Inequality
In Conversation: India’s New Philanthropy
January 31, 2018
Blog Post
India has around 2 percent of the world’s millionaires and 5 percent of its billionaires, and since 2000, wealth in the country has grown 9.2 percent a year, faster than the global average of 6 percent. At the same time, India ranks among the highest in terms of income inequality and is home to the world’s largest number of poor people. India’s lea… Read more
Q&A with Goldman Sachs Technology Investor on Inequality in the Workforce
August 23, 2017
Blog Post
On September 6-8, over 300 women funders and leaders from across the globe will convene in San Francisco for the 2017 Women Funded Conference, which will feature interactive workshops and sessions to mobilize a community around promoting equality and eradicating discrimination. Ahead of the event, In Asia editor Alma Freeman sat down with Lucy Lee,… Read more
The Cry for Inclusive Economic Growth in Bangladesh
November 16, 2016
Blog Post
2016 will be remembered as a tumultuous year for Bangladesh, rocked by major security incidents involving deadly terrorist attacks that negatively affected the country’s image, both at home and abroad. Despite this, Bangladesh still proved its resilience to such shocking events and continued on with its economic growth trajectory, recording an impr… Read more
Six Pressing Issues in Asia and How We’re Adapting Our Approach to Address Them
September 6, 2016
Blog Post
Today, 60 percent of the world’s population lives in Asia – with 40 percent concentrated in China and India alone – and the region will continue to host the majority of the world’s population through 2050. Over the past two decades, economic growth has helped lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, and 56 percent of developing Asia’s po… Read more
To Realize SDGs, Thailand’s Minority Communities Need More Mother Tongue Books
September 6, 2016
Blog Post
Northern Thailand, a region famous for its natural beauty, hill tribe communities, and trekking routes through lush jungle terrain, is home to a diversity of languages and cultures comprising approximately 59 unique ethnolinguistic groups. Standard Thai is currently the country’s only official language and the primary language of instruction in pub… Read more
Giving a Voice to India’s Indigenous (Adivasi) Community
September 6, 2016
Blog Post
Ruby Hembrom (left) at the World Delhi Book Fair. Five years ago, Ruby Hembrom gave up a high-paying career in the IT sector to start her own publishing company to preserve the culture and historical heritage of India’s indigenous (Adivasi) community. Hembrom, who spent the first four years of her life in rural Jharkhand learning Santali as her nat… Read more
Indonesia’s Village Law: A Step Toward Inclusive Governance
February 17, 2016
Blog Post
In late December, Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo spoke to over 700 village heads in Boyolali, Central Java, about the implementation of the year-old Village Law – a major campaign platform for both he and his rival during the 2014 presidential election.
Leading Disability Advocate Examines Draft Disability Law in Indonesia
December 2, 2015
Blog Post
Like many countries, Indonesia is accelerating efforts to implement its commitment as a 2011 signatory to the International Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD), particularly as the newly minted 2030 Sustainable Development Goals…
Commemorating Malay-Muslim Icon Haji Sulong: Inspiring Hope for Lasting Peace in Southern Thailand
October 14, 2015
Blog Post
On the evening of Aug. 14, 2015, the family of the late Haji Sulong – the revered voice of Malay-Muslim cultural identity and nationalism – convened a public event to commemorate the 61st anniversary of his unsolved disappearance. Haji Sulong’s efforts to secure the rights, recognize the unique cultural identity…
The Stubborn Persistence of Gender Inequality
April 1, 2015
Blog Post
Despite the swelling mantra of women’s empowerment, and the proliferation of gender-sensitive approaches in aid program descriptions, the snail-like advancement of women in developing countries continues to indict our best efforts. Microfinance programs, reserved seats for women in parliament, and a raft of…
Post-2015 Development Agenda Needs Standalone Goal on Gender Equality
March 4, 2015
Blog Post
It has been more than a century since the world first celebrated March 8 as International Women’s Day. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women when representatives from 189 governments signed the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action…
India Under Prime Minister Modi: A Conversation with Ambassador Kathleen Stephens
February 25, 2015
Blog Post
In Asia editor Alma Freeman sat down with Asia Foundation trustee Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, who visited Asia Foundation headquarters in San Francisco having just concluded a 7-month post as chargé d’affaires at the U.S Embassy in New Delhi.
