East Asian Nations Research Articles

A Study on the Trade Efficiency and Potential of China’s Agricultural Products Export to Association of South East Asian Nations Countries: Empirical Analysis Based on Segmented Products

A Study on the Trade Efficiency and Potential of China’s Agricultural Products Export to Association of South East Asian Nations Countries: Empirical Analysis Based on Segmented Products

Effort to gender equality in Indonesia, compared on ASEAN

This study aims to determine the extent of gender inequality in human resource development in Indonesia against Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). This research using secondary data from various relevant sources. There are five dimensions that and are important for measuring gender equality, namely economic participation, economic opportunities, political empowerment, educational attainment, and health and welfare. The assessment was carried out on Indonesia and other countries in Southeast Asia. The results of the study show that Indonesia has the lowest gender development index (GDI) score compared to the average in ASEAN. Then, gender empowerment measure (GEM) Indonesia increased slowly. The most striking gap is in the income dimension, where men’s income far exceeds women’s income. This happens because women work less than men because women are more traditional in domestic roles in Indonesia, where women are prioritized in managing the household. However, for political indicators, there has been an increase in the number of women in parliament, but the target has not yet reached 30 percent of the total number of women in parliament. This situation shows that there is a reduction in the gender gap in the economy and politics. But the number is still too small, it is necessary to increase the equally distributed equivalent percentage (EDEP) for the Economic Participation Index, Parliamentary Representation Index and Income Index.

Evaluating water-related health risks in East and Central Asian Islamic Nations using predictive models (2020–2030)

This paper presents a thorough evaluation of health outcomes linked to water-related challenges in Islamic nations across East Asia and Central Asia from 2020 to 2030. It has been examined carefully that the trajectory of deaths and disability-adjusted life years associated with unsafe water sources, lack of sanitation, and absence of handwashing facilities is showing a potential rise in negative health impacts due to water pollution. The direct health influences of water-related problems are thoughtful. The increase in deaths and DALYs due to poor water quality and sanitation leads to a higher occurrence of waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, and dysentery. These conditions not only cause instant health disasters but also subsidize to long-term health issues which include chronic gastrointestinal disorders and malnutrition that is particularly among susceptible populations like children and the elderly. Employing various predictive models including autoregressive integrated moving average, exponential smoothing, support vector machines, and neural networks. The study evaluates their predictive capabilities by using mean absolute percentage error. Support vector machines is found to be the most accurate in forecasting deaths and disability-adjusted life years which is outperforming autoregressive integrated moving average, exponential smoothing, and neural networks. This research aims to inform stakeholders by providing insights into effective strategies for improving water resource management and public health interventions in the targeted regions.

Corruption and Economic Growth Nexus: Empirical Evidence From Dynamic Threshold Panel Data

The relationship between corruption and growth has two primary theories. The concept of “sand the wheels” implies that corruption impedes economic advancement, while the notion of “grease the wheels” contends that corruption facilitates the process of growth (according to this concept, in highly corrupt states with weak institutions and a large amount of bureaucracy (under certain circumstances, such as specific conditions, situations, economic structures, or phases of economic transformation), public officials tend to manipulate: to speed up certain decisions (sometimes significant for the economic growth of the state) if they receive a bribe while moving through legal channels may be slow and sometimes make these decisions impossible). The prevailing consensus in empirical research has primarily backed the “sand the wheels” theory, with minimal acceptance seen for the “grease the wheels” hypothesis. This paper examines the link between corruption and economic growth of 9 East Asian nations and 14 Middle East and North African countries between 1996 and 2019. By embracing the fundamental assumption that the influence of corruption on economic growth may not follow a linear trajectory, linear and non-linear dynamic models were used to incentivize the corruption levels at which its impact on growth transforms. The study finds an inverted U link between corruption and growth, suggesting a threshold of 0.2228, where corruption in these counties has a beneficial impact on growth and a harmful impact above it. The paper also examines the potential indirect influence of corruption on economic growth via the investment channel, explicitly defining the corruption threshold. The empirical findings in these counties show a significant positive relationship between investment and growth when corruption exceeds the threshold value of 0.3028. It means that under certain circumstances and economic contexts, corruption can potentially foster investment, particularly when bureaucratic inefficiencies and strict regulations impede investment endeavors (through various means, including facilitating the acquisition of permits, licenses, and financing and establishing a more foreseeable business environment). This phenomenon is especially evident in industries where time-critical possibilities require prompt decision-making. The findings indicate a statistically significant and advantageous influence of the Rule of law on economic growth (when considering the impacts of institutional factors), a positive considerable link between regulatory quality and prosperity (even when the squared corruption variable was included), a statistically significant negative effect of government spending on growth. According to the results of the calculations, the article emphasizes that in the countries of East Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, the issues of ensuring the Rule of law, accountability, transparency and reduction of bureaucracy are of particular relevance.

