Introduction to the Special Issue on the Asia and Pacific Economies

The Asia-Pacific region has long served as the epicentre of the global economy. The significant transformation the region has experienced, particularly post-World War II, stands as a as model for the rest of the world. Japan took the lead in the 1960s with rapid industrialisation and robust economic growth, setting an example for other economies in the region. This trend continued until the recent ascent of China as a formidable economic power. Japan, recognised as a technology leader, facilitated the transfer of its technology to other regional economies through vertical integration, leading to structural changes in production and exports for other major players in the region. The Conference on Asia and Pacific Economies (CAPE), co-hosted by Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (Suzhou, China) and the Asian Development Bank Institute (Tokyo, Japan), is a collaborative initiative aimed at addressing challenges faced by the Asia-Pacific region. The conference focuses on some of the most pertinent and urgent topics, fostering in-depth presentations and discussions of high quality.