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.

Lowy Institute Conversations: Ross Garnaut on Restoring Australia after the Pandemic Recession
Podcasts
Lowy Institute Conversations: Ross Garnaut on Restoring Australia after the Pandemic Recession
In this episode of Lowy Institute Conversations, Roland Rajah, Lowy Institute Lead Economist, sits down with Dr Ross Garnaut to discuss the ideas in his new book, Reset: Restoring…
Malaysia’s political turmoil has an economic cost
Malaysia’s political turmoil has an economic cost
With parliament suspended and a pandemic-induced shock, necessary and serious reform seems a long way off.
Why our economy can afford to stand up to China with Belt and Road veto
Commentary
Why our economy can afford to stand up to China with Belt and Road veto
Originally published in the Sydney Morning Herald. 
Vital trade lessons from China’s failed attempt at coercion
Commentary
Vital trade lessons from China’s failed attempt at coercion
Originally published in The Australian. 
The big bark but small bite of China’s trade coercion
The big bark but small bite of China’s trade coercion
Targeted sanctions on Australian exports have affected billions in trade, but the real damage has been limited.
Lowy Institute Conversations: John Edwards and Jennifer Hewett on Australia’s economy after COVID-19
Podcasts
Lowy Institute Conversations: John Edwards and Jennifer Hewett on Australia’s economy after COVID-19
In this episode of Lowy Institute Conversations, Roland Rajah, Lowy Institute lead economist, sits down with Dr John Edwards and Jennifer Hewitt to discuss Australia’s economy…
Southeast Asia’s post-pandemic recovery outlook
Commentary
Southeast Asia’s post-pandemic recovery outlook
Originally published on Brooking's Order From Chaos blog.
Australia’s place in a decarbonising world economy
Australia’s place in a decarbonising world economy
The economics of climate change are rapidly shifting, and that has opportunity for Australia.
Avoiding a “lost decade” in the Pacific
Avoiding a “lost decade” in the Pacific
Remoteness has helped the Pacific mitigate the worst health risks in the pandemic – but not the severe economic costs.
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