Roland Rajah

Lowy Institute Lead Economist; Director, Indo-Pacific Development Centre
Roland Rajah
Biography
Publications

Roland Rajah is Director of the Indo-Pacific Development Centre, a dedicated policy research centre within the Lowy Institute. The Centre is committed to producing fresh policy insights and ideas on the most pressing economic development challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region — principally focusing on the emerging and developing economies of Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands and South Asia. He also serves as the Lowy Institute’s Lead Economist, a position he has held since joining the Institute in 2017.

Roland directs the overall work program of the Indo-Pacific Development Centre across its key thematic pillars of post-Covid growth and development, globalisation and regional integration, climate change and development, technology and digital economy, aid and development finance, and geoeconomics. The Centre also houses the Lowy Institute Pacific Aid Map project, which provides the world’s most comprehensive data tracking of all official aid and other development finance flows to the Pacific Islands.

A development economist by background, Roland has extensive experience working across both emerging Asia and the small island developing states of the Pacific. He has previously worked for the Asian Development Bank, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), and the Reserve Bank of Australia. Roland holds a master’s degree in economics from the Australian National University, where he was awarded the Helen Hughes Prize in International and Development Economics. He also serves on the board of the Cambodia Development Resource Institute, one of Southeast Asia’s leading independent policy research think tanks.

Jokowi’s curious plan for Indonesia’s capital
Jokowi’s curious plan for Indonesia’s capital
The Indonesian president’s scheme to move the capital won’t fix Jakarta – or the government.
Debt-trap diplomacy not happening yet, but cause for concern
Commentary
Debt-trap diplomacy not happening yet, but cause for concern
Originally published in The Australian.Roland Rajah
China, the Pacific, and the “debt trap” question
China, the Pacific, and the “debt trap” question
Charges of saddling Pacific countries in debt may be overstated, but China’s lending practices still pose risks.
Ocean of debt? Belt and Road and debt diplomacy in the Pacific
Analyses
Ocean of debt? Belt and Road and debt diplomacy in the Pacific
China has not been engaged in debt trap diplomacy — at least not yet
Trumpian currency intervention is a bigger risk than China weaponising the yuan
Commentary
Trumpian currency intervention is a bigger risk than China weaponising the yuan
Originally published in The Australian. Roland Rajah
China-US currency clash: Who’s manipulating who?
China-US currency clash: Who’s manipulating who?
Trumpian currency intervention is a bigger risk than China weaponising the renminbi.
Trump’s Mexico tariffs an ominous sign for global economy
Trump’s Mexico tariffs an ominous sign for global economy
There is no appeasing a playground bully so why should countries bother to negotiate with the unreliable “Tariff Man”?
Jokowi - business as usual will not be enough
Commentary
Jokowi - business as usual will not be enough
Originally published in Nikkei Asian Review Roland Rajah , Ben Bland
Why US-China talks should focus on technology as the greater threat, instead of trade
Commentary
Why US-China talks should focus on technology as the greater threat, instead of trade
Originally published in South China Morning Post. Roland Rajah
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