Linda Low

Inclusive Disruption serves as a primary guide to help readers understand what financial technology is and how it has evolved to change the future financial landscape. The central ideas of fintech are explained in details, with topics ranging from distributed innovation, inclusive blockchain to decentralised inclusive technologies. The book also gathers the views of key opinion leaders and cutting-edge practitioners who are at the forefront of fintech development. Therefore, it not only presents useful insights about financial technology but also represents an invaluable source of knowledge for readers who are interested in fintech.

Inclusive Disruption serves as a primary guide to help readers understand what financial technology is and how it has evolved to change the future financial landscape. The central ideas of fintech are explained in details, with topics ranging from distributed innovation, inclusive blockchain to decentralised inclusive technologies. The book also gathers the views of key opinion leaders and cutting-edge practitioners who are at the forefront of fintech development. Therefore, it not only presents useful insights about financial technology but also represents an invaluable source of knowledge for readers who are interested in fintech.

Economics Primer is a simplified, illustrated text for non-economics and economics readers alike. It introduces fundamental concepts and demonstrates their applications to day-to-day use for employers and employees in the private and public sectors. The aim is to enable all in society, at home and abroad to understand economic relationships as affecting all at large. While politics remains the primary driver of international affairs, the economics grounding including technology is as purposeful. This primer serves as a stepping stone to branch out into other fields of economics and business to understand how world events work based on the economic concepts of efficiency and equality to the extent possible including the emerging issues of health, environment and security in a globalised world.

Economics Primer is a simplified, illustrated text for non-economics and economics readers alike. It introduces fundamental concepts and demonstrates their applications to day-to-day use for employers and employees in the private and public sectors. The aim is to enable all in society, at home and abroad to understand economic relationships as affecting all at large. While politics remains the primary driver of international affairs, the economics grounding including technology is as purposeful. This primer serves as a stepping stone to branch out into other fields of economics and business to understand how world events work based on the economic concepts of efficiency and equality to the extent possible including the emerging issues of health, environment and security in a globalised world.

Cryptocurrency market has been growing fast since its emergence in recent years. Moreover, digital finance has forged the convergence of profit motives with social objectives creating a class of large FinTech companies. In addition, the underlying technology innovation may be applied to a wide range of industries, not limited to financial sector. Yet, few researches have been done to study these phenomena. Hence, it is the task of this book to shed light on the introduction and trends in FinTech, blockchain and token sales. Richly illustrated with original lecture slides taught by the authors, Inclusive FinTech: Blockchain, Cryptocurrency and ICO hopes to dispel the many misconceptions about blockchain and cryptocurrencies (especially bitcoin, Initial Crypto-Token Offering or ICO), as well as the idea that businesses can be sustainable without a social dimension going forward. With comprehensive coverage given to the FinTech scene in Asia, it is targeted at those who are searching for business opportunities. Most important of all, this book seeks to change the mindset of a whole new generation that is familiar with digital economy and yearns for a more just and equitable world.

Cryptocurrency market has been growing fast since its emergence in recent years. Moreover, digital finance has forged the convergence of profit motives with social objectives creating a class of large FinTech companies. In addition, the underlying technology innovation may be applied to a wide range of industries, not limited to financial sector. Yet, few researches have been done to study these phenomena. Hence, it is the task of this book to shed light on the introduction and trends in FinTech, blockchain and token sales. Richly illustrated with original lecture slides taught by the authors, Inclusive FinTech: Blockchain, Cryptocurrency and ICO hopes to dispel the many misconceptions about blockchain and cryptocurrencies (especially bitcoin, Initial Crypto-Token Offering or ICO), as well as the idea that businesses can be sustainable without a social dimension going forward. With comprehensive coverage given to the FinTech scene in Asia, it is targeted at those who are searching for business opportunities. Most important of all, this book seeks to change the mindset of a whole new generation that is familiar with digital economy and yearns for a more just and equitable world.

This book by the Asia Competitiveness Institute (ACI) presents the inaugural regional competitiveness analysis for the five regions of India as a basis for the Master Plan on Strategic Regional Economic Development using regional classifications as defined by the Confederation of Indian Industry. Potential strategic clusters are identified for intra-regional collaboration given each region's unique strengths and resource endowments to facilitate accelerated economic growth and development which is balanced, fair and sustainable. The book also presents an update of ACI's annual competitiveness analysis of India's 35 states and federal territories. States and federal territories are ranked by ACI's comprehensive methodology by employing 75 indicators across four environments. Going beyond the rankings, the what-if policy simulations offer states and federal territories relevant policy prescriptions based on their respective strengths and weaknesses. A subset of the competitiveness indicators are then utilised for Geweke Causality Analysis to highlight the impact of strong leadership on economic development in the states of Bihar and Tamil Nadu.

