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| Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia | |
|---|---|
| Name | Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia |
| Abbrev | ERIA |
| Formation | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Jakarta, Indonesia |
| Type | International policy research institute |
| Region served | Association of Southeast Asian Nations, East Asia Summit |
| Leader title | Executive Director |
Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia. The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia was established to support policy dialogue among Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN Free Trade Area, East Asia Summit, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific policymakers, and to produce comparative analysis for officials from Indonesia, Japan, China, India, and Australia. The institute has hosted researchers from institutions such as World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and United Nations University and has contributed to discussions at forums including the G20, Boao Forum for Asia, Asia-Europe Meeting, and APEC Summit.
Founded in 2008 following recommendations from meetings involving ASEAN Summit, East Asia Summit, Council on Foreign Relations-linked dialogues, and the Jakarta Plan of Action, the institute was created as a regional research hub alongside initiatives like ADB Institute and Asian Development Bank. Early governance involved leaders linked to Ministry of Finance (Indonesia), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan), Ministry of Commerce (China), Ministry of External Affairs (India), and delegations from Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Its formative projects referenced models from OECD Development Centre, Brookings Institution, Chatham House, and Lowy Institute and drew advisors who had previously worked with World Trade Organization, International Labour Organization, and UNCTAD.
The institute's mandate emphasizes evidence-based policy research to inform decision-making at summits like East Asia Summit and agreements such as Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and Trans-Pacific Partnership discussions, while supporting capacity building aligned with frameworks from Sustainable Development Goals deliberations and Millennium Development Goals transitions. Its objectives include producing policy papers for ministers at ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting, providing technical assistance for national agencies including Bank Indonesia and Ministry of Finance (Thailand), and advising transnational projects coordinated with Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and New Development Bank.
Governance comprises a governing board with representatives from member states analogous to boards at Asian Development Bank, World Bank Group, and International Monetary Fund. The secretariat operates in divisions for macroeconomic research, trade and investment, infrastructure, and social policy, modeled after units in OECD, Brookings Institution, and Center for Strategic and International Studies. Leadership roles have been held by scholars connected to University of Tokyo, National University of Singapore, Peking University, Australian National University, and University of Indonesia, and advisors have included former officials from Ministry of Finance (Japan) and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia).
Research programs cover themes such as regional integration, supply-chain resilience, digital economy, and infrastructure corridors linking initiatives like China–Myanmar Economic Corridor, Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline, and Pan-Asian Railway Network. Publications include policy briefs, working papers, and special reports similar in scope to output from International Monetary Fund staff papers and Asian Development Bank economics working papers; notable series have been cited at G20 Finance Ministers Meeting, ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers Meeting, and Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference. The institute has produced comparative studies referencing datasets from World Bank Doing Business, UNCTAD World Investment Report, International Energy Agency, and Food and Agriculture Organization statistics.
The institute organizes flagship conferences mirroring formats used by the Munich Security Conference and World Economic Forum, hosts policy dialogues for ministers of ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting and workshops for officials from Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Japan), Ministry of Trade (Vietnam), and Ministry of Finance (Malaysia). Capacity building programs include executive training similar to courses at Harvard Kennedy School, joint seminars with Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, and summer schools attracting fellows from Seoul National University, Thammasat University, and Chulalongkorn University.
The institute collaborates with multilateral institutions such as Asian Development Bank, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and United Nations Development Programme, academic partners including National University of Singapore, University of Malaya, Fudan University, and think tanks like Institute of Strategic and International Studies (Malaysia), ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, and Japan External Trade Organization. Its project alliances extend to regional initiatives with ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office, and private-sector stakeholders including associations like Confederation of Indian Industry and Japan Business Federation.
The institute's analyses have influenced policy deliberations on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership negotiations, infrastructure financing debates involving Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and supply-chain realignment after disruptions traced to events such as the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and the COVID-19 pandemic in Southeast Asia. Critics have questioned its independence, citing funding links to member governments and comparisons with independence standards at Brookings Institution and Chatham House, and some observers have called for greater transparency analogous to reforms enacted at Transparency International and procedural standards at Open Government Partnership. Proponents argue its convening role parallels successful research-policy interfaces seen at OECD and Asian Development Bank Institute and that its technical output supports pragmatic policy coordination among ASEAN members and partners.
Category:International research institutes in Asia