Rebalancing Economies in Financially Integrating East Asia

Since the Asian Financial Crisis (AFC) of 1997–98 large current account surpluses have accumulated in the countries of Asia and the Pacific with corresponding deficits elsewhere. The sharp plunge in global trade volumes during the global financial crisis has highlighted the need for ‘rebalancing’–focussing more on domestic sources of economic growth than on exports in some Asian economies. One key objective of the book is to elucidate the economic structures and policies that give rise to current account surpluses and imbalances and consider what policy adjustments could change them. Another objective is to show the link between financial systems, financial integration and the transmission of economic shocks between countries. The book offers new dimensions to understand ‘rebalancing’ and provides alternative and arguably more fundamental solutions to address imbalances. Rather than focusing on exchange rate misalignment, this book begins from the premise that the imbalances are a macroeconomic problem that reflects a mismatch between savings and investment in the surplus countries. Then, it examines exchange rate policies adopted by countries in the region and finds that part of the explanation for their currency strategy lies in their perceived need to build foreign exchange reserves to provide a buffer in case of instabilities. The book examines whether there are other possibilities for countries to insure against economic volatility by more actively and openly engaging with international capital markets. The studies show that closer financial integration, involving more open financial markets, with well-chosen partners, would be welfare-improving and should reduce the need for the counter-productive, self-insurance policies that result in foreign exchange accumulation.

1. Macroeconomic Rebalancing and Financial Integration in East Asia,Jenny Corbett and Ying Xu 2. Growth Rebalancing and Investment in Asia and the Pacific,Peter Warr 3.Corporate Savings, Investment and Financial Structure in East Asia: Micro evidence,Jenny Corbett and Garry Twite 4. Exchange Rates or Other Factors in Global Rebalancing,Shang-Jin Wei 5.Do Asian Countries Fear Appreciation Against Renminbi?,Victor Pontines and Reza Y. Siregar 6. What Drives Some Countries to Hoard Foreign Reserves?,Heng Dyna and Jenny Corbett, 7. Defining Openness and Economic Interconnection in East and Southeast Asia,Tony Cavoli 8. Choosing the Best Partners for Risk-minimizing Integration,Achmad Maulana, Wei Feng and Jenny Corbett 9. The Influences of International and Domestic Shocks in East Asia,Mardi Dungey and M. Tugrul Vehbi 10. International Bank Claimson East Asian Economies: Stabilizers or destabilisers?,Victor Pointes and Reza Y. Siregar11. The Rise of Asian-Owned Foreign Banks and Credit Stability in Asia,Ying Xu

Jenny Corbett is Professor of Economics, Australian National University, and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Research Training), Australian National University. She is also Reader in the Economy of Japan, University of Oxford; a Research Associate of the Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis (CAMA); and a Research Fellow at the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), London. Ying Xu is Lecturer in the Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University. She is also Research Associate at the Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis (CAMA), Australian National University.