Trends That Will Shape Asia’s Economic Future (Part 2)
February 11, 2015
Blog Post
In last week’s blog, I highlighted four top trends to look out for in Asia’s economic future, including: Asia as the driver of growth, the growing tide of inequality and disparity, Asia’s trendsetters, and regional integration and regional fragmentation. Here are four more top trends to watch…
Trends That Will Shape Asia’s Economic Future (Part 1)
February 4, 2015
Blog Post
Last month, the International Labour Organization (ILO) announced troubling global trends in unemployment, which is expected to worsen in the coming years. According to its 2015 Employment and Social Outlook report, young workers aged 15-24 are particularly hard hit by the crisis, and Asia is home to the largest number of these young people.
As Driver of World Economic Growth, Asia’s Vulnerabilities Emerge
January 7, 2015
Blog Post
2014 will be remembered as the year when China became the world’s biggest economy in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms, overtaking the United States for the first time in history. This move, which did not come as a surprise, is the sign of a superpower transition…
Editor’s Picks: 2014 Must Reads
December 23, 2014
Blog Post
Season’s Greetings! On behalf of In Asia’s editorial board and bloggers, we thank you for your engagement and continued readership throughout the year. We’ll be taking a short break, but will return on January 7. In the meantime, catch up on our must-read pieces and highlights on the most pressing events and issues in Asia throughout 2014.
Does the Ghani Administration Mean a Greater Role for Women in the Afghan Economy?
November 19, 2014
Blog Post
At his inauguration on September 29, President Ashraf Ghani thanked his wife, Rula, for her support during the campaign, and to the surprise of many in Afghanistan, promised Afghans that she would continue her work advocating on behalf of the nation’s 750,000 internally displaced people. Having previously served as the country’s finance minister in 2002-2004…
Human Rights and Mongolia’s Small-Scale Mining Sector
October 29, 2014
Blog Post
Since the collapse of the socialist regime in 1990, Mongolia’s economic development has been dependent on an expanding formal and informal mining sector that for many years had little regard for the environment.
A Conversation with UN Human Development Report Author Khalid Malik
October 8, 2014
Blog Post
Khalid Malik, lead author of the UNDP Human Development Report, sat down with The Asia Foundation’s Global Communications assistant director, Eelynn Sim, on a recent visit to the Foundation’s headquarters in San Francisco and on the heels of the release of the 2014 report.
Emerging Trends in Property Rights for Vulnerable Populations in Asia
September 10, 2014
Blog Post
Although they don’t often make international headlines, land disputes and conflict over property rights regularly make national coverage across Asia. On August 30, over 1,000 farmers assembled in Myanmar to protest ongoing land grabs. Last month in Sri Lanka, a public outcry over forced evictions in urban…
A Conversation with World Learning CEO, Development Expert, & Trustee Donald Steinberg
September 10, 2014
Blog Post
In Asia editor Alma Freeman sat down last month with The Asia Foundation’s new trustee, Donald Steinberg, president and CEO of World Learning, and former deputy administrator at the U.S. Agency for International Development, White House Deputy Press Secretary, and U.S. ambassador to Angola.
What Do Increasing Attacks Against Soft Targets in Thailand’s South Signal?
August 6, 2014
Blog Post
Following the first-round meeting in February 2013 between the Thai Government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) rebel group that marked the start of surprise peace talks, insurgents have primarily targeted hard targets such as military and police personnel. However, following the breakdown of talks in July 2013…
Bangladesh’s Development Surprise: A Model for Developing Countries
June 25, 2014
Blog Post
By many metrics, Bangladesh’s development trajectory is a unique success story, especially since the 1990s when democratic rule was reinstated and extensive economic reforms were made. Poverty incidence has fallen from 60 percent to around 30 percent.
Reexamining Growth and Poverty in Myanmar
June 25, 2014
Blog Post
International data indicate that Myanmar’s current growth rate is about 7 percent, which by any measure should indicate progress and pride. Macroeconomic reforms have been extensive. The unrealistic legal exchange rate, which at one point was about 150 times…
Poverty, Inequality, and the Negative Effects of Mongolia’s Economic Downturn
June 25, 2014
Blog Post
For the last four years, Mongolia has had one of the fastest growing economies in the world, clocking double-digit growth on the back of a mining boom. The effects of this growth are obvious, especially in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, where cranes dominate the skyline…
Fellow Marcia Czarina Corazon Medina-Guce on Reform in the Philippines
June 25, 2014
Blog Post
In Asia editor Alma Freeman recently interviewed Philippine local governance leader Marcia Czarina Corazon Medina-Guce on President Aquino’s ambitious reform agenda and progress on poverty reduction and inclusive development.