RCEP: IMPLICATIONS AND CHALLENGES FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION IN A CHANGING GLOBAL ECONOMY

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), emanating from the core principles of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), represents a significant evolution in regional economic cooperation. This article delves into the intricate dynamics of RCEP, emphasizing its inception, growth, and the profound implications it holds for the European Union (EU). Tracing the history of ASEAN and its expansion, the paper examines how the ASEAN's Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with nations outside Southeast Asia, including China, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, and India, laid the groundwork for RCEP. The study highlights the strategic objectives of RCEP in fostering trade liberalization and economic integration among its member states, while also addressing disputes and promoting regional stability. The signing of RCEP in November 2020 marked a pivotal moment in Asia-Pacific economic relations, promising significant shifts in global trade dynamics. This research critically analyses the potential impact of RCEP on the EU, particularly in terms of trade, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, and the broader implications for the global multilateral trading system. The paper also explores how RCEP could reshape the EU's role and strategies in regional and global economic contexts, assessing the challenges and opportunities it presents for EU-ASEAN collaborations. The evolving relationship between Southeast Asia and the EU under the shadow of RCEP, including the promotion of regional trade at micro and macro levels, forms a critical part of this analysis. The study aims to provide comprehensive insights into the multifaceted effects of RCEP on the EU, offering valuable perspectives for policymakers and stakeholders in both regions.

The Impact of RCEP Tariff Concessions on Intra-Regional Trade: An Analysis of Trade Creation and Diversion

This study delves into the economic ramifications of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), particularly focusing on its tariff concessions and their influence on intra-regional trade dynamics within the Asia-Pacific region. By encompassing 15 East Asian and Pacific nations, RCEP stands as the world's largest trading bloc, accounting for approximately 30% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This research aims to dissect the core objectives of RCEP, emphasizing the significant tariff concessions that aim to eliminate up to 90% of the tariffs within the bloc over a stipulated timeline. Through a comprehensive analysis, this paper explores the dual phenomena of trade creation and trade diversion as intrinsic outcomes of RCEP's tariff concessions. Initial findings project an increase in intraregional exports by nearly 2%, translating to an augmentation of approximately US$42 billion. This surge in trade volume is attributed to the lowered costs of goods due to reduced tariffs, fostering economic growth and integration of regional markets. However, the study also highlights the nuanced impacts of trade diversion, where trade shifts from more efficient external sources to less efficient member states, induced by preferential treatment within the bloc. Furthermore, the paper navigates through the challenges and opportunities presented by RCEP, including the harmonization of trade policies and regulatory standards across diverse economic landscapes. The research underscores the strategic implications for RCEP member countries, advocating for a multifaceted approach to leverage the benefits of the agreement while mitigating potential downsides. This study contributes to the broader discourse on regional economic cooperation and integration, offering insights into the complex interplay between trade policies and regional dynamics in the Asia-Pacific.

