Integrating South and East Asia: Economics of Regional Cooperation and Development

Economic ties between South and East Asia can be traced back to the time of the ancient Silk Road. In the recent past, these sub-regions have made great progress towards reviving close economic links among their countries, fuelled by domestic reforms and emergence of regional production networks. More recently, bilateral and regional-level initiatives have also largely enhanced integration. If such initiatives succeed, could these sub-regions grow to dominate global trade? This book evaluates the economic implications of increasing cooperation between the two regions, providing empirical analyses for informed policy decisions and improved outcomes. Exploring the role of market forces as well as domestic and regional policies, it examines how integration helps in spurring inclusive economic development in small economies. It also focuses on the prospects for India’s integration with East Asia, elaborating on its role as the biggest driver of integration in the sub-region.