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I. Asia-Pacific region: key developments and prospects

The global setting and implications for Asia-Pacific

Developed countries

Recent trends in international trade

Commodities

Foreign direct investment flows

Financial market developments

Developments, prospects and policy issues in Asia and the Pacific

Developing economies in the subregion

Developed countries of the region

Near-term policy issues for the region

Longer-term development policy issues for the region

II. Macroeconomic performance, issues and policies

Developing economies of the ESCAP region

East and North-East Asia

North and Central Asia

Pacific island economies

South and South-West Asia

South-East Asia

Developed countries of the region

Australia, Japan and New Zealand

III. Dynamics of population ageing: how can Asia and the Pacific respond?

Introduction

Population dynamics

Determinants of population ageing

Decline in mortality

Decline in the fertility rate

Scale and speed of ageing

Ageing of the older population

Is ageing a gender issue?

Implications of population ageing

Fiscal implications

Public pensions

Health care

Implications for the labour market

Savings and investment

Public debt

Impact on capital markets

Economic growth

Care of older persons

Poverty, isolation and discrimination

Policy responses

Pension reforms

Increasing efficiency in the health-care sector

Healthy ageing

Health insurance

Institutional arrangements for care of the elderly

Promotion of familial care of the elderly

Market reforms

Labour market reforms

Migration policy

Population policy

Fiscal policy

Role of the private sector

Conclusion

Special feature to mark the International Year of Microcredit, 2005

Microfinance in poverty reduction – Asia-Pacific challenges