Wherever I am, the world comes after me.
It offers me its busyness. It does not believe that I do not want it.
Now I understand why the old poets of China went so far
and high into the mountains, then crept into the pale mist.
"The Old Poets of China" by Mary Oliver

Read: "Banking on the Future of Asia and the Pacific: 50 Years of the Asian Development Bank"

Details

Photo: Cover of Banking on the Future of Asia and the Pacific

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) published a book, “Banking on the Future of Asia and the Pacific: 50 Years of the Asian Development Bank” looking back on its 50-year history leading development and change in the region. The book is free for download at the ADB website. 

DOWNLOAD FOR FREE HERE

ABOUT THE BOOK

In his Foreword, President and Chair of the Board of Directors of the ADB Takehiko Nakao said the book reflects on "how ADB over 50 years has responded to Asia’s challenges given its unique regional perspective."

 “The unique character of this book is to look back at Asian economic history in a fair and balanced manner, from the perspective of development and based on the rich experience of ADB’s interactions with countries,” said Nakao. “The book contains three historical narratives: on Asia’s economic development; on the evolution of the international development agenda; and on the story of ADB itself”

 The book includes the following chapters: 

    • Asia in the 1960s: Ferment and transformation
    • Establishing the Bank
    • Asia: Building Momentum and Facing shocks
    • ADB: The Character of the Bank
    • Asia: Transformation in the region
    • ADB: Toward a Broader Development Bank
    • Asia: Reemergence of the Region
    • ADB: New Members and New Regions
    • The Asian Financial Crisis
    • Asia: A New Century Dawns
    • ADB: The Widening Development Agenda
    • Asia: Growth in Uncertain times
    • ADB: Stronger, Better, Faster
    • Epilogue: Looking beyond 50 Years

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

In his profile in the book, "Peter McCawley is an economist from the Arndt-Corden Department of Economics at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, who has worked on development issues in Asia and the Pacific for many years. He has a PhD in economics (1972) from the ANU.

 The Asian Center offers M.A. degrees in Asian Studies with four fields of specialization: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. The Center also has an M.A. program in Philippine Studies that allows students to major in Philippine society and culture, Philippine foreign relations, or Philippine development studies. The Center offers a Ph.D. program in Philippine Studies in conjunction with the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. For an overview of these graduate programs, click here. The Asian Center also publishes Asian Studies: Journal of Critical Perspectives on Asia, the latest issue of which can be downloaded at the journal's website. For other news and upcoming events at the Asian Center, click here.