Social bond markets have grown rapidly in Asia and around the world amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Today, the global social bond market is dominated by bonds that address pandemic-related social impact areas. To better understand the potential contribution of social bonds in tackling developing Asia’s most urgent social issues, this study reviews the current status and recent trends of global and Asian social bond markets. It further analyzes social impact areas that can be addressed by social bonds in both the short and long term. The study’s findings can help align finance with the Sustainable Development Goals and maximize the impact of the social bond market for sustainable development.

"This publication explains how social bond market development in Asia can support an inclusive and sustainable recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)."--Abstract

This publication reviews recent developments in East Asian local currency bond markets along with the outlook, risks, and policy options. It covers the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; and the Republic of Korea.

Economic Outlook for Southeast Asia, China and India 2022 addresses financing sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic is proving to be extremely costly, both economically and socially and sustainable financing solutions are crucial for an equitable and inclusive recovery.

Rapid globalization and digitalization have transformed the financial landscape of ASEAN+3—the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the People’s Republic of China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. Despite impressive reforms, the region faces continued challenges. These include deepening corporate bond markets, coping with cross-border bank concentration risk, reducing dependence on the United States dollar, achieving sustainable infrastructure investments, addressing pension issues, and supporting fintech development. This edited volume highlights the potential for stronger regional financial cooperation to address such challenges. It explores how regional financial cooperation could promote greater financial resilience and stability amid rapid economic and financial development and technological change.

This book examines advanced approaches to finance infrastructure projects. In doing so, it synthesizes developments and generates new understandings in the field. Infrastructure financing has moved beyond traditional government funding, multilateral assistance, and project finance, to a diverse set of innovative approaches, increasing participation from private, institutional, commercial, and philanthropic investors. Chapters in the book discuss various infrastructure finance themes including the dynamism of project finance, diversification of multilateral assistance into various concessional and guarantee instruments, the surge of green and other thematic bonds, the role of land value capture, funded and unfunded risk mitigation options, growth of private institutional markets, and asset recycling. Given that developments in infrastructure finance are followed by many financial institutions, private developers, public sector policymakers, consulting firms and academic institutions, a researched discussion on the subject will help readers reflect on, compare and contrast the emerging trends in relation to their practice.