Explore every episode of the podcast Asia's Developing Future

Cutting-edge technology alone can’t solve the existing and emerging issues of water resources management. That’s why in this episode of Asia’s Developing Future we delve into the key role culture has in tackling water scarcity, promoting conservation and ensuring successful, sustainable water resources projects. Featuring insights from Yoonjin Kim, Director of Strategy and Development of the World Water Council, and Victor Shinde, Head of the Climate Center for Cities at the National Center of Urban Affairs in New Delhi, don’t miss this essential discussion on incorporating tradition with innovation.

Join independent science journalist Disha Shetty, recent winner of ADBI’s Developing Asia Journalism Awards, and Suling Lin, senior columnist from The Straits Times, as they discuss the challenges facing journalists reporting on development issues in an ever-changing news environment, and how collaboration with research organizations can amplify their impact.

Hybrid working is a win-win for employers and employees, says Professor Nicholas Bloom, but why hasn’t it taken off in many parts Asia and the Pacific? The economist from Stanford University shares his thoughts and latest research in a discussion with ADBI.

From machine learning to Blockchain, clean tech organizations are exploring innovative ways to support the adoption of renewable energy sources while also addressing energy poverty. In this episode, Onon Bayasgalan, Chief Sustainability Officer for URECA talks about their project in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, that is empowering women-led households by switching from coal to solar power and giving them access to the carbon credit market to finance their energy transition.

Women entrepreneurs make a significant contribution to the Indian economy. However, access to formal finance is a crucial barrier to the growth of women-owned businesses. In this podcast, Renana Jhabvala, the President of SEWA, the Self-Employed Women’s Association, will explain the policy tool that the Indian government has been implementing to formalize women’s economic participation and her experience with SEWA in utilizing bridge institutions to connect women entrepreneurs and formal banking sector. Transcript: adbi.me/3vHsHdB

Almost two million households across Central Asia suffer from energy poverty according to the World Bank. The challenges are to maintain and provide infrastructure in rural parts of the region and explore new energy models for social inclusion and just transition. In this podcast, ADBI Senior Research Fellow Dina Azhgaliyeva, Zhanna Kapsalyamova from Nazarbayev University, and Anna Arkhangelskaya from the Institute of Energy under the Kyrgyz Technical University explain socio-economic disparity that energy-poor households face and discuss policy options to replace inefficient fossil fuel subsidies while minimizing the impact of energy prices on vulnerable households. Script: adbi.me/46zOLU9

By 2050, the global number of persons above 65 years old will double to over 1.5 billion, according to the United Nations, and Asia will continue to have the largest share of the world’s aged population. In this podcast, Waseda University Associate Professor, Upalat Korwatanasakul provides an overview of demographic transition and its effects on fiscal balance in Asia. He also examines ways to enhance fiscal space against pension as well as how fiscal sustainability can be achieved in economies at varying demographic stages. Script: adbi.me/3FTV1LJ

In this episode of Asia’s Developing Future, Keio University professor Sayuri Shirai, a former Bank of Japan Policy Board member and ADBI visiting fellow, explains the role of central banks in promoting green central banking and climate-related monetary policies in developing Asia. She stresses the importance of improving awareness of financial institutions, conducting climate scenario analysis, and implementing standardized climate-related disclosures to draw more direct investment to emerging economies in Asia. Script: adbi.me/3RlxOJa

In this podcast, the Asian Development Bank Institute’s Santi Setiawati spotlights Japan’s innovative sanitation and wastewater management systems and the implementation lessons they offer developing countries in Asia seeking to address coverage gaps within the sector. The discussion is based on the ADBI policy brief The Financial and Institutional Mechanism of the Sanitation and Wastewater Management System: Learning from the Japanese Experience. Transcript: adbi.me/45dhYVm

Economic policy prescriptions for crisis-hit developing countries known as the “Washington Consensus” have boosted prosperity in Asia and beyond but also have been criticized for negatively affecting manufacturing jobs and the labor force in developed countries. In this podcast, Jenny Gordon, Honorary Professor at the Centre for Social Research and Methods at the Australian National University, explains the principles and limitations of the Washington Consensus and how countries can approach them effectively moving forward. Transcript: adbi.me/3Ow6AxQ

