The Asia Foundation

Community and public radio is a powerful force for democracy and development in Mongolia. The Gobi Wave radio station in Dalamzagad, Umnu Gobi Aimag, is among the leaders in a movement to provide objective and uncensored news to local and...

Community and public radio is a powerful force for democracy and development in Mongolia. The Gobi Wave radio station in Dalamzagad, Umnu Gobi Aimag, is among the leaders in a movement to provide objective and uncensored news to local and regional audiences. Gobi Wave broadcasts on FM 103.6 for approximately 12 hours everyday. On two days, Gobi broadcasts for two hours using the national long-wave transmitters. Using long wave, Gobi reaches populations in five aimags, and is their lifeline to news and information.

Mongolian language version

Community and public radio is a powerful force for democracy and development in Mongolia. The Gobi Wave radio station in Dalamzagad, Umnu Gobi Aimag, is among the leaders in a movement to provide objective...

Mongolian language version

Community and public radio is a powerful force for democracy and development in Mongolia. The Gobi Wave radio station in Dalamzagad, Umnu Gobi Aimag, is among the leaders in a movement to provide objective and uncensored news to local and regional audiences. Gobi Wave broadcasts on FM 103.6 for approximately 12 hours everyday. On two days, Gobi broadcasts for two hours using the national long-wave transmitters. Using long wave, Gobi reaches populations in five aimags, and is their lifeline to news and information.

Throughout Asia, The Asia Foundation works to improve governance, law, and civil society; empower women; strengthen economic reform and development; and promote international relations. With a network of 17 field offices and a proven track...

Throughout Asia, The Asia Foundation works to improve governance, law, and civil society; empower women; strengthen economic reform and development; and promote international relations. With a network of 17 field offices and a proven track record in Asia since 1954, the Foundation has been a leader in building human and institutional capacity throughout the Asia Pacific, providing thousands of scholarships, more than 40 million English-language books, and countless opportunities for training, expert assistance, and effective policy dialogues.

The first chapter of the new Asia Foundation book Innovations in Strengthening Local Economic Governance in Asia. The book summarizes The Asia Foundation's experience designing and implementing programs aimed at strengthening economic...

The first chapter of the new Asia Foundation book Innovations in Strengthening Local Economic Governance in Asia. The book summarizes The Asia Foundation's experience designing and implementing programs aimed at strengthening economic governance in Asia.

Economic growth in Bangladesh has benefited from two decades of liberalization policies that aimed to increase private sector activity. While reforms have eased licensing and regulatory burdens, particularly for the export sector, the domestic...

Economic growth in Bangladesh has benefited from two decades of liberalization policies that aimed to increase private sector activity. While reforms have eased licensing and regulatory burdens, particularly for the export sector, the domestic private sector continues to face formidable challenges to growth. This is particularly the case for small enterprises that account for the bulk of private business in Bangladesh. Weaknesses in financial markets, burdensome regulation, and prohibitive policies create market distortions that reduce local competitiveness. The combined effect of poor infrastructure, weak public service delivery, corruption, and security concerns constrain the ability of businesses to function efficiently. While many businesses depend on patronage links to survive, small business owners typically lack the resources and political connections to combat regulatory and informal barriers to business. As a result, a weak enabling environment imposes disproportionately greater constraints to small business growth. The findings of this report contribute to dialogue and debate on the policy environment for private sector development in Bangladesh and inform the strategies of Government and other development partners. The Mymensingh study and the recommendations that flow from it reflect The Asia Foundation's commitment to support private-sector led growth by easing policy constraints that affect the enabling environment and mobilizing domestic constituencies for reform from the private sector, civil society, and government.

The role of heterogeneity in affecting the likelihood of collective action is strongly debated in the theoretical literature. We present evidence from a study of 18 forest user groups in Nepal. Heterogeneity is not a strong predictor of the...

The role of heterogeneity in affecting the likelihood of collective action is strongly debated in the theoretical literature. We present evidence from a study of 18 forest user groups in Nepal. Heterogeneity is not a strong predictor of the level of collective activity. Rather, heterogeneity is a challenge that can be overcome by good insititutional design when the interest of those controlling collective-choice mechanisms are benefited by investing time and effor to craft better rules.

Bahasa Indonesia version - Road Transportation, Regulations and Charges in Indonesia. To assess the size and nature of domestic road transportation costs, The Asia Foundation, in partnership with the University of Indonesia's Institute for...

