It is therefore with keen anticipation that we look forward to the discussions ahead, especially in light of the timeliness of this year’s PES theme of “Competitiveness, Growth, and Equity in a Globalizing Economy.” At the same time, EAEA’s theme of “Regional Risk Management in East Asia” is particularly relevant given the present global financial crisis that is likely to be the deepest in decades.
Given the broad-ranging impact of the financial market turmoil, the scope of the conference papers addresses varied issues: this includes the need for complementary interventions in the areas of energy and infrastructure; human capital investments; governance; competition policy; and the need to integrate the poor into the mainstream of development.