Many governments and non-governmental entities are making ambitious pledges to reduce carbon emissions and move toward a global net-zero level by 2050 to fight climate change. Whether these goals can be achieved will depend on implementation work that verifies pledges are legitimate and not simply empty promises known as ‘greenwashing’. In this podcast, Catherine McKenna, Canada’s former Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Chair of the High-level Expert Group on the Net-Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities, explains what policy makers can do to prevent greenwashing and accelerate carbon emissions reduction in Asia and the Pacific. Transcript: adbi.me/43oEOrZ

The “metaverse” is an emerging concept that could open the door to new service delivery and job creation. But what is the metaverse exactly and how could it affect developing economies in Asia and the Pacific? In this podcast, Beth Ann Lim, director of policy programs and campaigns at Meta Asia Pacific, and Professor Yong Lim at the Seoul National University AI Policy Initiative discuss the metaverse, its economic implications, and policy options to maximize its potential to support inclusive growth in the region. Transcript: adbi.me/3nQIGSz

The realization of carbon net-zero economies in Asia and beyond will depend on the capacity of sectors to adopt decarbonization solutions. In this podcast, Professor Frank Jotzo, Professor Llewelyn Hughes, and Dr Tom Longden from the Australian National University Crawford School of Public Policy discuss hydrogen’s potential to support the global transition to clean energy and the decarbonization of heavy industry sectors such as steel production. They also highlight policies and financing mechanisms that could help. Transcript: adbi.me/3ltgmFk

Fast-growing developing and emerging countries in Asia and beyond are facing the dual challenges of meeting increasing energy demand while tackling carbon emissions to fight climate change. In this podcast, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank(AIIB) Chief Economist Erik Berglof describes policy tools a state can use to accelerate private sector-backed carbon net zero transition, such as state-owned financial institutions and private-public partnerships. He also explains how these tools can be integrated into national strategies to promote innovation and technology adoption. The discussion draws upon his ADBI Featured Speaker Webinar on state capacity and private sector mobilization toward net zero in emerging economies. Transcript: adbi.me/3RVe65e

COVID-19-induced school closures have significantly disrupted learning and contributed to learning losses that could have lasting socioeconomic impacts. In this podcast, Harvard University education professor Fernando Reimers examines the pandemic’s effects on education, disparities faced by developing countries, and lessons for mitigating future education disruptions. The discussion draws upon his ADBI Featured Speaker Webinar on building resilient education systems after the COVID-19 pandemic. Transcript: adbi.me/3kFlEwG

Supply chain disruptions linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its economic impacts continue to undermine energy and food security. They are also prompting economies and businesses to rethink how they obtain critical raw materials and component parts. In this podcast, Alexander Plekhanov of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) discusses new research on the impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on economies and global supply chains, highlighting mechanisms and policy options to restore economic activity and ingrain resilience. He also describes international trade effects for economies in Central Asia and the Caucasus and the factors behind them. The discussion draws upon his ADBI Featured Speaker Webinar on EBRD’s 2022-23 Transition Report on the policy implications of “business unusual” conditions in the global economy. Transcript: adbi.me/3CrHmds

Under the concept of “inclusive sanitation,” access to a safe and clean toilet is considered a right, not a privilege. Yet the world still has work to do to deliver sanitation for all by 2030, as targeted by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and recent efforts to consider gender minorities in the sector are an emerging imperative. In this podcast, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Urban Development Specialist Alexandra Conroy, ADB Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Specialist Shuvechha Khadka, and WaterAid’s Head of Policy and Advocacy Seema Rajouria discuss how gender identity affects sanitation users’ experiences in developing Asia and the Pacific, drawing upon case studies from Nepal. They also describe actions to make sanitation more inclusive for transgender people. Transcript: adbi.me/3v87aqO