Bahasa Indonesia version - Road Transportation, Regulations and Charges in Indonesia. To assess the size and nature of domestic road transportation costs, The Asia Foundation, in partnership with the University of Indonesia's Institute for Economic and Social Research (LPEM-FEUI) implemented a comprehensive survey of domestic trucking costs along nine routes in Indonesia. The survey explicitly examined licensing costs, road charges and the costs associated with poor infrastructure. Through GPS tracking and interviews with firm managers and truck drivers, the survey identifies exactly who is charging drivers, where they are being charged and how much.

Road Transportation, Regulations and Charges in Indonesia. To assess the size and nature of domestic road transportation costs, The Asia Foundation, in partnership with the University of Indonesia's Institute for Economic and Social Research...

Road Transportation, Regulations and Charges in Indonesia. To assess the size and nature of domestic road transportation costs, The Asia Foundation, in partnership with the University of Indonesia's Institute for Economic and Social Research (LPEM-FEUI) implemented a comprehensive survey of domestic trucking costs along nine routes in Indonesia. The survey explicitly examined licensing costs, road charges and the costs associated with poor infrastructure. Through GPS tracking and interviews with firm managers and truck drivers, the survey identifies exactly who is charging drivers, where they are being charged and how much.

(In Bahasa - small version - no graphics) - Road Transportation, Regulations and Charges in Indonesia. To assess the size and nature of domestic road transportation costs, The Asia Foundation, in partnership with the University of Indonesia's...

(In Bahasa - small version - no graphics) - Road Transportation, Regulations and Charges in Indonesia. To assess the size and nature of domestic road transportation costs, The Asia Foundation, in partnership with the University of Indonesia's Institute for Economic and Social Research (LPEM-FEUI) implemented a comprehensive survey of domestic trucking costs along nine routes in Indonesia. The survey explicitly examined licensing costs, road charges and the costs associated with poor infrastructure. Through GPS tracking and interviews with firm managers and truck drivers, the survey identifies exactly who is charging drivers, where they are being charged and how much.

(Small version - no graphics) - Road Transportation, Regulations and Charges in Indonesia. To assess the size and nature of domestic road transportation costs, The Asia Foundation, in partnership with the University of Indonesia's Institute...

(Small version - no graphics) - Road Transportation, Regulations and Charges in Indonesia. To assess the size and nature of domestic road transportation costs, The Asia Foundation, in partnership with the University of Indonesia's Institute for Economic and Social Research (LPEM-FEUI) implemented a comprehensive survey of domestic trucking costs along nine routes in Indonesia. The survey explicitly examined licensing costs, road charges and the costs associated with poor infrastructure. Through GPS tracking and interviews with firm managers and truck drivers, the survey identifies exactly who is charging drivers, where they are being charged and how much.

This report is a contribution to a broader study entitled, "Aid, Conflict and Peacebuilding in Sri Lanka" (Goodhand and Klem, 2005), which examines the peace process in Sri Lanka with a particular focus on international engagement. This...

This report is a contribution to a broader study entitled, "Aid, Conflict and Peacebuilding in Sri Lanka" (Goodhand and Klem, 2005), which examines the peace process in Sri Lanka with a particular focus on international engagement. This particular background study focuses on the relationship between the economic agenda of the United Nations Front (UNF) government and the peace process it initiated by signing the February 2002 Ceasefire Agreement (CFA). The UNF government tried to carry out an extensive programme of reforms on the economic front while initiating a difficult process of political negotiations with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The basic conclusion of the study is that the political fallout from the economic reform program undermined the peace process, signified by the defeat of the UNF government in April 2004.

Scott Snyder examines transparency issues as a challenge for both North Korean leaders and the international community.  The Japanese translation of this article was published in the new book North Korea and Human Security (Kita Chousen...

Scott Snyder examines transparency issues as a challenge for both North Korean leaders and the international community.  The Japanese translation of this article was published in the new book North Korea and Human Security (Kita Chousen To Ningen no Anzenhosho), edited by Masao Okonogi and Atsuhito Isozaki (Tokyo: Keio University Press, March 2009).

Speech by The Asia Foundation's President and CEO, Doug Bereuter, presented at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs & East Asia Institute Workshop: "Implications of the Financial Crisis on American, Chinese, South Korean, and Japanese...

Speech by The Asia Foundation's President and CEO, Doug Bereuter, presented at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs & East Asia Institute Workshop: "Implications of the Financial Crisis on American, Chinese, South Korean, and Japanese Soft Power in East Asia" in Chicago, Illinois on October 23, 2009.