Collective action problems and regional integration in ASEAN

This article examines the states' attempt to overcome collective action problems for promoting regional integration, by highlighting such attempts by the members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). It considers two kinds of collective action problems: collaboration games where actors are lured to defect from an agreement in order to obtain short-term gains, and coordination gains where actors face difficulty in reaching an agreement on which of multiple points will be chosen. This article argues that although ASEAN countries have not intended to establish a supranational body to resolve collective action problems, they have gradually developed feasible enforcement mechanisms by intensifying the centralised nature of the regional organisation. It also contends that some member states began to play a one "focal point" role in resolving coordination problems resulting from accelerated regional integration and market liberalisation, and the resolution of coordination problems has been pursued in a framework where extra-regional countries and environments play a significant role

Asia's odd men out: Australia, Japan and the politics of regionalism

Australia and Japan have frequently had difficult relationships with their neighbours. This paper suggests that when seen in their specific historical contexts, the fact that Australia and Japan have become ‘Asia’s odd men out’ is unsurprising. The central argument of this paper is that the consolidation and institutionalisation of regions is in large part a political exercise that reflects, and is informed by, discrete national conversations. Until and unless such national discourses align with wider transnational developments, regional processes are unlikely to prosper. An examination of Japan’s and Australia’s respective attempts to engage with and define their region reveals just how problematic this process can be

Distortion-Free CV/CC AC Power Supply Having the Unity Input Power Factor by the Use of Variable Capacitance Devices

A new CV (Constant-Voltage) CC (Constant-Current) ac power regulator is proposed. Our original Variable Capacitance Device of linear reactance device is utilized in the power stage. This device makes almost no distortion. In this circuit, a sinusoidal output voltage and a high efficiency can be obtained. For the purpose of output voltage/current control and input power-factor correction, two Variable Capacitance Devices were adopted. Two dc-dc converters were used for highspeed driver of these devices. The unity input power factor can be obtained all over the constant-voltage region and the constant-current region. Input current of the proposed power supply becomes almost zero at no load and at short-circuit load

Japanese government - business collaboration and the operations of Japanese corporations in Asia: a telecommunications case

This article examines the advancement of Japanese telecommunications carriers and equipment producers into Asia. Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), the leading carrier in Japan, was restricted from entering international markets until recently, and this paper argues that the delay discouraged telecommunications equipment producers from promoting operations in Asia. While telecommunications-related firms gained some benefit in expanding business in Asia through official development assistance (ODA) programs, this advantage lessened as the programs became more open. It is often argued that the Japanese government and businesses collaboratively moved to Asia, but for the telecommunications sector the support from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPT) was not influential

The politics of telecommunications reform in Japan

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