This paper contains a critique of solvency regulation such as imposed on banks by Basel I and II. It argues that banks seeking to maximize rate of return on risk-adjusted capital (RORAC) aim at an optimal level of solvency because on the one hand, solvency S lowers the cost of refinancing; on...

The relationship between financial-system reform and growth is of continuing interest and the subject of ongoing research; yet many aspects of it remain unclear. This paper contributes to the literature by an analysis of this relationship using Chinese time-series data. China is a particularly...

China has enjoyed high economic growth for three decades since the initiative of economic reform in 1978. This growth has however been driven mainly by labour-intensive, export-oriented manufacturing activities. Has innovation played a role in China’s economic growth? What are the determinants...

Regional disparities in output per capita and income in China are large and persistent. They have been the subject of considerable concern to policy-makers at the highest level for decades, yet little is known about the effectiveness of various alternative policies which may be used to combat...

In its widely-cited Investment Monitor, Access Economics publishes quarterly detailed information on most Australian investment projects that cost more than $5m, including a classification of projects as “possible”, “under consideration”, “committed”, “under construction”,...

India’s investment rate has increased fourfold since 1950 and has risen sharply this decade to 36% of GDP. But contradictory views have been expressed regarding the importance of this investment pattern for India’s economic growth. This paper evaluates the impact of the rise in India’s...

In recent times, the prices of internationally-traded commodities have reached record highs and there is considerable uncertainty regarding their future. This phenomenon is partially driven by strong demand from a small number of emerging economies, such as China and India. This paper places the...

This paper analyses the relationship between stock prices and the Chinese macro economy measured by the level of GDP. There are many possible channels of influence between these two variables, channels which may operate in either direction. There are also many theories relevant to these...