Economic development and growth are vital for the establishment of a peaceful, prosperous, and just Asia-Pacific community. Through research and dialogue activities, the Economics study area focuses on:

• Economic integration, including trade, finance, and labor flows;
• Understanding the dynamics of Asian regionalism;
• Macroeconomic development of Asia and implications for the United States;
• Understanding the process of economic development and growth in the Asia-Pacific region;
• Seeking policy solutions and remedies to existing problems relating to critical issues in the US Economic relations with the countries of Asia and the Pacific; and
• Aiding the design of regional economic and political institutions, which facilitate mutually beneficial economic cooperation through trade, investment, and technology exchange.

With globalization as this central theme, Senior Fellow Dieter Ernst continues his investigation of chip design and knowledge intensive industries in China and Taiwan and is examining China’s resurgence and Asian regionalism, exploring the impact on trade, investment and high tech clusters.  He focuses on the policy challenges of innovation offshoring for Asia’s leading export economies, governance in the global knowledge economy; and globalization of knowledge work (why chip design is moving to Asia).

Non-resident Senior Fellow Peter Petri and Ernst are exploring a project that would examine how China is reshaping competitive advantage patterns as it moves upstream in the supply chain.  Petri is also spearheading the publication, the East-West Dialogue.  This publication focuses on topics that are “current, controversial, and constructive” and feature a lead article by a thought leader in the Asia Pacific region.  Two to three response pieces will complement the main article and provide additional insight into the topic.  The inaugural issue featured EWC President Charles Morrison and Petri.  The second issue features non-resident Senior Fellow, Michael Plummer and is entitled How (and Why) the United States Should Help to Build the ASEAN Economic Community.

Seiji Naya and Non-resident Senior Fellow Michael Plummer continue to work on free trade agreements in ASEAN. Plummer, Naya and consultant David Cheong recently finished and submitted – Completing the AIA: Road Traveled, Road Ahead.  The results of the study were presented at the meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Investment (ACCI) in Hanoi at the end of March, 2007, and they are potentially going to be incorporated into the ASEAN Economic Ministers meeting the summer of 2007.  

Energy Economics 

Senior Fellows Kang Wu and Fereidun Fesharaki are working on a five-year Cooperative Agreement with the US Department of Energy studying “Key Energy Issues & Challenges in the Asia Pacific: Middle East, and other regions.”  Wu is also focusing his efforts on natural gas markets in APP (Asia Pacific Partnership) countries with a special focus on India and China.  The study examines regulatory issues, cross-border trade, and evolving LNG contract structures and is for the Department of Energy as well. 

Christopher Edmonds - Adjunct Fellow
Dieter Ernst - Senior Fellow
Fereidun Fesharaki - Senior Fellow
Theresa Greaney - Adjunct Fellow
Rana Hasan - Adjunct Fellow
Young Hoon Kim - Senior Fellow
Seiji Naya-Senior Visiting Fellow
Michael Plummer - Non-resident Fellow
Peter Petri-Non-resident Fellow
Kang Wu - Senior Fellow