Can Asia take the next step to high-income?

Reaching high income through sustained rapid growth is the natural next step for Asia. Today, more than 95% of Asians live in middle-income economies, compared to less than 10% in the early 1990s. This remarkable shift was driven by rapid economic growth, especially in the People’s Republic of China, India, and Indonesia.

The question now is: Can this largely middle-income region make a successful transition to high-income status?

The experience of developing countries in the last 50 years suggests this will not be easy. Many Latin American countries such as Brazil and Colombia have been middle-income economies for decades. Yet the rapid transition of the Republic of Korea and Singapore from middle to high income in only 25 years shows that it can be done.

Growth drivers change as economies evolve

Growth drivers tend to change as economies evolve. Accumulating physical capital remains critical as economies transition from middle to high income. But countries attempting this transition must make greater efforts to boost total factor productivity growth – or increased production from the more efficient use of inputs rather than simply using more inputs.

Human capital affects labor productivity

Innovation becomes more important as an economy advances. High-income economies have more than 2.5 times the research and development stock per worker as middle-income economies. Innovation breeds diversity and sophistication in production, which in turn support higher productivity and better wages.

Enhanced human capital crucial to reach high-income status

Middle-income economies, with an average of just 6 years of schooling, need to close the education gaps with high-income economies, which average more than 10 years at school. But even more important is the quality of education. In globally standardized math and science tests, the proportion of top-performing 15-year-old students is on average 4-to-5 times greater in advanced economies than middle-income ones.

Invest in ICT to boost innovation, productivity

Different economies prioritize different types of infrastructure. Low-income economies focus first on such basic needs as water supply, sanitation and transport. As economies evolve, they attach more importance to electricity supply and advanced infrastructure such as information and communication technology.

High-income is natural next step for developing Asia

Asia needs to invest a total of $26 trillion from 2016 to 2030 in infrastructure that can withstand and mitigate climate change. To meet the needs, countries should increase public funding through fiscal reforms including tax, and by reorienting spending and borrowing prudently. An improved investment climate will encourage private sector financing for infrastructure, as would moves to deepen capital markets and improve the planning, design and execution of infrastructure projects.

Source:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2017-05/25/content_29487267.htm