Jayant Menon

The Covid-19 pandemic was unprecedented in its impact and repercussions which are still being felt today. The Southeast Asian region is no exception with the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives, economic contraction, and increased poverty. The impact varied across the region. Some countries were more effective than others at implementing lockdowns and delivering public health interventions. Pandemic responses were also differentiated by the efficacy of communication, policy coordination, and leadership. Policy evaluations have highlighted the need to improve institutional capacity as well as global and regional cooperation to respond to future public health crises. This timely and crucial volume, authored by leading regional scholars, thoroughly explores these issues and more. It is indispensable reading for anyone interested in Southeast Asia and broader international development challenges.

"This book provides new insights into the important and developing agricultural value chains, including on current constraints and the enormity of opportunities, emanating in the dynamic GMS, especially through to their main giant market of China. Analysis in the GMS countries forms comparable case studies of major crops using mappings of their key processes and actors, as well as both qualitative and quantitative data, including primary data collection such as from new surveys. The analysis uses understandable methodologies, such as graphical cross-country comparisons, and established ratios, such as on comparative advantage, to provide useful insights into GMS agricultural value chains. A particular focus in the case studies is better understanding of the role Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) might play in constraining agricultural exports to China and approaches to addressing these that are more inclusive and economically rewarding. I recommend this valuable book to those interested in agricultural trade in GMS countries and China, as well as the characteristics of their agricultural value chains, and their contribution to these countries' development." -- Dr Ray Trewin, Former Fellow, ANU and editor of Crucial Agricultural Policy (World Scientific, 2016)." The Greater Mekong Subregion encompasses several open, dynamic, latecomer economies. Over the past thirty years, they have benefited immensely from the restoration of peace, their re-engagement with the regional and global economies, and the rise of China. The region as a whole is a net food exporter with a strong comparative advantage in agriculture. How they manage their international commercial relations, with China in particular, will significantly influence their future socio-economic dynamics. The authors and contributors, all leading researchers in the field, are to be congratulated for this timely and authoritative volume that comprehensively examines the issues and charts a productive way forward. A must-read for anybody interested in these important issues and countries." -- Professor Hal Hill, H. W. Arndt Professor Emeritus of the Southeast Asian Economies, ANU

The objective of this study is to provide an in-depth analysis of the exchange rate pass-through relationship, using Australian imports of manufactures as a case study. The study begins by piecing together the theoretical literature on exchange rate pass-through, to provide the basis for the development of models for the empirical analysis. To place the empirical analysis m comparative context, a critical survey of the existing empirical literature on exchange rate pass-through is then undertaken. This is followed by a review of aspects of the structure and performance of Australian manufacturing that relate to the theme of the study. Next, the data and methodology are discussed. The analysis of exchange rate pass-through is conducted in two stages. First, it seeks to establish the degree to which Australian dollar (AUD) import prices of total manufactures and 50 product categories contained therein have responded to the massive fluctuations in the AUD during the 1980s. This is done by applying an econometric procedure which avoids the pit-falls in previous studies to a carefully assembled data set. Second, the study investigates the determinants of inter-product differences in the degree of exchange rate pass-through. This is done by relating the pass-through coefficients to a series of variables representing foreign control, quantitative restrictions (QRs), product characteristics and market structure within a cross­ section regression framework.