The role of trade openness and labour productivity on mineral rents: evidence from East Asian countries

ABSTRACT This study examined the sustainability of East Asian countries’ extended reliance on mineral resource exports and foreign investment inflows for economic growth. By analysing panel data from 11 East Asian nations from 2000 to 2020, the research examined the impacts of trade openness and labour productivity on mineral resource rents. The findings showed that increasing trade liberalization and improving labour productivity negatively impact mineral rents. The research suggests that optimizing trade, productivity, industrial upgrading, and regional partnerships can help East Asian nations diversify their economies, move up global value chains, and achieve high-quality, long-term growth.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and E-Commerce: Challenges and Future Opportunities

Technology has drastically changed how businesses operate. Growing usage of internet for commercial purposes has increased the growing influence of e-commerce in the overall business activities carried out globally. Countries like India , China, Brazil and South East Asian nations have become hub of the IT enabled services and provide necessary wherewithal to conduct global e-commerce smoothly. With advancements in technology, there have been many changes has been occupied. Thus, Continuous Customer Relationship and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) become the goal for customer retention. CRM, if performed correctly, allows creative marketing people to gain insights from information for new product ideas or new Promotional campaigns and turn them into profits. Today, CRM has extended beyond sales and marketing to include functions such as finance, R&D, channel partners, and even customers. In the backdrop of all these developments the paper presents about customer relationship management (CRM) and its emerging research of challenges in e-Commerce. The challenges associated with customer, strategic and collaborative relations. This paper also proposes future opportunities of e-commerce in customer relationship management.

Foreign Direct Investment in ASEAN Airline Industry

The development of aviation market in Southeast Asia after the Covid-19 pandemic is promising. More aircraft are delivered to the Asia-Pacific region, including the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States. The introduction of ASEAN Open Skies (also known as ASEAN Single Aviation Market) a decade earlier together with ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025 goals for an integrated and cohesive regional economy highlight the importance of a seamless air connectivity. Liberalisation of the airline industry in ASEAN Member States is crucial to restart the airline industry pre-pandemic and to grasp the so-called Asian century momentum. However, ASEAN Member States are reluctant towards liberalisation efforts, maintaining protectionism on both freedoms of the air (traffic rights) as well as foreign direct investment (ownership and control). Existing legal framework at regional level, namely ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) and ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA), only received lukewarm attention from ASEAN Member States. This article discusses the urgency to recall the commitment of a gradual liberalisation based on AFAS and ATISA among the ASEAN Member States, the implementation of which will lead to the establishment of a regional community carrier which benefits ASEAN citizens.

Analysis of the Difficulties and Countermeasures of East Asian Regional Economic Cooperation

Global economic development witnessed two significant developments during the 1990s: economic globalization and regional economic integration. East Asia's economy has been steadily developing, making it one of the most promising areas in the world economy. Nonetheless, East Asia's economic cooperation is developing far more slowly than that of the European Union and the North American Free Trade Area. East Asian nations have deeply realized that the only way to increase the competitiveness of their economies and, consequently, their overall economic strength is to actively participate in economic cooperation, as evidenced by the rapid development of trade and economic ties between the European Union and the North American Free Trade Area. This article aims to study the difficulties and countermeasures of East Asian regional economic cooperation in the context of current economic globalization and regional economic integration. According to this study, there are three key reasons why regional economic cooperation among Southeast Asian countries is problematic: political factors in East Asian countries, economic factors in East Asian countries, and social and cultural factors in East Asian countries. Various measures have been suggested to address the current challenges. These include fostering East Asian regional cooperation around ASEAN, expediting economic recovery through trade and economic cooperation, and fortifying cultural exchanges and cooperation to further the development of East Asian regional economic cooperation.

Quest for Equitable Education in Phases: Insights From an NGO in China

Highlights Among the East Asian nations, a recurring predicament faced by educational institutions is that of providing inclusive but high-quality education. Active involvement of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in education is valuable in China. Adream was such an NGO on education in China, established in 2008 with a singular and noble objective: promotion of equitable access to quality education within the disadvantaged regions of China. The trajectory of Adream's endeavor to secure equitable access to quality education in rural China stands as a compelling exemplar of the transformative potential that NGOs wield within the realm of education.

