Economic Liberalisation and Employment in South Asia - II

Abstract

The fears that liberalisation would severely undermine employment growth in south Asia have been proved, at least at the aggregate level, to have been unwarranted. Empirical evidence also shows, on the other hand, that employment growth has picked up despite the continued existence of 'labour-market rigidities'. To improve the employment climate in the region governments should accord priority to investment in physical and human capital, institution development and the reduction of inequalities. [This paper appears in two parts. The first part was published last week.]