India is emerging as one of the economic giants of the world, and is gaining international influence and global leadership as the world's largest democracy. India's performance will have far-reaching consequences on whether the economic awakening of the country, which began more than two decades ago, can become a good model to be emulated by other developing economies. This book is a collection of policy papers and data-sets for the 35 states and federal territories of India. With a comprehensive approach to competitiveness, the research done by Asia Competitiveness Institute (ACI) at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore takes into account different factors that collectively shape the ability of a nation to achieve substantial and inclusive economic development over a sustained period of time. ACI's methodology goes beyond rankings to conduct policy simulations on how each state or federal territory can improve its competitiveness. These policy simulations are a compelling value-added proposition enabling policymakers, industry leaders and administrators to identify relative challenges and opportunities, and to prioritise areas when crafting policies and development strategies.

Indonesia is on the cusp of transformative take-off, poised to become a major economic power not just in Asia, but also on the global-stage. This book is a pioneering attempt in comprehensively assessing all attributes, conditions and policies for 33 Indonesian provinces and Indonesia's trajectory as an emerging middle power. It contains papers and data-sets presented in July 2012, at ACI's signature Annual Conference. The information that was shared at the conference and presented in the book posit a future where tens of millions of Indonesians will be lifted out of poverty to become a self-sustaining middle-class, which will in turn drive the country into a global leadership role in the 21st century. It is a compelling value-added proposition for policy simulations enabling policy-makers to identify relative weaknesses, strengths, threats and opportunities of individual 33 provinces, guiding them to prioritise areas in crafting policies and development strategies.

This unique volume aims to provide a first comprehensive assessment on attributes, conditions and characters which constitute a liveable city. The book posits that the degree of liveability depends on five themes: satisfaction with the freedom from want; satisfaction with the state of the natural environment and its management; satisfaction with freedom from fear; satisfaction with the socio-cultural conditions; and satisfaction with public governance. The authors attempt to be more constructive through performing policy simulations by first identifying relative weaknesses and strengths of 64 global cities across major continents including European, Asian, Middle Eastern, North and South American cities. The book also ranks and simulates 36 Asian cities separately, of which many are emerging third-world cities that are in need of policy guidance.

This book aims to tell the Abu Dhabi story in economic development, from its past dominance in oil to its economic vision for the future. More than being an exemplar of industrial restructuring and diversification from a resource-based to a 21st century knowledge-based economy and society, Abu Dhabi emphasises its cultural legacy and tradition as an environmental advocate for green and sustainable pathways. It has as many challenges as creative responses to show that its success is not by wealth alone. This case study unveils Abu Dhabi in particular and the rest of Arabic and GCC economic development in general. They have all attracted foreign investment and global business, typically as hydrocarbon-rich resource economies. Beyond that, the geoeconomics and geopolitics of the Middle East and North Africa, with or without the Arab Spring in 2011 is in and of itself, a rich region for multidisciplinary studies and research, not just for economics and business. With Qatar, Abu Dhabi boasts of one of the highest per capita income in the world; therein lies a reason to enquire about its success and pivotal role in the GCC and global contexts.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is comprised of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Possessing a significant share of the world’s oil and gas reserves and including some of the world’s fastest growing economies, the GCC is a significant regional grouping. As with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the council has made significant progress towards economic integration. Seeking to draw out lessons applicable to ASEAN, this report looks at the structure and evolution of the GCC. This includes the context within which the Council was established, its rationale and economic importance. It then follows the organization’s development over time, paying particular importance to its progress from Customs Union and Common Market towards Monetary Union. The report then sets out the key challenges ahead for the Council and concludes by highlighting the structural, organizational and political lessons that resonate with ASEAN and its membership.

Interest in information technology and the media is growing apace. This book has been specially written to provide an economics framework for analysing the nature and scope, as well as issues, pertaining to the new information and communication technology and revolution. It also presents some trends and perspectives from the Asia-Pacific region. While the economic principles of efficiency and competition are the same everywhere, many socio-political issues with respect to information technology and the media are unique to some specific cultural contexts. The book will be useful to students, researchers and policymakers in mass communication, information technology and the media.