Executive pay in Asia is increasing across the region,e specially in China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia. According to Mercer, executive salaries in Asia increased by an average of seven percent. Contributing factors include continued strong GDP growth, accelerating inflation and, crucially, a scarcity of executive talent. The exception is struggling Japanese economy which is suppressing pay-keeping it below Western levels. The limited talent pool in this executive employee group and the competition to attract and retain them is driving up pay in some sectors.