ECAFE Region Research Articles

International Economic Statistics: A Selected List of Documents

The word “document” in the title has been used to denote publications from our federal government, foreign governments and regional and international organizations. Most readers are aware of the section on comparative international economics, contained in the Statistical Abstract of the United States. It includes information on population, economic growth indicators like GNP, trade, agricultural and industrial production, employment, wages and prices and social indicators like health and literacy in all foreign countries. Brief though the coverage of this section is, it would nevertheless be sufficient to satisfy the needs of most library users. The Abstract also conveniently provides citations to various national and international sources from which the information was gathered. Those who require more detailed data can resort to the many national statistical almanacs and compendiums issued regularly by the statistical departments of the national governments. A prime example of such an almanac would be the Annual Abstract of Statistics relating to the United Kingdom. We may note in this connection that these statistical handbooks are now available in microform. In addition to the statistical offices, the central banks of the countries involved issue regular reports on the monetary and economic situation within the countries. For instance, publications like the West German Monatsbericht contain a wealth of economic data not ordinarily needed by most lay people. Like the central banks, foreign embassies also issue pamphlet type reports aimed at increasing the host country's interest in trade and tourism in their home countries. The annual report entitled Italy: An Economic Profile falls under this category. Finally, there is a wealth of commercially published statistical reviews such as the Economic Intelligence Unit's Quarterly Economic Reviews, containing composite information on national economies. Those interested in learning more about the various available statistical sources may consult excellent bibliographies like the American Statistics Index, Foreign Language Index, Guide to the Basic Statistics in Countries of the ECAFE Region and Sources of European Economic Information. Other similar guides include the following: Statistics Africa‐Sources for Market Research, Statistics America‐Sources for Market Research; Statistics Europe‐Sources for Social, Economic and Market Research; and Statistics Asia and Australasia‐Sources for Market Research. In this survey, we will be concerned only with some recent and most used documents, which provide information on both the United States and foreign countries. We may note here that it is often useful to know about foreign publications containing economic data on the United States, even though there is no scarcity of indigenous sources dealing with domestic issues. The reason for this would be clear if one examines the peculiarity of some of these publications. If one wants to know about the latest consumer price index for the United States, one can get it from the many Bureau of Labor Statistics Reports. There is a problem however in that the BLS still uses the 1967 base year to compute its indices. If one wants a base year later than 1967, one has to resort to non‐American publications like the OECD's Economic Indicators, which use a later base year. Again, data may be available locally on an annual basis and not by quarter. Patrons may solve this problem by looking at some of the statistical documents to be discussed in the course of this survey. Likewise, one can avoid buying expensive foreign data books and almanacs by a judicious use of publications from our federal government. It is also good to know that journals such as the Survey of Current Business and Business Conditions Digest contain issues and sections devoted to comparative economic indicators.

Integrated Social Policy in the Ecafe Region

Integrated Social Policy in the Ecafe Region

Trade Interests of China and India in the ECAFE Region

Trade Interests of China and India in the ECAFE Region

External Aid to the ECAFE Region

External Aid to the ECAFE Region

The Relationship of Social Work Education To Developmental Needs and Problems in the Ecafe Region

The Relationship of Social Work Education To Developmental Needs and Problems in the Ecafe Region

Size of Factory, Market Size, and Degree of Concentration in a Hypothetical Common Market for the ECAFE Region

The main objective of this study is to evaluate a possible common market for the ECAFE region from one viewpoint, namely, would a common market permit a greater exploitation of efficiency of larger factories in manufacturing? After a common market is established, there would be a change in the division of labor among member countries, and each member would expand those industries in which it would specialize. One factor affecting the degree of specialization and the resulting benefits is the extent to which the efficiency of larger sizes of factories remains thus far unexploited. In Section I, a nonparametric method and a factor-shares method are used to test the efficiency of factories. In Section II, factory size is compared among countries. The size of domestic market and the degree of concentration in production is also examined in order to assess the benefits from enlarging market size and from reducing the degree of industrial concentration.

Discussion Meeting: Problems of Water in ECAFE Region

Discussion Meeting: Problems of Water in ECAFE Region

Trade Cooperation Within the ECAFE Region

The idea of regional economic cooperation has gained strong support during the post-War period. The geographical proximity of different countries in the same region has often led to similar resource bases, common historical experience, and similar cultural and social evolutions. They have more common problems among themselves than with outsiders and a more common outlook, and, therefore, have greater scope for fruitful interchange of views and experiments, and a larger field of productive cooperation and collaboration. If individually many of them feel small and helpless, they can seek solace and support among themselves. The United Nations has recognized the role of regional cooperation by setting up various regional bodies—Economic Commissions, as they are called—and these bodies have done valuable work in bringing out the special features and problems of the regions with which they are concerned. The regional commissions have conducted regional studies, organized seminars and discussions on important problems of the region, and fostered regional understanding and cooperation. Now they are turning to a very important and controversial sphere, viz., the sphere of trade cooperation for the region or its important parts. The trade cooperation contemplated has a distinct preferential and discriminatory ring. This has given rise to some competi¬tion and anxiety, and led to plans for defensive action in other regions, and sometimes even within the region itself. The leadership has come from the most developed region, viz., Europe where the habit of regional cooperation was developed earlier for post-War rehabilitation, and had taken many organizational forms like the Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC), the European Payments Union (EPU), the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), etc., and where common defence and political problems are a powerful cementing force. Two strong trading bloc arrangements have sprung up in Europe, viz., the European Common Market for six countries—France, Italy, Western Germany and the Benelux Union, i.e., the three countries of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemberg

Regional Trade Cooperation Among Asian Countries (Trends Towards Regional Trade Cooperation)

The group of Asian countries which are discussed in this paper covers a region which is generally known as South, Southeast and East Asia, and may be conveniently referred to as the ECAFE region, since it falls within the area covered by the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East. The developments in Southeast Asian countries are discussed in more detail than those in the rest of the region. Recent trends towards trade cooperation among the Southeast Asian group of countries are a striking contrast to the autarkic policies pursued, during the greater part of the 'fifties' by most of the newly independent countries of the region. A consequence of such policies is the fragmentation of trading areas, and this has tended to reduce the scope and volume of intra-regional trade and to restrict the size of markets for each country's exports.

Urbanization in Asia and the Far East. Proceedings of the Joint UN/Unesco Seminar on Urbanization in the ECAFE Region, Bangkok, August 8–18, 1956. Edited by Philip M. Hauser. Calcutta: UNESCO, 1957. 286. Annexes, (paper)

Urbanization in Asia and the Far East. Proceedings of the Joint UN/Unesco Seminar on Urbanization in the ECAFE Region, Bangkok, August 8–18, 1956. Edited by Philip M. Hauser. Calcutta: UNESCO, 1957. 286. Annexes, (paper) - Volume 19 Issue 4

United Nations Population Seminar for the ECAFE Region

United Nations Population Seminar for the ECAFE Region