John Beirne, James Villafuerte and Bryan Zhang (eds), Fintech and COVID-19: Impacts, Challenges, and Policy Priorities for Asia. Manila, Philippines: Asian Development Bank Institute, 2022, 261 pp., ISBN 978-4-89974-259-3.

Abstract

development, (ii) Capital Asia: growth and capital flows; and (iii) Migrating Asia: labor mobility in an interdependent and connected world. I am heavily impressed by the contents of these chapters. Therefore, part III of the book (Dynamic Asia) presented articles on innovation, urbanization and rising informalization of the Asian economies. Perhaps, the chapter entitled “Informalizing Asia: the other dynamics of the Asian economy” better fits in the part IV where editors discussed Asia at the cross-roads. The part IV, as a natural corollary, presented four key articles on contemporary challenges of the Asian economies: (i) ageing Asia, (ii) unequalizing Asia, (iii) environmentally challenged Asia; and (iv) competing Asia, co-existing Asia. The last one is basically a summary and conclusions. Overall, this book has highlighted the challenges faced by Asia and opportunities. However, it talked very less on the greatest challenge posed by the recent pandemic. The concluding chapter (competing Asia, co-existing Asia) views Asia's rise as forward looking and opportunities rather than threats. However, today, Asia is divided in two parts when it comes to differences in unfolding geopolitics, which, if continues to grow, objectives of the Asian century as portrayed by the authors and editors of this book would not be achieved. The Asian century has to be inclusive and not fragmented. This publication has several merits to become one of the most popular books in international economics in recent times.