PISA score as an inappropriate measure for growth? Empirical evidence from East Asia

AbstractThe topic of the research is whether better human capital, as determined by secondary school learning outcomes measured by PISA scores, promotes economic growth. The literature often uses the PISA results as a proxy for growth, while its use and impact on growth are not empirically proven. These questions are analyzed through two hypotheses. The first hypothesis (H1) states that in a worldwide sample of countries, GDP per capita growth between 2006 and 2019 was positively impacted by rising PISA results. The second hypothesis (H2) states that between 2006 and 2019, the rise in PISA scores in East Asia had a stronger influence on economic growth than in the rest of the world. The study examines 59 nations that have administered two PISA tests during the period of 2006–2019. The findings imply that there is generally no causal connection between PISA results and growth and the PISA results play no additional role in the development of East Asian nations. The results can be explained in two ways. The first is that human capital includes more than just skills. The second is that the data only covers a short period of time, which may limit the analysis of long-term patterns.

An Examination of the Koryŏ-Khitan Relations from the 10th to 12th Century through the Balance of Power System

International relations in East Asia from the 10th through the 12th centuries had been understood through a triangular relationship framework with the Khitan and the Song in a bipolar relationship and either Koryŏ or Western Xia as the third state. It is widely acknowledged that this framework has the advantage of simplifying international affairs under restricted conditions, which allows for an easy comprehension of the situation at the time. However, even the Song and the Khitan, which were considered to be major powers at the time, were merely two nations among equals. The period spanning the 10th to 12th centuries was not characterized by any single nation overpowering others. Consequently, the countries in East Asia during that time had to seek allies and strive for survival in response to the shifting international landscape. There are difficulties in understanding the international order of that era based solely on triangular relationships.The relationship between Koryŏ and the Khitan also did not lead to a situation where one country overpowered the other. Of course, there is a lot of room to believe that the Khitan has an overall advantage. However, as can be seen from the fact that the Khitans requested reinforcements from the Song to attack Koryŏ, the Khitans were also not confident that they were overpowering Koryŏ. Therefore, rather than confining the relationships among East Asian nations at the time within a rigid triangular framework, understanding the constantly shifting international situations at the time and the fact that all states prioritized their own security would bring us closer to the historical truth.

Obstetric service demand is the main health need of the Vietnamese population in Guangxi, China: A cross-sectional study.

China has become an emerging destination for international migration, especially in some Association of South East Asian Nations countries, but the situation of migrants seeking medical care in China remains unclear. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in a hospital in Chongzuo, which provides medical services for foreigners, to investigate the situation of Vietnamese people seeking health care in Guangxi, China. Vietnamese patients who visited the hospital between 2018 and 2020 were included in the study. Demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, characteristics of payment for medical costs, and characteristics of hospitalization were compared between outpatients and inpatients. In total, 778 Vietnamese outpatients and 173 inpatients were included in this study. The percentages of female outpatients and inpatients were 93.44% and 88.44% (χ2 = 5.133, P = .023), respectively. Approximately 30% of outpatients and 47% of inpatients visited the hospital due to obstetric needs. The proportions of outpatients with basic medical insurance for urban residents, basic medical insurance for urban employees, and new cooperative medical schemes were 28.02%, 3.21%, and 2.31%, respectively. In comparison, the proportion of inpatients with the above 3 types of medical insurance was 16.76%, 1.73%, and 2.31%, respectively. The proportion of different payments for medical costs between outpatients and inpatients were significantly different (χ2 = 24.404, P < .01). Middle-aged Vietnamese females in Guangxi, China, may have much greater healthcare needs. Their main medical demand is for obstetric services. Measurements should be taken to improve the health services targeting Vietnamese female, but the legitimacy of Vietnamese in Guangxi is a major prerequisite for them to access more and better healthcare services.

