Growing Together: Economic Integration for an Inclusive and - escap

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CHAPTER ONE 5 The case for regional economic integration in Asia and the Pacific Rising inequality threatens social cohesion The region has made significant progress towards achieving many of the Millennium Development Goals, particularly in reducing poverty (figure I.2); between 1990 and 2009, the mean headcount poverty ratio fell from 50 to 22 per cent. 14 But Asia and the Pacific is still home to close to one billion people living on less than $1.25 a day. Indeed, the bulk of the world’s deprived people, including those without access to sanitation and undernourished children, live in the Asia- Pacific region (figure I.3). 15 Although economic growth has led to an increase in the incomes of the poor, the incomes of the rich have increased more swiftly. As a result, the region is now facing rising inequality with potential threats to social cohesion. Since the 1990s, the population- FIGURE TITLE I.2. Country groups on and off track for the MDGs weighted mean Gini coefficient for the region as a whole increased from 32.5 to 37.5, and only 10 of the 25 countries that enjoyed positive annual economic growth succeeded in reducing income inequality. This rise in inequality partly reflects the transition from agriculture to industry and services, in which there are more significant wage differentials, as well as rapid technological change, which puts a premium on higher levels of education and leaves fewer opportunities for low-skilled workers. At the same time, workers have experienced a decreased bargaining power. 16 Inequalities in income are accompanied by inequalities in access to sanitation, education, health services, food, electricity and credit. There are also marked differences between households in urban and rural areas, between women and men, and between different social and ethnic groups. Indeed, socioeconomic Source: ESCAP, ADB and UNDP, Asia-Pacific Regional MDG Report 2011/12, table I-1, p. 9 (Bangkok, United Nations and ADB, 2012).
FIGURE TITLE I.3. The Asia-Pacific share of the developing world’s deprived people Source: ESCAP, ADB and UNDP (2012). inequalities could be a significant obstacle for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. 17 The connection between income and socioeconomic inequalities is discussed in chapter five. The region’s rising inequality and persistent development gaps between and within countries do not augur well for social cohesion, peace or stability, and could lead to friction between countries and hamper the process of growth itself. Disaster risks A further concern in the years ahead is that many more people in the Asia-Pacific region are likely be exposed to natural disasters. Asia and the Pacific is the world’s most disasterprone region. During the period 1980-2009 it accounted for 45 per cent of global disasters, 42 per cent of the economic losses from disasters, and 86 per cent of disaster-related deaths. 18 In 2011, a number of countries were severely affected by natural disasters, starting with the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, followed by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and severe flooding in a number of countries, notably Thailand and Pakistan. Overall, the damages and losses for the Asia-Pacific region in 2011 were at least $267 billion. 19 Disasters typically hit the poor and most vulnerable hardest, because they tend to live in the most exposed areas. Natural disasters do not respect national borders and often affect a number of countries. But even when the physical damage is limited to one country, by disrupting the operation of global supply chains their economic impact can be transmitted to other countries across the region. For example, the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan affected auto and electronic industries across the region through the scarcity of some critical parts. Similarly, the floods in Thailand shut down a major producer of hard-drive components, affecting both regional and global computer industries. Droughts and floods often result in crop losses, potentially increasing regional and global food prices and heightening food insecurity. The 2010 flood in Pakistan is a prime example of this. Therefore, Asia-Pacific countries need to invest more in disaster risk reduction, particularly in 6
Page 4 and 5: ii Photo by Warren Field
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Page 12 and 13: x FIGURES I.1. Real rates of growth
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CHAPTER THREE 63 Building seamless
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CHAPTER FOUR 91 Enhancing regional
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CHAPTER SIX 135 Towards an inclusiv
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References 145 Photo by Warren Fiel
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References 147 __________ (2009). E
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References 149 Brenner, Cath (2009)
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References 151 __________ (2010b).
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References 153 Hertel, T., ed. (199
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References 157 Quah, Danny (2010).
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References 161 United Nations, Econ
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