Asia and the Pacific account for over 50% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Recognizing the urgent need for action to limit global warming to 1.5°C and fight climate change, governments in the region are increasingly committing to the ambitious target of net-zero carbon emissions by around mid-century. In this podcast, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Climate Envoy Warren Evans explains the benefits of climate change mitigation efforts to developing countries in Asia and the Pacific and discusses some solutions for achieving their carbon reduction commitments, and provides a blueprint for long-term emissions cuts critical to climate change mitigation and resilience. Read the transcript: adbi.me/3ALDqn8

The COVID-19 crisis, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, energy security challenges, supply shortages, and soaring inflation continue to disrupt global trade and put economies worldwide under increasing pressure. In this podcast, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat Executive Director Rebecca Sta Maria explains APEC member economies’ efforts to rebuild supply chains and promote more inclusive and resilient trade growth in the face of high uncertainty. Read the transcript: adbi.me/3tlMD1h

In this podcast, Nobel laureate Michael Kremer, an economics professor at the University of Chicago, discusses digitalization experiences and lessons learned within the agricultural sector and prospects for digital rural and agricultural development. Transcript: adbi.me/3UzcXS5

Indonesia is the world’s fourth-largest producer of coal, Southeast Asia’s biggest gas supplier, and the largest biofuel producer globally, according to the International Energy Agency. Yet oil imports in Indonesia are increasing as incomes and consumption rise among the 250 million people of the archipelago, which holds the Group of 20 (G20) presidency in 2022 and will chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2023. In this podcast, ADBI’s Dina Azhgaliyeva, ASEAN Centre for Energy Executive Director Nuki Agya Utama, and Kuki Soejachmoen, co-chair of the climate and energy transition task force of the G20’s think tank engagement group, Think20 (T20), talk about energy transition in Asia and how Indonesia’s leadership in the G20 and ASEAN could shape energy transition cooperation. The discussion draws upon a T20-associated roundtable on energy transition financing that was held as part of the 43rd International Association of Energy Economics International Conference. Transcript: https://adbi.me/3cQp6RC

Asia and the Pacific is the world’s primary region for investment in low-carbon transition technologies. Despite recent growth trends, however, investment in clean energy still falls short of the level needed to meet global carbon emission reduction targets and fight climate change. In this podcast, ADBI’s Dina Azhgaliyeva and John Beirne, and Ranjeeta Mishra from the Reserve Bank of India explain the effect of government renewable energy policies on private investment, drawing upon developments in Asia and the Pacific. They also discuss possible next steps for stimulating private investment in renewable energy. The discussion draws upon their Climate Policy Journal article, "What Matters for Private Investment in Renewable Energy?" Transcript: https://adbi.me/3zWgujJ

Indonesia’s Group of 20 (G20) presidency in 2022 marks the start of three successive years in which the annual forum of the world’s largest economies will be hosted by developing countries, to be followed by India in 2023 and Brazil in 2024. In this podcast, Pramod Bhasin, Chair of the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), discusses India’s G20 presidency countdown and policy imperatives. He also describes the outlook for Indonesia, India, and Brazil’s G20 presidencies and their potential significance for the global economy. Read the transcript: https://adbi.me/3d3Kp1O

The Think7, or T7, is the think tank engagement group of the Group of 7 (G7) launched under Germany’s 2022 G7 presidency. In this podcast, ADBI Dean Tetsushi Sonobe, Co-Chair of the T7 Task Force on Sustainable Economic Recovery, and ADBI’s John Beirne and Dina Azhgaliyeva discuss the role and future of the T7. This includes its capacity to support partnership between the G7 and emerging economies in Asia and the Pacific, and globally, and the implications for sustainable development. Read the transcript: https://adbi.me/3nsdqGd

Benjamin Diokno started his appointment as Governor of Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas, or BSP, in March 2019. He has spent much of his term as head of the Philippine central bank guiding the country’s economy through the COVID-19 crisis. In this podcast, Governor Diokno discusses the Philippines’ post-pandemic recovery, which he says is well underway and proceeding faster than expected. Designated as the next Finance Secretary of the Philippines, he also describes next steps to sustain the economy’s momentum in the face of new challenges. The discussion draws upon his ADBI Featured Speaker Webinar on the Macroeconomy, Fintech, and Sustainable Recovery amid New Uncertainties. Read the transcript: https://adbi.me/3mZNCkm

