ASEAN 2030: Toward a Borderless Economic Community

This book investigates long-term development issues for members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It finds that with a proper policy mix including domestic structural reforms and bold initiatives for regional integration, by 2030 ASEAN has the potential to reach the average quality of life enjoyed today in advanced economies and fulfill its aspirations to become a resilient, inclusive, competitive, and harmonious (RICH) region.

Key challenges moving forward are to enhance macroeconomic and financial stability, support equitable growth, promote competitiveness and innovation, and protect the environment. Overcoming these challenges to build a truly borderless economic region implies eliminating remaining barriers to the flow of goods, services, and production factors, and strengthening competitiveness and the institutional framework, while updating some governing principles.
The study’s main message is that through closer integration, ASEAN can form a partnership for shared prosperity, regionally and globally.

Contents
List of Boxes, Figures, and Tables
Foreword
Acknowledgments
About the Study
Abbreviations
Executive Summary
Chapter 1: ASEAN Today
1.1 Evolution of Economic Cooperation
1.2 Global and Regional Economic Context
1.3 Progress of the ASEAN Economic Community and Beyond
Chapter 1: Appendix
Chapter 2: Aspirations for a “RICH” ASEAN
2.1 Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats
2.2 Ambitions and Pragmatism
2.3 Region-Wide Aspirations
Chapter 3: Key 2030 Challenges
3.1 Enhancing Macroeconomic and Financial Stability
3.2 Supporting Equitable Growth
3.3 Promoting Competitiveness and Innovation
3.4 Protecting the Environment
Chapter 3: Appendix
Chapter 4: Enabling Factors
4.1 Developing Financial Markets
4.2 Harnessing Human Capital
4.3 Building Seamless Connectivity
4.4 Strengthening Governance
Chapter 5: Institutional Architecture
5.1 ASEAN in Asia and the World
5.2 ASEAN Governing Mechanisms
5.3 The Institutional Framework
Chapter 6: Policy Options
6.1 Macroeconomic and Financial Stability
6.2 Equitable and Inclusive Growth
6.3 Competitiveness and Innovation
6.4 Environmental Protection
6.5 Financial Market Development
6.6 Human Capital Development
6.7 Seamless Connectivity
6.8 Governance Issues
6.9 Institutional Architecture
6.10 Conclusion
Chapter 6: Appendix
Bibliography