Summary

Research report: Discusses the economic impact of HIV/AIDS in the Asia Pacific region.

Description

Author: Access Economics

This paper is one in a series of four background papers used to inform
discussions at the HIV/AIDS and Development in the Asia Pacific Ministerial
Conference held in October 2001. It discusses the economic impact of HIV/AIDS
in the Asia Pacific region - home to one in five people living with the
disease. It considers the many ways in which the disease affects the economies
of households and countries across the region. The sheer scale of these effects
presents a strong case for action by governments and the private sector. And it
argues that such action must take place now, while the costs are still
manageable and the damage still containable.

The paper addresses the entire region. In doing so, it cannot evade a degree
of generalisation. It also draws in part on the region which has seen the
greatest damage from the AIDS virus - sub- Saharan Africa. This too is
unavoidable; many of the key insights which exist are derived from that region.
But, by drawing on these generalisations and regional examples, the paper pulls
together not only plausible, but likely scenarios for the region. By looking
into the future, the paper draws the reader's attention to the present and
to what can be done to minimise the impact of HIV/AIDS.

Potential Economic Impact of AIDS in Asia and the Pacific [PDF 398KB]

Available: Electronic version only

This report was commissioned by AusAID. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in the report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of AusAID or the Australian Government.

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