RBF-APAEA Researchers Conference

The Research Conference is joint workshop between the Reserve Bank of Fiji, and the Asia-Pacific Applied Economics Association (APAEA), which has been a regular annual event since four years ago.  It serves as a vital platform for meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas that help shape the future of Fiji’s financial and economic landscape.  The growing visibility of research initiatives offers a valuable opportunity to foster partnerships in areas of shared interest.  Such collaborations deepen our understanding of monetary and financial sector dynamics and their broader economic implications.  Like many central banks, the Reserve Bank of Fiji places strong emphasis on evidence-based research to inform its macroeconomic outlook, assess emerging risks, and provide forward-looking policy guidance.

Rapid technological change, persistent uncertainty, evolving financial systems, and growing structural and environmental pressures have increased vulnerabilities in both global and domestic economies, placing greater responsibility on policymakers and central banks to deliver sustainable, forward‑looking policies.  In response, central banks have expanded beyond their traditional mandates of price and financial stability to engage in areas such as unconventional monetary policy, climate change, green finance, crisis management, and digital and financial inclusion.  In this environment, economics research has become central to informed decision‑making, helping policymakers better understand the links between core objectives and broader mandates, and ensuring that responses to inflation, climate risks, and structural reforms are grounded in evidence rather than instinct.