The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has adopted a long-term strategic framework for 2008–2020 (Strategy 2020) in response to the evolving needs of and emerging development challenges facing the Asia and Pacific region. Strategy 2020 sets out three strategic agendas to help ADB turn its vision—an Asia and Pacific region free of poverty—into reality: inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration.

To support the deliberation and implementation of Strategy 2020, ADB staff and their collaborators in recent years carried out a series of studies under the inclusive growth research program of the Economics and Research Department (ERD). These aim to improve understanding of the concept of inclusive growth, its policy ingredients, and its importance in helping the region achieve the Millennium Development Goals and eradicate extreme poverty.

This volume presents a selection of papers arising from these studies in three parts. The first focuses on recent trends of income and non- income inequality and poverty in the region, and their underlying driving forces; the second examines selected policy issues concerning inclusive growth, including employment, access to public services, social protection, and governance and institutions. The third comprises six country studies with rich information on growth, poverty, and inequality dynamics and policy challenges.

The completion of this volume would not have been possible without contributions from numerous people. A total of 21 ADB staff and their research collaborators were involved in writing various chapters.