Australia is enjoying its 25^th straight year of economic growth. Risks could arise from increasing housing prices and household debt, and weak growth in wages and household incomes. Investment remains subdued, and growth is more reliant on government spending and net exports.

The People’s Republic of China saw steady economic momentum in the first half of 2018. Aware of potential uncertainties from domestic and international shocks, including the trade dispute with the US, the country has taken a proactive fiscal policy and measures to further open its market and increase imports.

Safety is a central issue during the planning and implementation of high-speed railways. Top management has a role to play in improving the safety culture of organizations. The authors conduct an assessment of the safety cultures at two railway companies, illustrate the importance of sustained efforts from top leaders in developing a positive safety culture, and conclude that the dynamics related to safety culture are also affected by other components in the system.

Many metropolitan cities in Asia are planning and implementing mass transit networks. Transit-oriented development (TOD) will be key; it should consider a transit- oriented management plan for regional growth; station area zoning regulations; joint development among local governments, transit agencies, and private developers; and an institutional mechanism for public and private cooperation in station area development.

Learn about the success and failure of digital services. The success of a digital government strategy requires openness and engagement, governance and coordination, and capacities to support implementation.

Noel Sta. Ines at the Asian Development Bank discussed the use of geotagging and high-resolution satellite imagery to track and visualize project implementation status. The presentation highlighted the adoption of these technologies including by the Philippines Commission of Audit as part of their Citizen Participatory Audit program, in which citizens could be involved in the auditing of projects funded by the national government.

Professors Erika Legara and Christopher Monterola presented on leading research led by the Institute of High Performance Computing in the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore on use of big data to create simulations for the Singapore Rapid Transit System aimed to assess cost and convenience in the management of their transport systems. These models were used widely for scenario planning and disruption management, and were the basis of transport-related policy proposals of government.

Kaushal Jhalla presented on the emerging role of disruptive technologies, as well as challenges to adaptation at scale specifically around blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT) and its implementation in pilots for creating increased access to finance for SMEs and entrepreneurs.