Asia's Debt Capital Markets

This volume comprises studies by leading research scholars in the United States and Asia on Asia’s debt capital markets. The book is unique in drawing upon the research, experience and perspectives of experts from the academic, legal, governmental and practical investment fields. They assess the risks and opportunities, and strategies for developing these markets. The authors adopt a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing economics, finance and law.

Asia’s Debt Capital Markets: Prospects and Strategies for Development contains articles that share an important feature – an assessment of current and future prospects for developing debt capital markets in Asia. Some articles examine recent national or regionally sponsored actions to stimulate the development of these markets, while others provide specific proposals that are designed to expand such markets. The motivation for the articles is the fact that eight years of post-crisis discussion has not yet resulted in sufficient actions to broaden and deepen debt capital markets. Yet the role and value of such markets for economic growth and development is undisputed. The articles in this book make an important contribution in identifying obstacles to reform as well as in proposing ways to develop debt capital markets.

The book has three parts. Part I describes the characteristics and historical origins of these markets. Part II examines the contemporary bond markets and shows how they contribute to general welfare, describes the relationship between the banking sector and capital markets, and assesses prospects for reform in Asia's governmental and corporate debt markets. Part III explains the micro-level impediments and obstacles that must be the first targets of any reform efforts, provides an appraisal of attempts at regional cooperation to stimulate structural reform, and lastly contributes proposals to accelerate the growth and reach of bond markets throughout Asia.