Globalisation – Keeping the Gains

May 2003

Speakers:

Brendan Berne, Director of the Economic Analytical Unit, DFAT
Dr Frances Perkins, Executive Director, Economic Analytical Unit, DFAT
Professor Timothy Devinney, Director, Centre for Corporate Change, AGSM
Professor Gordon DeBrouwer, Australia-Japan Research Centre, ANU

The experience of Australia and many of its successful East Asian neighbours over the past three decades shows globalising economies. Those that are opening to international trade and investment are delivering their populations higher growth in per capita incomes and better living standards than those that remain closed to the world. Furthermore, the economies that gain most from globalisation have governments that provide effective and accountable economic policies. These economies have flexible markets, efficient infrastructure and quality mass education and training. Opening international markets by developing country exports is a key priority to help low income countries gain from globalisation.

Brendan Berne, Professor Timothy Devinney and a panel of academics and business commentators will discuss of the report’s findings and its implications for Australia and the region.

Both Brendan Berne and Dr Frances Perkins work within the EAU, which is the main agency within the Australian Government responsible for undertaking and publishing analyses of major economic and trade issues in emerging markets of importance to Australia. In particular, Brendan Berne has written several newspaper and journal articles on international economic issues and directed several major EAU reports including “Globalisation: Keeping the Gains”, “Changing Corporate Asia: What Business Needs to Know”, “Indonesia: Facing the Challenge”. Dr Frances Perkins has directed and overseen the production of twenty-one major reports including on overseas Chinese business networks, economic reforms and developments in China, Japan, Pacific Russia, the new ASEAN economies, the Philippines, Thailand, the Republic of Korea, Indonesia, the Middle East, Latin America and India.

Gordon John de Brouwer leads the Australian National University's research program on Japan's economy and economic relations with the Asia Pacific. Mr de Brouwer has published a wide range of books, papers, articles and reports on financial markets, hedge funds, monetary policy, inflation, exchange rates, financial deregulation, the IMF, Australia-Japan economic relations, and East Asian regionalism.

For more information about the EAU click here (http://www.dfat.gov.au/eau)