Photo Blog: Critical Issue – Poverty and Inequality
June 25, 2014
Blog Post
Despite the region’s dramatic growth, income inequality across much of Asia is rising, and poverty remains a stubborn issue to overcome. Some 700 million people across the region live on less than $1 a day. In response, governments are taking on urgent policy reforms needed to create jobs and foster inclusive growth…
Betting on Women in the Fight Against Poverty
June 18, 2014
Blog Post
Today about six out of 10 of the world’s poorest people are women. That means, of the estimated 1.5 billion people living in extreme poverty worldwide, 60-70 percent are girls and women. However, if girls and women account for a large percentage of the poor…
Giving Indonesia’s Women Head of Households A Fighting Chance
June 18, 2014
Blog Post
The Indonesian Bureau of Statistics estimates that out of 65 million households, approximately 9 million – or nearly 14 percent – are headed by women. Studies from field reviews of World Bank-financed national community development projects have shown that vulnerable widows were not joining collective decision-making…
In Mongolia, Perception of Corruption as Most Critical Problem Drops
June 18, 2014
Blog Post
Last week, The Asia Foundation, the Sant Maral Foundation, and Mercy Corps Mongolia released the fourth semi-annual corruption survey, revealing citizens’ perception of corruption in one of the fastest growing economies in the world. As in the three earlier surveys…
Integrating Disability in Pakistan’s Development Approach
June 11, 2014
Blog Post
Last month, over 1,000 students, journalists, civil society representatives, and activists walked from the Roshan Khan Complex to Jinnah Stadium in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, to raise awareness of exclusion of persons with disabilities in education. At the walk, UNESCO’s director…
Envisioning a More Integrated South Asia
May 21, 2014
Blog Post
On May 15, as buzz from India’s historic election reached a high the day before results were announced, The Asia Foundation, in partnership with the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) in Delhi, launched the SARCist, a comprehensive online resource center dedicated to the issues facing South Asia regional cooperation.
ICT Innovations Connect Bangladesh’s Women Entrepreneurs
May 14, 2014
Blog Post
By 2020, Bangladesh will have a population of 170 million – and half of this population will be made up of women. If the country is to achieve the 8 percent GDP growth it hopes for, making sure that women entrepreneurs are able to reach their full potential and fully contribute…
Advancing Women Business Leadership in Mongolia
May 14, 2014
Blog Post
While Mongolia has made important strides in achieving gender equality, it still has a long way to go when it comes to parity between women and men in business. Currently, it ranks 33rd out of 136 countries according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index (2013)…
ADB’s Stephen P. Groff Examines Rise of Inequality in Middle Income Asia
May 7, 2014
Blog Post
On the heels of the launch of the Asian Development Bank’s latest Asian Development Outlook 2014 report, ADB Vice President Stephen P. Groff visited Asia Foundation headquarters in San Francisco last week to discuss key findings and how the ADB is realigning its operations to emphasize inclusiveness…
Photo Blog: Legal Aid Delivers Justice in Indonesia
May 7, 2014
Blog Post
Millions of poor and marginalized Indonesians live without the full protection of the law. Securing access to justice for these citizens is a vital component of reducing poverty and vulnerability and delivering democratic governance.
Prejudice at the Polling Booth: Disabled Indonesians Face Barriers in Voting
April 9, 2014
Blog Post
Millions of Indonesians voted in legislative elections on Wednesday, their ink-stained fingers marking another important moment in the consolidation of Indonesian democracy. Sixteen years after the fall of the Suharto regime, elections are largely considered free and fair…
How Politics Can Outmaneuver Reform in the Philippines
March 12, 2014
Blog Post
Over the past two years, the Philippines has achieved the distinction of being the fastest growing of the ASEAN-6 economies with growth rates of 6.8 percent in 2012 and 7.2 percent in 2013. The official poverty rate in the Philippines was 27.9 percent in 2012 and 28.8 percent in 2006; levels which were interpreted this way…
Asia Foundation’s 18 Country Reps Convene in D.C. to Discuss Asia’s Critical Issues
March 12, 2014
Blog Post
This year, The Asia Foundation is commemorating its 60th anniversary. Drawing on the expertise of local partners and our own development experts in the 18 countries where we work, we’re initiating a year-long, global conversation on six critical issues facing Asia.