This P-Talk explores the relationship between financial inclusion and productivity in developing economies, both theoretically and empirically. Dr. Guna Raj Bhatta, Deputy Director of Nepal Rastra Bank, shares his insights from his collaborative research with the APO on financial inclusion and total factor productivity in Nepal. He outlines the motivation for the research, its methodology, […]
Building on the successes of the 2024 program, which effectively enhanced leadership capacities to navigate postpandemic productivity challenges, the 2025 program focuses on sustainable productivity strategies and organizational resilience. It will address critical emerging issues, including the integration of AI, economic and operational impacts of climate change, and expansion of the digital economy. These areas […]
Policymaking is crucial for productivity as it establishes the framework, incentives, and ecosystem in which an economy can operate efficiently. Well-designed policies address systemic barriers, create enabling conditions, and guide behavior to achieve sustained productivity improvements. In the future, improving public-sector productivity will involve two distinct paths: first, improving policy, program, service, and regulatory outcomes; […]
The circular economy is an economic system aimed at minimizing waste and making the most of resources. It represents a shift from a linear economy, which follows a “take, make, dispose” model, to a circular model that emphasizes eliminating waste and pollution, circulating products and materials, and regenerating nature to create a closed-loop system, as […]
In an era of rapid technological advancements and evolving business landscapes, traditional regulatory frameworks often struggle to keep pace. Rigid and outdated regulations can hinder economic growth and global competitiveness, leaving regulators ill-equipped to address complex and novel regulatory challenges. Agile regulation offers a proactive, adaptive approach that enables policymakers to create flexible, evidence-based policies […]