In this podcast, Vegard Skirbekk of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and Columbia University describes a new measure of aging burden that takes into account age-related health – the health adjusted dependency ratio. Skirbekk explains how this indicator overturns common assumptions about the population aging burden and its impacts across countries reflected in the traditional old-age dependency ratio. He also describes the policy significance, especially in countries with young but rapidly aging populations, including those in developing Asia. Read the transcript: https://adbi.me/3LuupRF

In this episode of Asia’s Developing Future, Keio University professor Sayuri Shirai, a former Bank of Japan Policy Board member and ADBI visiting fellow from 2016 to 2020, explains the role of developing Asia’s central banks in reviving economic growth while dealing with volatile capital outflows. She provides historical perspective and addresses shifts stemming from increasing interest rates and climate change risk. She also explains ways to blend risk to attract more private investment for sustainable energy and infrastructure development in the region. Read the transcript: https://adbi.me/36PMHPh

In 2022, the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) is observing the 25th anniversary of its founding as the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Tokyo-based think tank under the theme Toward Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development in Asia and the Pacific. In this episode of Asia’s Developing Future, Keio University professor Naoyuki Yoshino, ADBI Dean from 2014-2020 and a longtime finance official for the Government of Japan, discusses ways to effectively translate innovative policy research into government action. He draws upon his experience as chair of the Group of 20’s think tank engagement group, the Think20 (T20), during Japan’s 2019 G20 presidency. He goes on to explain how policy researchers can leverage their work to boost economic recovery in Asia and the Pacific. Read the transcript: https://adbi.me/3vruXSl

Research has shown that when more women work, economies grow. Women’s economic empowerment also boosts productivity, income equality, and development outcomes. Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic has cast a cloud over the economic outlook for women. In this podcast, ADBI Capacity Building and Training Economist Pitchaya Sirivunnabood describes the impacts of COVID-19 on women in the economy and policy next steps in Asia, including the importance of addressing gender gaps in digital literacy, social investment, and regulation. The discussion draws upon her recommendations presented to policy makers from the region during a recent Healthy Women, Healthy Economies conference organized by Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC. Read the transcript https://adbi.me/3wRP26K

In 2022, the Asian Development Bank Institute is observing the 25th anniversary of its founding as the Asian Development Bank’s Tokyo-based think tank under the theme Toward Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Development in Asia and the Pacific. In this episode of Asia’s Developing Future, the Australian National University’s Peter McCawley, ADBI Dean from 2003-2007, discusses developing Asia and the Pacific’s policy imperatives in the face of transformational change and new risks and how these factors drove ADBI’s creation. He also explains the importance of ensuring regional peace and stability for effective physical and human development and how think tanks can address this urgent need. Read the transcript: https://adbi.me/3JCrcja

The Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation member countries, also known as the CAREC region, extends from Azerbaijan to the People’s Republic of China, and includes some of the world’s most important producers of energy and natural resources, and emerging trade routes. So how seriously has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the region’s economies and what does the future hold in store? In this podcast, ADBI’s Dina Azhgaliyeva and Kamalbek Karymshakov of the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University describe the heavy impact of COVID-19 on household incomes across Central and West Asia and factors disrupting the ability of businesses in the region to adapt successfully to the COVID-19 outbreak. They also share their research insights on recovery policy options and the road ahead in CAREC countries. The discussion draws upon a joint ADBI – CAREC Institute forthcoming edited book, COVID-19 and Economic Recovery Potential in the CAREC Region. Read the transcript adbi.me/3hBb053

Public procurement is commonly used by governments in developed countries to promote innovation and socioeconomic policy objectives. However, the strategic use of public procurement as a public policy instrument for innovation is still uncommon in Asia. In this podcast, ADBI’s senior CBT economist Yongwook Lee and research associate Lingfeng Zheng discuss the dynamics between public procurement and innovation and how the region can leverage public procurement to promote innovation and sustainable recovery. The discussion is based on a related ADBI capacity building and training workshop, co-hosted by the Public Procurement Service of the Republic of Korea and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Read the transcript: https://adbi.me/3AD40gR Register for the event: https://adbi.me/3Ab0Ocb

