Since 1999, there has been a sharp rise of interest in new subregional trading arrangements (SRTAs) involving APEC economies. Many, if not most, of the emerging new economic partnerships are expected to be based on a preferential free trade area (FTA). These arrangements are likely to divert...

ASEAN economic cooperation is simultaneously deepening (through commitment to the establishment of an ASEAN Economic Community) and widening (through greater cooperation with China, Japan and South Korea). How can these potentially divergent paths be reconciled, especially when, at the highest...

This paper develops a model of dynamic pricing with menu cost for a monopolistic retail store. By examining the prices of two brands of curry paste, the model shows that frequent price changes appear to be the optimal price policy. The key reason behind this strategy is that customers differ in...

Since 1996, the European Union (EU) has launched several significant initiatives which seek to forge closer economic partnerships with various APEC participants. The 1996 Asia- Europe Meeting (ASEM) initiative has now been followed by the launch of a new Transatlantic Economic Partnership (TEP)...

This paper attempts to explore how reform since the late 1970s has transformed the management of China's bilateral economic relations with Japan. The pursuit of comparative advantage changed the pattern of bilateral trade relations between the two countries, with manufactures replacing resources...

Japan is a leading distant water fishing nation, aid donor and trading partner in the Pacific island region. The question that this paper addresses is how do, or how might, Pacific island countries maximise their interests in dealing with Japan. The paper explores various regional strategies...

Paul Krugman has argued that the primary source of Japan’s current problems is that the economy faces a liquidity trap. According to Krugman, this has occurred because Japan confronts negative equilibrium real interest rates for a substantial period. To escape the trap, the Bank of Japan must...

This paper examines the evolving political dynamics of regional financial cooperation in East Asia since the 1997–98 Asian financial crisis, examining in particular the factors contributing to the growing momentum behind the recent Asian bond market initiative being pursued by the Association...

This paper reviews the implications of economic growth for food consumption in Asia, the East Asian supply responses and the determinants of Australian competitiveness in meeting Asian demand from production in Australia. Our special interests are to draw out some implications for Australia’s...