ADB Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2010: The Rise of Asia's Middle Class (Dissemination Event)

Purpose

To present ADB's study on Asia's middle class to the general audience in Japan and solicit their views and comments on the key findings and messages of the study.

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Background

Strong economic growth in Asia over the past two decades was accompanied by the emergence of a sizable middle class and significant reductions in poverty. As a result, developing Asia has become one of the foremost consumers globally with expenditures second only to OECD countries. Thus, as Asia's middle class continues to grow it will serve as an increasingly greater presence in driving economic growth and development at the global level.

The special chapter of ADB's Key Indicators 2010^* addresses the role of Asia's middle class in the global economy. It discusses original evidence based research and studies of select Asian countries to extrapolate lessons learned regarding the importance of focusing on the middle class and developing policies for the middle class population. It contends that Asia's middle class may hold the key to greater and more efficient poverty reduction within the region, but will also place extraordinary demands on the environment and the ability of the region to adequately respond to the demands of this emerging middle class. As a result, it is necessary to carefully construct policies to bolster and fill the needs of Asia's emerging middle class.

* This link takes you outside the ADBI.org website

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Objectives

The objectives of the event are:

1. to present original evidence based on research and studies of selected Asian countries that show the value in focusing on the middle class; and
2. discuss appropriate policies to foster the development of Asia's middle class.

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Outputs

To produce proceedings that can be used by ADB in fine tuning the analysis and policy recommendations of the study.

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Participants

50

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Language

English (Simultaneous English-Japanese interpretation will be available)

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Partners

ADB