ADBI Dean Masahiro Kawai and Ganeshan Wignaraja of OREI examine how consolidation of multiple and overlapping free trade agreements (FTAs) can help mitigate the harmful noodle bowl effects of different or competing tariffs, standards, and rules. A computable general equilibrium (CGE) model finds that consolidation at the ASEAN+6 level would yield the largest gains to East Asia among plausible regional trade arrangements. Read more.

Developing Asia will post solid growth in 2008, even as major industrial economies are slowing down, says ADB's flagship economic publication Asian Development Outlook 2008. Also, this year’s theme on workers in developing Asia spotlights three issues. Will the region reap the demographic advantages of its many young people about to enter the workforce? Can it resolve its silent crisis in terms of its skills shortages? Third, with migration burgeoning within the region, will policies move to keep up with the reality on the ground? Read more.