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Jun
2012

Progress in regional integration across Asia and the Pacific (2008-2011)

Integration can be assessed in at least four major dimensions: (i) production networks and trade; (ii) capital markets; (iii) macroeconomic links; and (iv) transmigration. Over the past 4 years, all except migration have shown improvement. However, progress has been uneven across subregions. East Asia is the most integrated and shows the most progress, while most measures remain low or even declined in South Asia and the Pacific and Oceania.


Region Production Network and Trade Capital Markets Macro-economic Links Transmigration
Intra-regional FDI (%) Intra-regional Trade (%) Intra-regional Equity Holdings (%) Intra-regional Bond Holdings (%) Intra-regional Output Correlations Intraregional Tourism (%) Migrant to Population Ratio (%)
Asia 50.08 ▲ 55.02 ▲ 24.98 ▲ 6.36 ▲ 0.36 ▲ 81.07 ▲ 0.51 ▼
Central Asia 0.02 ▼ 5.33 ▼ – – – – 0.35 ▲ 32.20 ▲ 1.56 –
East Asia (incl. Japan) 41.81 ▲ 36.17 ▼ 17.65 ▲ 2.84 ▲ 0.59 ▲ 75.32 ▲ 0.26 ▲
Southeast Asia 6.32 ▼ 24.61 ▲ 9.54 ▼ 9.49 ▼ 0.70 ▲ 69.69 ▲ 0.66 ▲
South Asia 0.03 ▲ 4.61 ▼ – – – – 0.04 ▼ 13.17 ▼ 0.47 ▼
The Pacific and Oceania 1.91 ▼ 8.05 ▼ – – – – 0.46 ▲ 2.43 ▼ 0.09 ▼

▲ = increase from 2000–2007 average; ▼ = decrease from 2000–2007 average; – = data unavailable. Note: See Table 4 in Asian Economic Integration Monitor July 2012, Asian Development Bank, for details.
The views expressed in this blog post are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of ARIC, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), its Board of Directors, or the governments they represent. ARIC does not guarantee the accuracy of the information and data included in this blog post and accepts no responsibility for any consequences of their use. Terminology used may not necessarily be consistent with official ADB terms.

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