Digital transformation is raising the productive capacities of economies in Asia by enhancing trade, financial inclusion, and firm competitiveness, but could it provide an even greater competitive advantage? According to ADBI Research Fellow John Beirne, the answer is yes! In this podcast, Beirne explains how improvements in infrastructure, digital literacy, and regulation can maximize digitalization’s benefits for the region’s economies. The discussion draws upon his new co-edited book Harnessing Digitalization for Sustainable Economic Development: Insights for Asia. Read the transcript https://adbi.me/3tnwI3P Download the book https://adbi.me/3FsPYiP

Economies across Asia and globally are facing the risk of spiraling debt and inflation triggered by emergency responses to the COVID-19 crisis. In this podcast, Indonesia Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati discusses how these challenges could impact economic recovery and strategies for addressing them, including the role of international cooperation. The discussion draws upon her ADBI Featured Speaker Webinar on Indonesia’s G20 2022 host vision and priorities. Read the transcript https://adbi.me/30yiXmH Related Page ADBI Featured Speaker Webinar: Indonesia Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati on G20 2022 Host Vision and Priorities https://adbi.me/3H1rY87

The COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow sought to rally global efforts to reduce carbon emissions needed to fight climate change and has prompted countries to commit to more ambitious climate actions. However, implementation challenges remain, particularly in fast-growing, highly-climate vulnerable developing countries in Asia and the Pacific. In this podcast, ADBI’s Dina Azhgaliyeva and Frank Wolak of Stanford University explain how developing Asia and the Pacific can achieve measurable progress toward carbon neutrality after COP26 by advancing the region’s clean energy transition while relying less on public subsidies. The discussion helps to set the tone for the 2021 ADBI Annual Conference on 1-3 December, which will feature insights from leading researchers on the next steps for climate change mitigation and green finance policy in developing Asia and the Pacific. Read the transcript https://adbi.me/3riT3ys Register for the 2021 ADBI Annual Conference https://adbi.me/31eIwcI

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the world’s cities. It has also prompted rethinking about the role of cities and the future of urbanization. In this podcast, urban development expert Tsuyoshi Hashimoto discusses the post-pandemic outlook for Asia’s cities and the implications for sustainable and inclusive growth in the region. His remarks are based on research presented during a recent ADBI virtual policy dialogue on rethinking the role of cities and urban function. Read the transcript https://adbi.me/3c2ROue

Spanning from the People’s Republic of China through Central Asian countries along the Caspian Sea to Europe, the Trans-Caspian Corridor is an increasingly important channel for transportation and cross-border trade. In this podcast, ADBI’s Dina Azhgaliyeva, Yelena Kalyuzhnova of the University of Reading, and Richard Pomfret of the University of Adelaide describe how improved infrastructure development within the corridor could drive post-COVID-19 trade and inclusive economic opportunities. They also explain how this could be achieved. The discussion draws upon the new ADBI Press book Unlocking Transport Connectivity in the Trans-Caspian Corridor which they coauthored. Read the transcript https://adbi.me/3nzF6bF Download the book for free https://adbi.me/3aUPaX9

How has the COVID-19 crisis impacted the Asian economy and what can the region’s policy makers do to advance economic recovery? In this podcast, ADBI Research Fellow John Beirne addresses these fundamental questions, describing new research that underscores the importance of building longer-term resilience and sustainability in Asia and possible ways forward. The discussion draws upon his new coedited book COVID-19 Impacts and Policy Options: An Asian Perspective, the inaugural entry in the ADBI Series on Asian and Pacific Sustainable Development, Beirne coedited the book with Tetsushi Sonobe, ADBI Dean, and Peter J. Morgan, ADBI Vice-Chair of Research. Read the transcript https://adbi.me/3jdXcyC Related link COVID-19 Impacts and Policy Options: An Asian Perspective https://adbi.me/3ACY6L1

