Is growth in Asia and the Pacific inclusive?

The concept of inclusive economic growth (growth coupled with equality of opportunity) offers new directions in the pursuit of development. This study assesses the growth experience of 22 developing economies in Asia and the Pacific region.

The document demonstrates that to understand if inclusive growth is achieved, it is necessary to examine changes in opportunity and in the distribution of opportunity.

The study finds that:

• in Asia, access to opportunity is generally on the rise, and inequality in opportunity is generally in decline
• in this respect, it is evident that growth of 11 Asian economies has become more inclusive
• furthermore, a number of Asian economies have achieved the target of equality in the provision of key, basic opportunities
• there is nonetheless considerable room for further gains, particularly in some South and Southeast Asian economies, where inequality in opportunity is high
• in addition, inequality in opportunity is generally lower in the Pacific economies studied
• evidence of inclusive growth is found in a number of Central Asian economies, but the key challenge is to achieve a high, sustainable rate of economic growth

Conclusions are as follows:

• comparisons across countries of the inclusiveness of growth face a challenge in identifying indicators that are sufficiently meaningful in all countries
• therefore, the basis for measuring inclusive growth should ideally be tailored to each country
• a larger study which examined a broader range of indicators drawn on wider views of how surveyees interpret inclusive growth would help deepen the understanding of the inclusiveness of economic growth