In addition, local governments are still heavily incentivized on two very measurable criteria: social stability and economic growth.

FORBES: Beijing Orders Polluting Factories To Close

These were the pressures behind the Maastricht criteria and, later, the stability pact (see article).

ECONOMIST: Europe's mid-life crisis

One of the key criteria of ASEAN membership has been stability.

CNN: AND THEN THERE WERE TEN

By that time the stability pact may no longer exist, and new members may be able to enter on looser criteria.

ECONOMIST: EU enlargement