Like other emerging markets in Asia, Central Asia faces a significant need for infrastructure development to support onward growth but a comparable shortfall in project financing and implementation capacity. In this podcast, ADBI’s Dina Azhgaliyeva and Ranjeeta Mishra, and the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Institute’s Kamalbek Karymshakov explain the importance of bridging these infrastructure gaps for firm performance and trade in Central Asia. They also describe how policy lessons and solutions here can be applied to other parts of developing Asia. The discussion draws upon the ADBI working paper entitled, Infrastructure and Firm Performance in CAREC Countries: Cross-Sectional Evidence at the Firm Level. Read the transcript https://adbi.me/3EVEcOH

Harmonizing intellectual property regimes could boost innovation in Asia, but how feasible is it? What steps could Asia take to enhance intellectual property protection and what impact could it have on the future of innovation development in the region? In this podcast, the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Peter Fowler explains the link between intellectual property rights and growth, the status of intellectual property protection and enforcement in Asia, and the path to harmonization that boost trade and competition in a globalized, digitally-driven marketplace. Read the transcript https://adbi.me/3loEqoK Related link ADBI Featured Speaker Webinar: United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Peter Fowler on IP Protection and Enforcement for Trade, Competition, and Innovation in Asia and the Pacific adbi.me/3j1pmwa

COVID-19 recovery in developing Asia could follow a traditional growth path that relies on carbon- and resource-intensive production. By contrast, the transition to a circular economy could deliver greener and more enduring post-pandemic growth in the region. In this podcast, ADBI’s Linda Arthur and Derek Hondo, describe the prospects for achieving such a breakthrough and associated principles and policy priorities. Read the transcript https://adbi.me/3kIbiZj Related link Virtual Conference on Circular Economy in Emerging Markets: Unlocking the Potential for Green Recovery in Developing Asia https://adbi.me/2WCCGPK

The burden of water collection and distribution often disproportionately falls on the shoulders of women in Asia’s developing economies, where gaps in water infrastructure and hygiene persist and are particularly acute at a household level. In this podcast, Ashish Sedai of Colorado State University describes clean water access challenges in the region, how the adoption of piped water in households in India is helping to increase women's labor force participation, and the impact gender-balanced household income can have on water service quality and sustainable development. Read the transcript https://adbi.me/2XqEvQo Related link Who Benefits from Piped Water in the House? Empirical Evidence from a Gendered Analysis in India https://adbi.me/3wy1sgu

Developing Asia will require around $30 trillion in infrastructure investment through 2030, according to the Asian Development Bank. But how has COVID-19 affected the infrastructure landscape and what role can the sector play in pandemic recovery across the region? In this podcast, New Zealand Infrastructure Commission Board Chair Alan Bollard describes post-pandemic infrastructure development conditions and impacts in Asia and the Pacific. He also addresses onward project financing, climate change, and sustainability considerations. The discussion draws on an ADBI Featured Speaker Webinar with Dr Bollard, who served as Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor during the Global Financial Crisis and its aftermath as well as Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat in Singapore from 2013 to 2018. Read the transcript https://adbi.me/2VfIu1a Related link ADBI Featured Speaker Webinar: New Zealand Infrastructure Commission Board Chair Alan Bollard on the Role of Infrastructure in COVID-19 Recovery https://adbi.me/3qBoO3o

With COVID-19 lockdowns, quarantine requirements, and work from home arrangements still prevalent, how will the pandemic impact the future of public transport and what lessons can policy makers in Asia learn from global experiences within the sector? In this podcast, we take a look at what’s happening outside the region with Greg Marsden of the University of Leeds Institute of Transport Studies, who describes travel developments in the United Kingdom. He details COVID-19 era working pattern shifts, commuter behavior, and the implications for the economics of public transport and public policy, including key takeaways for Asia’s cities. Read the transcript https://bit.ly/3rccB5v Related link ADBI Featured Speaker Webinar: Greg Marsden on COVID-19 Era Travel Behavior and its Policy Implications in the United Kingdom https://bit.ly/3hK7CWu

