South Asia Economic Focus, Spring 2013 : Regaining Momentum

Publication:
South Asia Economic Focus, Spring 2013 : Regaining Momentum

dc.contributor.author	World Bank
dc.date.accessioned	2013-04-24T19:48:49Z
dc.date.available	2013-04-24T19:48:49Z
dc.date.issued	2013-04-24
dc.description.abstract	South Asia is regaining its economic momentum, but the recovery in the world’s region with the largest number of poor people could falter in the absence of a stronger investment climate. The combined growth of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka was just 4.7% in 2012, substantially below pre-crisis levels. Much of the recent slowdown in economic growth can be attributed to stagnating investment. Total fixed investment grew by 2.6% in 2012, down from a high of 16.7% in 2010. The performance varies widely across the region. At the same time, the region is now more vulnerable because current account balances have widened, foreign direct investment has slowed, and persistently high inflation has limited the ability for central banks to use monetary policy to counter any economic downturn. Because of rising imports, countries in South Asia are also more vulnerable to increases in commodity prices. Therefore, the outlook remains cautiously optimistic with a relatively large downside risk. A pick-up of growth to 5.5% can be expected in 2013 dependent on ongoing efforts to rebuild policy buffers and boost private investment.	en
dc.identifier.doi	10.1596/978-0-8213-9979-8
dc.identifier.isbn	978-0-8213-9979-8
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/10986/13267
dc.language.iso	en_US
dc.publisher	Washington, DC
dc.relation.ispartofseries	South Asia Economic Focus;Spring 2013
dc.rights	CC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rights.holder	World Bank
dc.rights.uri	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/
dc.subject	economic growth
dc.subject	economic indicators
dc.subject	economic policy
dc.subject	economic risks
dc.subject	foreign direct investment
dc.subject	investment
dc.subject	macroeconomic developments and outlook
dc.title	South Asia Economic Focus, Spring 2013 : Regaining Momentum	en
dspace.entity.type	Publication
okr.date.disclosure	2013-04-24
okr.doctype	Publications & Research::Publication
okr.globalpractice	Macroeconomics and Fiscal Management
okr.globalpractice	Trade and Competitiveness
okr.guid	503311468302736437
okr.identifier.report	76885
okr.language.supported	en
okr.region.administrative	South Asia
okr.region.geographical	South Asia
okr.topic	International Economics and Trade
okr.topic	Macroeconomics and Economic Growth
okr.unit	Office of the Regional Chief Economist for South Asia (SARCE); Office of the Publisher (EXTOP)
okr.volume	1 of 1