ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the key concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. The book discusses the part of the effort, one step on a long path of overall assessment. It then focuses on asset-building policies begins with James Lee's focus on housing. Asset-building policies and programmes appear to be in a period of emergence and testing around the world. Scholars, policymakers, and development organizations in Asia decides how and to what extent asset-based innovations, research, and policy insights are relevant and helpful. The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) in Malaysia is an understudied yet important example of a surviving 'provident fund' from the British colonial era. The concept of asset building was introduced in Mainland China during a 2004 conference, Asset Building and Social Development, held at Shandong University. A future social contract might place less emphasis on income maintenance for the poor and more emphasis on social investment.
