PALCES, Moses Isaiah B.

IR-457

10 December 2015

Hertel, T., et. al., Economic Growth, Technological Change, and Patterns of Food and
Agricultural Trade in Asia. In: From Growth to Convergence: Asias Next Two Decades,
Palgrave Macmillan, United Kingdom, pp. 175-199.
Asia remains the world's most robust region with rich economic endowments for growth
and development; the region is also home to almost two-thirds of the world's poorest population.
However, even with lower per capita growth, Asia, especially South East Asia, promises higher
population growth in turn for the development of the human resource. In the ASEAN region,
spending patterns display an inversely proportional relationship between income and dedication
from food to technological needs expenditure. ASEAN, continues to project an increase of
services export , therefore absorbing the bulk of the projected labor and capital demands
worldwide.
The authors showed empirical evidence suggesting the spending patterns of Asia- that is,
with the rise of per capita income, immediate staple needs, especially in 1997 where the demand
for grains and dairy products are overtaken by other products such as electronics and housing
services. The growth projection in Asia for 2025 has been realistically set by the authors which is
coupled with statistical instruments measuring regional growth (i.e. GTAP) and demand-supply
convergence. The numbers provided in the citation prove a inextricable link between human
development with the increase of per capita income, as immediate caloric needs are
proportionally reduced to accommodate more secondary ends.

PALCES, Moses Isaiah B.

IR-457

10 December 2015

Human Development Network, Provinces and Human Development. In: Philippine

Human Development Report 2008/2009, Human Development Network, United Kingdom,
pp. 175-199.
The Philippines is experiencing isolated improvements in Human Development Index
ratings, especially in provinces in Luzon, with Benguet scoring the highest (0.787). However, in
terms of the efficiency of the provinces in utilizing its potential human resources, Metro Manila
has a 13.8% unemployment rate in 1997 under the Ramos administration. Figures improved after
administrative changes (i.e. change of administration from Ramos-Estrada) in 2000, and taking
over of the Arroyo administration in 2001, Metro Manila experienced a rise in unemployment
rates from 17.5% to 18.2%. In terms of education, Metro Manila and immediately neighboring
cities experience the highest rate of secondary education graduates (with 4 out of 5 people
graduating from high school).
The Human Development Network report for the 2008/2009 statistics carefully details
population reports and has not focused on Metro Manila cities but to provinces nationwide. The
figures display significant developments on human resource, with the administration being the
most decisive factor in the changing of the figures.