing(QE) by the United States (US) Federal Reserve System (the Fed) is the expansion of capital flows into developing countries. As a result, there is widespread concern that QE tapering may trigger financial instability in those countries....

Economic theory suggests that sound and efficient financial systems - banks, equity markets, and bond markets - which channel capital to its most productive uses are beneficial for economic growth. Sound and efficient financial systems are especially important for sustaining growth in developing...

One of developing Asia's foremost structural economic challenges is the need to rebalance demand and growth toward domestic sources in the face of one of its most significant structural shifts - the demographic transition to an older population. The scope for investment-led growth may be quite...

The fiscal stimulus measures that many Asian countries took to counteract the 2008/9 global financial crisis helped the region lead the global recovery. Yet, with few exceptions, the increased spending and weakened revenues have caused government budget balances and debt ratios to deteriorate...