World Bank East Asia and Pacific Economic Update, October 2018 : Navigating Uncertainty.

Despite some financial turbulence, growth in developing East Asia and Pacific (EAP) was resilientduring the first half of 2018. The growth outlook for the region remains positive. After peaking in2017, growth in developing EAP is expected to slow modestly in 2018, as China's economicexpansion continues to moderate. However, downside risks have significantly intensified. Anescalation in trade tensions and heightened financial market turbulence, either due to an accelerationin U.S. monetary policy normalization or contagion from other emerging markets could threaten theregion's growth prospects. To navigate uncertainty, developing EAP economies should reduceshort-term vulnerabilities and enhance buffers, redouble their commitment to an open, rules-basedinternational trade and investment framework, including through deeper regional economicintegration, and deepen structural reforms. The intensification of risks underscores the need tocontinue to enhance economic security by investing in human capital and strengthen socialassistance and insurance programs to increase households' resilience to systemic shocks.

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