Central Asia remains highly dependent on polluting solid fuels despite significantly increasing access to cleaner alternatives in the region. In this podcast, ADBI’s Dina Azhgaliyeva and Ranjeeta Mishra, and CAREC Institute’s Kamalbek Karymshakov explain the implications of this gap, and what policy makers can do about it moving forward. The discussion draws upon their recent article in the Journal of Environmental Management entitled, “Why energy access is not enough for choosing clean cooking fuels” and ADBI working paper entitled, “What determines coal consumption for heating residential space in Central Asia.” Read the transcript https://bit.ly/2TxU9aE Related link Why Is Energy Access Not Enough for Choosing Clean Cooking Fuels? Sustainable Development Goals and Beyond https://bit.ly/3gtArpF What determines coal consumption for heating residential space in Central Asia https://bit.ly/2UbPXha

Economic and social disruptions accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic have sharply affected labor migration in Asia. In this podcast, ADBI Capacity Building and Training Economist Pitchaya Sirivunnabood describes the pandemic’s implications for labor mobility as well as the role of digitalization in boosting labor migration management moving forward. The discussion draws upon Labor Migration in Asia: Impacts of the COVID-19 and the Post-Pandemic Future, a report by ADBI, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and International Labour Organization. Read the transcript https://bit.ly/2T64EBX Related link Labor Migration in Asia: Impacts of the COVID-19 Crisis and the Post-Pandemic Future https://bit.ly/3fUIf3g

In this podcast, Asian Development Bank Institute Dean Tetsushi Sonobe explains how global efforts to advance quality infrastructure development could enable a more sustainable and inclusive COVID-19 recovery. He stresses the importance of promoting infrastructure that recouples economic, social, and environmental prosperity, with attention to building support for projects among the general public and private sector. The discussion is based on policy research being led by ADBI and other think tanks through their collaboration in the Think20 or T20—the think tank network of the G20. Read the transcript https://bit.ly/3wF0j6X Related link Think20 (T20) https://bit.ly/3urFfiO

In this podcast, Benjamin Diokno, Governor of Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas, or BSP, discusses financial digitalization and inclusive COVID-19 recovery strategy with ADBI Dean Tetsushi Sonobe. Governor Diokno describes the Philippine central bank’s roadmap for overcoming pandemic shocks and building a stronger, more technologically advanced, and more inclusive economy. Read the transcript https://bit.ly/2Rt1hEB Related link ADBI Featured Speaker Webinar: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin E. Diokno on Financial Digitalization and Inclusive COVID-19 Recovery https://bit.ly/3wgNHmC

The increased use of financial technology, or fintech, during the COVID-19 pandemic has provided households in Asia and the Pacific with more efficient and shock-resilient financial services access, and also helped the region’s micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises remain economically viable by offering faster and cheaper financial services than traditional banking. However, economies and communities may be unable to reap the financial inclusion benefits of fintech without sufficient levels of digital and financial literacy and digital payment infrastructure development. A recent virtual conference organized by the ADBI, the Asian Development Bank and the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School examined the role and impact of fintech during the pandemic. In this podcast, ADBI Research Fellow John Beirne discusses some of the key insights from the event, as well as the implications for policy makers going forward. Read the transcript https://bit.ly/3ezT8Wx Related link Virtual Conference on Fintech and COVID-19 https://bit.ly/2Sb1nAM

In this podcast, the University of Chicago’s Anjali Adukia presents her research on the link between school sanitation infrastructure, education growth, and development in India. Adukia describes the importance of latrine construction in schools for driving primary school enrollment, particularly among girls. She also discusses the policy implications of these dynamics for education and sanitation development, investment in school infrastructure, and gender equality. The discussion draws upon her ADBI Featured Speaker Webinar on sanitation, education, and development. Read the transcript https://bit.ly/2QjY9ub Related link ADBI Featured Speaker Webinar: Anjali Adukia on Sanitation, Education, and Development https://bit.ly/2QIxIhm