Various empirical studies have confirmed that trade liberalization stimulates economic growth. In order to strengthen economic development and emerge from Least Developed Country (LDC) status by the year 2020, the Government of Lao (GoL) PDR is eager to capitalize on trade liberalization...

This study assesses the impact of irrigation on That Luang Marsh (TLM) in Vientiane, the capital city of the People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) of Laos. The study finds that the economic benefits provided by the marsh (particularly in terms of the fish it supplies to local people) far outweigh...

Tropical cyclone is the most commonly occurring natural hazard in the Philippines causing billions of pesos worth in socio-economic losses and other forms of damages. Analysis of 59-year data on Philippine typhoons revealed that their intensity had been increasing, especially since the 1990s. It...

This study presents a 'value of life' estimate for children in Metro Manila of between US$0.70 million and US$0.80 million. It was carried out by Rosalina Palanca-Tan, from the Department of Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City. Palanca-Tan's assessment is based on...

This study looks at whether Vietnam could adopt the Payment for Environmental Services (PES) approach as part of its national conservation strategy. Using a pilot study in the country's uplands, it investigates how such a scheme might run and assesses its impact on the environment and on the...

This research is an attempt to further understand the social and environmental dimension of sustainable development focusing on the impact of environmental reforms, such as pollution reduction and energy pricing policy, has on inequality and poverty for the case of Indonesia. A multi-sector,...

This study investigates the potential impact of two environmental tax regimes on the movement of rural people to China's cities. The study models the impact of a fuel tax and an output tax on the country's economy to get a full picture of how they would affect people's livelihoods and welfare,...

This study looks at how conservation of Thailand's ancient temple heritage might be financed. Using information from contingent valuation and choice modeling exercises involving 500 households in Bangkok, it assesses how much Thais would be willing to pay for a conservation program to safeguard...

This study investigates the impact of coal mining on the economy and environment of South Kalimantan Province, one of the most important coal producing regions in Indonesia. It uses a Social Accounting matrix to assess how the industry affects the province's economy and the livelihoods of its...

This study looks at the health costs of particulate emissions from diesel-powered vehicles in Colombo City, Sri Lanka. Assessments were made of the make-up of the city's traffic and the potential health impact of various diesel emission sources. The financial cost of this pollution was then...