OECD

In contrast to the extensive literature on the assessment of goods trade and trade barriers, limited attention has been paid to quantify the regulatory restrictiveness of services trade across the globe. This study attempts to build on the services trade restrictiveness index of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development by proposing an alternative that makes the OECD data more amenable to policy purposes.

Asian countries will need to cope with much greater complexity in both domestic resource mobilisation and in dealing with international tax issues. Fiscal laws and institutions will therefore acquire much greater importance. Capacity to use information technology in fiscal institutions in general, and tax administration and compliance in particular, will acquire greater urgency. Asian countries will also need to consider a regional forum to discuss tax issues and to share tax information. Indigenous fiscal research capability will also need to be strengthened.