Inequality, Social Justice and Welfare in Asia

Summary of this issue

In recent years, the world has become richer than ever before. Poverty has fallen, infant mortality rates have plummeted, life expectancy has risen, and global inequality is on the decline. At the same time, the spread of anti-liberalism, populism, economic nationalism, and authoritarianism around the world has disrupted global coordination on global issues. In this issue, we invite experts on the Asian economy to examine the economic reforms being undertaken by Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia) in the midst of an increasingly chaotic global environment.

Articles in this issue

Editors’ Overview
　Takatoshi ITO (Columbia University)
　Kazumasa IWATA (Japan Center for Economic Research)
　Colin MCKENZIE (Keio University)
　Shujiro URATA (Waseda University)

Income and Wealth Inequality in Asia and the Pacific: Trends, Causes, and Policy Remedies
Juzhong ZHANG (Fudan University)

Siamese Twin Troubles: Structural and Regulatory Transformations in Unequal Thailand
Veerayooth KANCHOOCHAT (National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS))

How Inequality Affects Trust in Institutions: Evidence from Indonesia
Asep SURYAHADI (SMERU Research Institute)
Ridho Al IZZATI (SMERU Research Institute)
Daniel SURYADARMA (Asian Development Bank Institute)
Teguh DARTAMTP(Universitas Indonesia)

Social Justice and Affirmative Action in Malaysia: The New Economic Policy After 50 Years
Hwok-Aun LEE (ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute)

What the Welfare State Left Behind—Securing the Capability to Move for the Vulnerable
Reiko GOTOH (Teikyo University)
Ryo KAMBAYASHI (Hitotsubashi University)