The Russian invasion of Ukraine threatens the uneven recovery of East Asia and Pacific. The invasion comes on top of the economic distress caused by the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, the financial…

Aaditya Mattoo, Ekaterine T. Vashakmadze, Ergys Islamaj |

East Asia entered the COVID-19 pandemic first and is likely to be the first region to recover. The region can turn this crisis to its long-term advantage by adopting bold and imaginative policies…

Victoria Kwakwa |

For Malaysia to revitalize its economy, now is the time to put in place stronger social protection systems for its most vulnerable groups, adopt bold reforms, and emerge stronger in the wake of…

Ndiamé Diop |

Malaysia is no stranger to external shocks affecting its macroeconomy. This latest global COVID-19 crisis is particularly unique given the context in which it emerged and the dual threats it poses…

Firas Raad |

Protecting ASEAN’s impressive gains over the past two decades will require prioritizing investments in people – that is, human capital.

Victoria Kwakwa |

To boost productivity and go the next mile in its development path, Malaysia must improve its human capital through better learning and nutritional outcomes and social protection programs. (Photo…

Richard Record, Harsha Aturupane |

Illicit trade in tobacco products undermines global tobacco prevention and control interventions, particularly with respect to tobacco tax policy. From a public health perspective, illicit trade…

Sheila Dutta |

Globally, 56 percent of children live in countries with Human Capital Index (HCI) scores below 0.5. As these countries gear up to improve their human capital outcomes, it is vital to set a target…

Zelalem Yilma Debebe |

Data source: Statistics Bureau of Japan In 1966, Japan experienced a sudden drop in its fertility rate—for just that year. During the 1960s, the fertility rate was about 2.0 to 2.1 children per…

Emi Suzuki, Haruna Kashiwase |

A man taking methadone, a synthetic opioid drug that treats heroin addition, at a voluntary treatment center for people who inject drugs in Kuala Lumpur. (Photo: Sutayut Osornprasop/World Bank)…

Sutayut Osornprasop, Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Anita Suleiman |