An Australian Government, AusAID initiative
| |
|
| An Australian Government, AusAID initiative |
|
Home
> Research Program > Endorsed
Research Projects
Phase II: 2007 Research Program
*for a description of each step go to Research Management Process Research Project 07/001Title: Options for EAS finance cooperation: A scoping studyBrief Description: The study will (a) review existing finance cooperation and modalities for cooperation; (b) examine the conditions of EAS financial markets and countries’ readiness for further regional cooperation; (c) discuss key policy issues, opportunities, challenges and risks facing EAS countries in achieving deeper, more diversified and better-integrated financial markets; (d) identify feasible options for EAS financial cooperation and analyse the merits and demerits of these options; (e) identify the issues of stability of national financial markets and systems to prevent financial crisis; and (f) explore and recommend appropriate approaches to initiate EAS financial cooperation. Sponsor: Finance and Macroeconomic Surveillance Unit, Bureau for Economic Integration and Finance of ASEC Research Project 07/002Title: The EAS: Towards a New Architecture for East Asia CooperationBrief Description: The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a newly established forum for dialogue on broad strategic, political and economic issues of common interest and concern with the aim of promoting peace, stability and economic prosperity in East Asia. This study adopts a forward-looking approach to support EAS dialogue and cooperation. The first part involves building and analyzing possible EAS scenarios within a 5 to 10 year time frame and includes (i) identifying key factors that will affect economic development and integration in East Asia and among EAS participants; (ii) examining risks to sustainable growth; (iii) scanning the external environment; and (iv) analyzing likely scenarios for East Asia and EAS community building with ASEAN as the key driver. Based on the scenario analysis, the second part of the study will develop options and suggest strategies to enhance development cooperation within the EAS process, maintaining and ensuring ASEAN’s centrality. Sponsor: Bureau for Economic Integration and Finance of ASEC Research Project 07/003Title: Developing ASEAN’s SAM and regional air services arrangements with Dialogue PartnersBrief Description: ASEAN has adopted the Open Sky policy on a staged and progressive basis. Various policy measures are to be implemented leading ultimately to the creation of a Single Aviation Market by 2015. ASEAN is also now in discussions with China for a Regional Air Services Agreement and it is anticipated that negotiations with India for an open skies arrangement will also commence soon. Thus, as ASEAN moves toward a single aviation market it needs to develop its external air transport policy as well. In support of these developments, this study will have two key outcomes: (a) development of the implementation framework for the ASEAN Single Aviation Market and (b) development of the policy framework for ASEAN regional air services arrangements with dialogue partners. Sponsor: Infrastructure Unit, Bureau for Economic Integration and Finance of ASEC Research Project 07/004Title: East Asian Free Trade Agreements in Services: Facilitating Free flow of Services in ASEAN?Brief Description: The proliferation of services agreements in the region poses an important challenge for ASEAN and its goal to create the ASEAN Economic Community. This study will examine if the wave of services agreements contributes to or distracts from the realization of ASEAN integration and community building among EAS. The study will have the following key outcomes (1) a comparative analysis of the services agreements and commitments of EAS participants in Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) and in GATS. (2) an in-depth assessment of the factors which affect services commitments and degrees of liberalization in different PTAs and (3) specific recommendations for ASEAN trade negotiators to ensure that regional integration is promoted even as member countries pursue their unilateral, bilateral, and plurilateral trade policies and strategies. Sponsor: FTA Unit, Bureau for Economic Integration and Finance of ASEC Research Project 07/005Title: Energy Market Integration in the East Asia Summit RegionBrief Description: The Cebu Declaration recognises that energy needs in the East Asia region are growing rapidly and will necessitate large-scale investments in the coming decades and, inter-alia, highlights the fundamental need of countries in East Asia for reliable, adequate and affordable energy supplies, which are essential for strong and sustainable economic growth and competitiveness. The study will provide recommendations to the EAS Energy Ministers on practical ways to enhance energy market integration in the EAS region. The objectives of the study are to conduct an examination of the current state of the EAS energy market, to identify energy trade and investment trends, barriers to increased trade and investment and opportunities for enhancing domestic trade and investment frameworks to bring about an integrated EAS energy market with reduced barriers to energy trade and investment. Sponsor: Australian Department of Industry and Tourism Research Project 07/006Title: Harnessing educational cooperation in the EAS for regional competitiveness and community buildingBrief Description: Education is one of the priority areas of the East Asia Summit. The importance given to education is consistent with ASEAN’s own priorities as stated in the Vientiane Action Programme (VAP) which recognizes that the development and enhancement of human resources is a key strategy for generating employment, alleviating poverty and socio-economic disparities, and ensuring economic growth with equity. This study is expected to (i) identify the educational resources and complementarities in the EAS region, (ii) examine existing education cooperation conducted by EAS countries bilaterally or regionally, and explore the possibility of expanding them within the EAS framework, (iii) identify the role that cooperation in education played in deepening integration in other regional economic arrangements, (iv) identify good models of education cooperation initiatives and examine if they could be replicated or expanded in the EAS, and finally (v) suggest specific proposals for EAS cooperation in education in order to support regional economic development, strengthen regional competitiveness, and contribute to community building. Sponsor: Human Development Unit, Bureau for Resources Development of ASEC Research Project 07/007Title: Poverty Reduction and Social Development in ASEAN: Towards an ASEAN Roadmap for the Implementation of the Millennium Development Goals PlusBrief Description: East Asia Summit (EAS) Leaders resolved that improving the standard of living of its people should remain a central focus of regional cooperation efforts. At the Second EAS, they reaffirmed their commitment to the eradication of poverty in East Asia and also confirmed their commitment to achieve the target and objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). ASEAN Foreign Ministers at 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) on 29-30 July 2007 underlined the commitment to carry out the ASEAN Socio Cultural Community Plan of Action, particularly towards building a community of caring societies, and agreed on the need to draw up an ASEAN roadmap for the implementation of the MDG Plus by the concerned ASEAN sectoral bodies, particularly those involved in poverty reduction and social development. Following this mandate, this study aims to support ASEAN in the development of a roadmap for the implementation of the MDG Plus, which is a pioneering step taken by ASEAN as a region to catalyze effective collective action at all levels in the development and implementation of the MDG Plus. Sponsor: Human Development Unit, Bureau for Resources Development of ASEC Research Project 07/008Title: Best Practices in the Introduction and Implementation of Competition Policy and Law in East Asia Summit Countries: Insights, Issues and Perspectives for a Regional Work Program on Competition Policy and Law in ASEANBrief Description: Competition policy and law (CPL) and competition regulatory bodies (CRB) have a positive and influential role to play in promoting consumer welfare and in facilitating economic development. Due to the dynamics of increasing interdependence worldwide, including through bilateral and regional FTAs, CPL and collaboration between CRB will become even more important to many developing economies. The proposed study will (a) review the policy and operational experiences in CPL and CRB in the EAS countries, (b) identify the good and replicable practices recommended for the consideration of ASEAN or sub-groups of AMCs concerning CPL and CRB, and (c) suggest the necessary scope, coverage, operations as well as institutional set-up and resource provisions for priorities areas, issues and options in CPL and CRB. Sponsor: Agreements and Compliance Unit, Bureau for Economic Integration and Finance of ASEC
Phase I:2006 Research Program - click here for research project information 2005 Research Program - click here for research project information 2004 Research Program - click here for research project information 2003 Research Program - click here for research project information 2002 Research Program - click here for research project information
The Managing Contractor for the REPSF II is GRM International |
