Proponents of the decoupling view argue that Asian economies now have more diversified export markets, and they also point to more robust domestic and intra-regional growth drivers that are independent of the US and other developed economies. China in particular has the potential to drive that intra-regional growth, a phenomenon that has already by exemplified by the emergence of its large trade and investments with East and Southeast Asia. There are, nonetheless, a large number of opponents to this view. Those who argue that decoupling is unlikely to occur point to the fact that intra-regional and extra-regional trade flows in Asia are largely made up of parts and components that eventually supply the United States and other developed economies. Reversing that pattern in Asia, they argue, would be neither feasible nor desirable.

The present study examines the empirical evidence underlying these arguments as a means of establishing some forwarding looking views about what options are available to the Asian economies. First, it demonstrates that the strong linkages both within Asia and between Asia and the United States and Europe have not waned in the last 25 years. Second, the study finds that there are significant downside risks for the recovery of growth in the United States and Europe. Thirdly, the types of goods produced in Asia as outsourcing for large enterprises is likely to incorporate more second-generation technology that could increasingly promote intra-regional production networks. Another finding of the study is that stock market indicators in Asia are highly correlated with the major financial centers in the United States and Europe. Finally, pegged and managed exchange rates will likely continue to form part of the policy tools used in most Asian economies, notwithstanding the lessons from the Asian financial crisis.

This study is intended to support the Government’s efforts to introduce reforms to the insurance industry and its negotiations for accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). To that end, it provides a consolidated perspective about insurance services in Laos, with particular reference to the impact of possible Government commitments to liberalizing the insurance industry as part of its WTO accession process. The study builds on a survey of the industry and its regulatory environment to determine the areas that could benefit from liberalization and restructuring. It uses these findings along with the experiences of other Asian countries and best practice recommendations to suggest possible reforms and commitments under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) of the WTO. The implications of liberalization for the insurance industry are then considered and reforms supporting the Government’s overall economic plan are proposed.

Prepared Azerbaijan's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), Country Poverty Analyses (CPA), and results-oriented country strategy and programming (CSP) report.

Presented quantitative methodologies for tax revenue forecasting to Government of Vietnam's tax department in Ministry of Finance.

Study on structure and distribution of tax and revenue systems in Lao PDR and comparator countries.

The present CAPE study follows the standard evaluation framework used by the ADB’s Operations Evaluation Department (OED) to assess the performance of country assistance programs, as well as individual projects and technical assistance (TAs) after completion. It uses six well-know evaluation criteria. The first three are used to assess project outcomes in the CAPs and refer to (i) relevance, (ii) efficacy, and (iii) efficiency. The other three assess project impact in terms of (i) socio-economic impact, (ii) institutional development impact, and (iii) sustainability. The performance of the COS can only be assessed in terms of the relevance. From these results, the study derives the key strengths and opportunities, as well as lessons learned from the ADB’s operations in the last 20 years, with a view to drawing implications for the future strategy and programs, including the CSP scheduled for 2005.

The analysis covers regulatory measures, SPS and TBT framework, rules of origin, rights of establishment, and public procurement.

Managed team of international economists supporting IDB lending operations, and coordinated activities in trade, finance and macroeconomics. Designed international trade policy models to quantitatively assess impact of multilateral trade liberalization, free trade areas and WTO negotiations. Led innovative research into international trade issues, project appraisal, Latin America's socioeconomic development, industrialization, poverty alleviation, and other leading topics in development economics.

In External Debt and Economic Development in Latin America: Background and Prospects. Inter-American Development Bank, 1984