The book is part of the International Finance Corporation ' s (IFC) technical assistance project for Asian regional housing finance, and consists of case studies focusing on the role of primary, and secondary mortgage institutions, and the related legal and regulatory environment in Asia. It is based on the papers presented at the workshop held in Bali, Indonesia in February 1998, which identified common issues, and exchanged ideas that stimulated the formation of a network of institutions, and individuals interested in developing mortgage-related securities. The wide range of subject matters include, first, models of secondary mortgage market development, to reduce institutional segmentation in the provision of housing finance, to increase the liquidity of mortgages, as well as the competition, and efficiency in the mortgage market, through adequate market, and legal infrastructure. Second, case studies vary from the experience in Hong Kong on housing finance and capital markets, new directions in housing finance in India, Indonesia, and Japan, through the restructuring of housing finance to broaden the linkage with capital markets in Korea. Further case studies examine the secondary mortgage market, and capital markets in Malaysia, how to rationalize housing finance and develop capital markets in the Philippines, and, how to integrate housing finance, and capital markets in Thailand.