Interdisciplinary studies on the evolution of senior high school English education in postwar Taiwan and the relevance to Japan's system

In recent years in Japan, there has been an urgent need to develop logical, critical thinking, and communication skills in Japanese English education. While there has long been considerable research on Japan’s English language education system and that of other East Asian nations, there has been less information available on the English education system in Taiwan. Despite similarities between the English education systems in Japan and Taiwan, there is less data on the Taiwanese system, which makes it difficult to draw comparisons between the two. This is the research focus of Professor Seiko Hirai, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Kitasato University, Japan. Hirai is interested in English education, with a particular focus on Taiwan, and her research also explores cognitive perspectives of bilingualism. Hirai has been investigating the English education situation in Taiwan, with a focus on Taiwanese English textbooks. Hirai’s findings indicate that, as demonstrated by the Taiwanese English education situation, it is possible to develop communicative skills in tandem with critical thinking skills and that these are not mutually exclusive. Her studies also suggest that literature materials used in Taiwanese English textbooks are useful for developing these skills, and for deepening the level and type of intellectual exposure to English in its many forms. There is some consensus in the literature that acquiring reading and writing abilities in one language helps with the acquisition of reading and writing abilities in other languages and that this could possibly also improve higher thinking processes. Hiraiâ–™s research on the cognitive perspectives of bilingualism is ongoing but she is eager to promote the improvement of communicative-based language development learning in Japanese school environments. She intends to collaborate with other researchers to explore how to improve Japanese English textbooks by using knowledge gained from her research on the Taiwanese system as well as research on other East Asian nations.

Occupational choice, satisfaction and success of PhD graduates in East Asia and the West: A systematic review

AbstractThe globally expanding doctoral education and the diminishing availability of academic job opportunities have prompted an increasing proportion of PhD graduates to seek employment beyond academia, drawing a growing scholarly interest. However, the existing literature on doctoral career pathways tends to be fragmented and dispersed, given the idiosyncratic individual and educational characteristics of doctorates grappling with the complex structural factors. To depict a comprehensive picture of the diversifying employment trajectories of doctorates across various geographical, disciplinary and sectoral contexts, this study conducts a systematic review, scouring 831 pertinent journal articles from the Web of Science. Following a set of inclusion criteria, 31 papers were ultimately selected to identify the key factors shaping employment trajectories of PhD graduates at structural (national supply and demand), institutional (employers' perceptions) and individual (doctorates' characteristics) levels. Drawing on the boundaryless and value‐based career theories, the authors develop a four‐dimension analytical framework, within which the findings of the 31 papers in East Asian and Western contexts are analysed. Overall, stakeholders in Western systems generally recognise the trend of PhD graduates securing non‐academic employment, whereas East Asian nations appear less receptive to this agenda. Meanwhile, due to their strong emphasis on research skills utilisation and employment stability, PhD graduates in certain economies find it challenging to pursue satisfying and successful careers, warranting increased attention. Building on the findings, we propose a four‐quadrat model in an effort to provide a tool for evaluating the capacity to absorb doctoral workforces of specific systems by categorising the doctoral professions. Highlighting shared patterns observed across various higher education systems and distinct trends prevalent in specific economies, this paper addresses key topics in doctoral education and doctorate employment literature such as labour market conditions, employment outcomes, job satisfaction, skills (mis)matches and sustainable careers.

