In the past sixteen months, the world has been preoccupied with the Asian economic and financial crisis and its contagion. Governments, businesses, chambers of commerce and industry, research institutes, universities, and individuals worldwide have all been concerned with these problems and, more importantly, with the prospects in Asian and world economies in the short- and long-term after the crisis. The book contains soundly researched analyses and robust and databased forecasts by international experts in the areas and provides in a concise and well argued manner a deep understanding of the fundamental factors affecting the direction of development of growth, trade, investment and business in Asian and world economies up to 2010. The book is a must-have for all interested in these important issues in our modern society.

Tran Van Hoa is Associate Professor at the University of Wollongong, Australia.