Narrowing the Development Gap in ASEAN: Drivers and Policy Options

An important part of the vision of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is to ensure that the benefits of development and economic integration are equitably shared by all member states and their citizens. ASEAN’s work therefore aims to narrow the development gap between ASEAN member states (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam) and between sub-regions within ASEAN. Written by a team of internationally recognised experts in development economics, this book communicates the latest findings on narrowing the development gap in a practical, policy-relevant way, in a format that can influence decision makers within ASEAN member states and international donors.

There have been significant development achievements in many ASEAN countries over the last 20 years, but the ASEAN region continues to be characterised by significant development gaps, particularly in income. Gaps in development achievement are also seen at the regional and sub-national levels. This book offers a better understanding of development gaps, as they exist in 2012, and provides important context that can inform the strategic needs of decision makers in the ASEAN region.

Due to improvements in conceptualising and measuring well-being, including through the use of multidimensional indicators, this book gives policy makers and scholars in development economics, development policy and Asian studies well-grounded insights into the nature of the development gaps within and between ASEAN countries as well as high-level policy advice on those interventions that can contribute to a narrowing of the development gap.

Mark McGillivray is Research Professor in International Development at the Alfred Deakin Research Institute at Deakin University in Geelong, Australia. He is also a Research Associate of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative at the University of Oxford. Previously he was Chief Economist of the Australian Agency for International Development and Deputy Director of the World Institute for Development Economics Research.

David Carpenter is the Principal Consultant in International Development for Sustineo in Canberra, Australia, where he specialises in development research and evaluation. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Alfred Deakin Research Institute at Deakin University, and was formerly employed by the Australian National University and the Australian Agency for International Development.

Foreword writer Le Luong Minh is the Secretary General of ASEAN and has a long career in international relations and diplomacy. Between 2008 and 2012 he served as Vietnams Deputy Foreign Minister, prior to that he spent 14 years working at the UN, seven of those as Vietnams permanent representative. Minh was President of the UN Security Council twice, first in July 2008 and again in October 2009.