Asia at the Crossroads

Development Research Seminar by Sangheon Lee

Despite the current economic crisis, most of Asian countries have managed to achieve economic growth, although a bit slower rate than before. However, their export-oriented strategies based on relatively low labour costs are under increasing pressure from multiple fronts, both globally and nationally.

Global demand for rebalancing is high, while nation-wide demand for higher wages and income gains momentum in many Asian countries.In this context and as recent policy shifts in China show, Asian countries are in the process of revisiting and reforming their wage policies, especially on minimum wages, wage guidelines, and collective bargaining.

This seminar will discuss these policy efforts in Asian countries (with focus on China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Philippines, and Vietnam) and offer preliminary analysis of their effectiveness and impacts. In doing so, it will examine if these policy changes mark a shift in the growth model of Asian countries towards a more equitable one.

The seminar will draw on recent theoretical and empirical studies as well as the speaker’s experience of policy advice on wage policies in Asian countries.

See for more information:

Tanya Kingdon (kingdon@remove-this.iss.nl)