Rebuilding East Asia’s Economic Future Post-COVID-19
Dr. Aaditya Mattoo
Chief Economist, East Asia and Pacific Region, World Bank
The ABLF Talks | The ABLF City | January 18, 2021
Speaker Introduction
Dr. Aaditya Mattoo – Architect of Inclusive Economic Renewal
Dr. Aaditya Mattoo is the Chief Economist for the East Asia and Pacific Region at the World Bank, where he leads analytical work on development strategies across one of the world’s most dynamic yet unequal regions. An expert in global trade policy and economic development, he has previously held senior positions at the World Trade Organization and taught at the University of Sussex and Churchill College, Cambridge. With a PhD from Cambridge and MPhil from Oxford, Dr. Mattoo is known for turning complex data into clear, actionable insights. At the ABLF Talks Live, he presented a compelling framework for moving beyond COVID-19 recovery toward long-term reinvention in East Asia, focusing on resilience, reform, and inclusive growth.
Moderator: Resham Kotecha, Policy and Strategy Specialist, UK
Prepared by: The ABLF Research Council
Date: January 18, 2021
Event: The ABLF Talks, hosted virtually at the ABLF City
Executive Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic unleashed a cascading crisis across East Asia, exposing structural fragilities, widening inequality, and stressing both public health and economic systems. Dr. Aaditya Mattoo’s address offered a sharp diagnosis of this multifaceted disruption and a forward-thinking blueprint for transformation. His key insight: recovery alone is insufficient. The region must seize this moment to fundamentally rethink fiscal priorities, industrial strategies, and global cooperation. Drawing on rigorous data and institutional knowledge, Dr. Mattoo mapped a path toward an East Asian renaissance rooted in equitable digital integration, resilient services, and inclusive statecraft. This white paper distills his vision for leaders confronting the decade-defining task of rebuilding better.
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Rethinking Recovery: From Triple Shock to Strategic Reform
East Asia experienced a rare convergence of three simultaneous shocks during the pandemic, the virus itself, the socioeconomic fallout from containment policies, and a synchronized global recession. This compounded crisis blurred traditional economic fault lines, disrupted labor markets, and fractured consumption patterns. Nations like China and Vietnam, with strong institutional frameworks, rebounded quickly. In contrast, countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia endured deeper economic scars, hampered by institutional constraints and limited fiscal headroom. Export-reliant economies adapted better than those dependent on tourism, revealing the region’s uneven exposure and response capacity.
Sign in to unlock the library of the ABLF Insightfolio
The ABLF Insightfolio features researched, knowledge-led whitepapers that capture the strategic perspectives and insights of Asia’s foremost thinkers, policymakers, business leaders and social scientists.
Derived from the impact-led dialogues at the ABLF Talks, these policy-shaping documents are designed to inform, inspire, and ignite action across all sectors, from inclusive growth and sustainability to innovation and digital transformation.
Create a free account and gain instant access to our entire collection of Whitepapers and Intelligence Reports.
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