Chopsticks philosophy: Confucianism on the work ethic of East Asian nations

Chopsticks philosophy: Confucianism on the work ethic of East Asian nations

Capitalizing the Demographic dividend of Pakistan-future prospects

Demographic dividend refers to the economic growth and development resulting from a change in the age structure of a country’s population.1 Rapid growth in a country occurs as a consequence of declining fertility, facilitated by low child and infant mortality. A country with younger people and lessoning fertility reaps a ‘demographic dividend’ by increasing productivity and decreasing dependency. With low dependency ratio, governments and people can redirect resources for investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure, creating a virtuous cycle of development, as better education and healthcare can now lead to greater productivity gains.2 The demographic dividend is specifically beneficial for those countries which accelerate their economic development through strategic investments and policies.3 The relationship of economic development and population changes has evolved into an important subject recently. Historically since the Second World War, a demographic shift has been undergoing in developing countries, from high to low rates of mortality and fertility. This transition produced a "boom" generation, that is, a generation larger than those immediately before and after it.4 The East Asian nations were at the forefront of this transition while Latin America, began their transitions afterwards, in the 1960s and 70s. Countries in the Middle East and Africa, have not yet fully begun, or are in the initial stages of this transition.5 Pakistan, like many other countries, stands at a critical juncture where the demographic dividend can either be a transformative force for economic growth or a missed opportunity. Currently, 64 percent of the nation is younger than 30 years of age. Pakistan now has more young people than it has ever had in the past, and predicted to continue to increase till 2050 with many needing jobs. The age distribution of Pakistan's population is heavily skewed towards youth. This presents both opportunities and challenges for the country's future development.6 A favorable age structure alone does not yield the dividend. It does not produce benefit automatically. Just like any opportunity, one must exert effort to realize its advantage. To materialize the dividend, the sizeable young and working-age population must be gainfully employed7. For economic growth, quality education, adequate nutrition and health, and access to sexual and reproductive health must be ensured to younger population. The country faces multifaceted challenges that intersect with the broader themes of the demographic dividend. One of the biggest challenges that Pakistan faces in realizing its demographic dividend is the lack of education.8 According to a recent report, only 58% of Pakistani children go to primary school, and just 28% complete secondary education. This lack of education limits the potential of the workforce and hinders economic growth.

Evidence-based evaluation of adjuvant therapy with Chinese medicine for cerebral small vessel disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: As the population ages, the prevalence of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) steadily increases, resulting in a significant economic burden on society. In East Asian nations, Chinese medicine has been used extensively to teat CSVD and has been reported to improve the cognitive function of patients. The present study aimed to comprehensively assess the efficacy and safety of Chinese medicine as adjuvant therapy for CSVD. Methods: A literature search of the CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, and ChiCTR databases were searched for RCTs investigating the use of TCM as an adjuvant in the treatment of CSVD, published up to July 27, 2023, was performed. Based on the Cochrane Collaboration Network bias risk assessment criteria, Review Manager version 5.3 was used to perform a meta-analysis. Results: Meta-analysis of 27 RCTs, including 2554 subjects, revealed that the majority of the RCTs exhibited risk for ambiguous bias. The findings demonstrated that the use of Chinese medicine as an adjuvant treatment for CSVD effectively enhanced the cognitive function, as evidenced by improvements in the MMSE score (mean difference (MD) = 2.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.79,3.17], P &lt; .00001), MoCA score (MD = 2.39, 95% CI [1.78,2.99], P &lt; .00001) and ADL score (MD = 4.13, 95% CI [1.74,6.51], P = .0007). Furthermore, the study also demonstrated the advantages of Chinese medicine adjuvant therapy in enhancing the Chinese medicine syndrome score (MD = −2.57, 95% CI [−3.31, −1.83], P &lt; .00001), CRP (MD = −1.35, 95% CI [−2.27, −0.43], P = .004), Hcy (MD = −3.44,95% CI [−4.05, −2.83], P &lt; .00001), and blood flow velocity (CBV) (MD = 1.37,95% CI [0.24,2.50], P = .02). Moreover, there was no statistical difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Findings of the present study indicate that the Chinese medicine, as an adjuvant to conventional treatment, appeared to be efficacious in enhancing cognitive function, reducing Chinese medicine syndrome score, improving blood biochemical markers, and improving cerebral blood flow perfusion in patients with CSVD, without any notable adverse reactions. However, it is imperative to validate these conclusions in future high-quality investigations.

Asymmetric response of domestic production to exchange rate changes: Evidence from southeast Asian countries

This study explores the asymmetric effects of real effective exchange rate variation on domestic output in nine South East Asian nations. The study is the first thorough study on this issue for these countries. The results show that exchange rate fluctuations have asymmetric long‐run and short‐run effects on production in most nations. However, the findings vary across nations. Appreciation has a contractionary effect on production in most countries, while depreciation has an expansionary effect. In certain economies, an appreciation boosts domestic output whereas a depreciation diminishes it. Such conclusions can only be reached if appreciations and depreciations are separated, using non‐linear models.