The Disability at a Glance series, which started in 2006, serves as a companion for policymakers, statisticians and representatives of organizations of, and for, persons with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific. These publications aim to provide a regional overview of disability policies and practices, as well as relevant country data and information.
This publication on Disability, Livelihood and Poverty in Asia and the Pacific is an executive summary that draws from a wider body of primary and secondary research undertaken by the ESCAP research team. It considers both the quantitative and qualitative dimensions which shape the livelihood experiences of persons with disabilities. The primary research is derived from collaboration between ESCAP and its national research partners: disabled people’s organizations (DPOs) and organizations for the empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Extreme weather events and water-related disasters are occurring in Central Asia with increasing frequency. This publication provides an overview of water-related hazards and extreme weather events, their socio-economic effects, and related disaster risk management practices in countries of Central Asia and neighbouring countries. It outlines relevant subregional and regional cooperative mechanisms and initiatives that address these hazards in various range of aspects.
The ESCAP/UNISDR Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2012, Reducing Vulnerability and Exposure to Disasters provides an analysis of the impact of disasters on Asian and Pacific countries between 1970 to 2011, and discusses the twin challenge faced by the region of increasing exposure of its people and economic assets, and heightened vulnerabilities experienced by the poor and other disadvantaged groups to disasters. Pressures resulting from rapid urban development and economic growth has resulted in people and economic activities expanding into increasingly exposed and hazard-prone land.
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including micro enterprises, have emerged as an engine of growth for most countries of Asia and the Pacific. Their contribution is well known particularly for increasing production, export and employment, and thus income generation. Above all, SMEs serve as a seed bed for enterprise development. Each country has evolved its own policy, institutional framework and support mechanism suiting its needs, stage of development, ethos, culture and understanding of SMEs role.
The Asia-Pacific Development Journal (APDJ) is published twice a year by the Macroeconomic Policy and Development Division of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
The primary objective of the APDJ is to provide a platform for the exchange of knowledge, experience, ideas, information and data on all aspects of economic and social development issues and concerns facing the region and to stimulate policy debate and assist in the formulation of policy.
This paper approaches inclusive development in South and South-West Asia through the
framework of structural transformation and productive capacities. It discusses the opportunities
for these countries to build their productive capacities through product diversification and
presents a list of potential new products and export markets that could be targeted by
government and private sector for achieving higher long-term gains. The paper also discusses
country-specific strategies that combine laissez-faire and strategic diversification approaches to
The ongoing euro zone debt crisis creates an undesirable scenario for the global economy as well as for the Asia-Pacific region given that the region has close economic linkages. The paper
aims to provide quantitative estimates of the potential impact of the euro zone debt crisis on merchandise exports as well as on economic growth and poverty reduction efforts in the region.
The results indicate that a one-percentage-point fall of output growth of the euro zone would result in a total export loss of $166 billion. In addition, the protectionist threats could further
The Asia-Pacific region continues to face a deeply challenging external environment. The V-shaped recovery from the depths of the 2008-2009 global financial crisis in 2010 proved to be short-lived, as the world economy entered the second stage of the crisis in 2011, due to euro zone debt concerns and the continued uncertain outlook for the United States economy. The region will be affected by slackening demand for its exports and higher costs of capital, as well as by loose monetary policies and trade protection measures of some advanced economies.
