Southeast Asia: The Long Road Ahead, (Third Edition), May/2009

Southeast Asia is going through tremendous changes. The market-oriented economies of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand have been showing robust growth, particularly before the Asian financial crisis of 1997/98. The transitional economies of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam are also exhibiting signs of economic awakening and revival after years of internal political and social turmoil. Despite these encouraging signs, the region still has a long road ahead to achieve developed nation status.

Southeast Asia: The Long Road Ahead is a serious and concise study on various important economic aspects of Southeast Asia. Existing economic studies on the region are mainly topical in nature. Most of the publications only attempt to offer a partial treatment of the issues and fail to examine these issues in a holistic manner. The objective of this book is to provide a more complete cross-country discussion on the economic issues and problems facing Southeast Asia. Besides critically examining the multiple facets of changes and problems that have been and will be encountered by Southeast Asia, the book also presents a lucid exposition on the prospects of the region. However, it does not stop there. It moves on to provide pointers and suggestions on how Southeast Asian countries should proceed with their development options and processes. The book should be of interest to economists, graduate students on Southeast Asia and all those who want to have a better knowledge and understanding of the important Southeast Asian region.

In this latest edition, data were updated and new emerging trends explored. A significant portion of the text was redrafted so as to make this edition more compact and concise than the earlier ones. New "Suggested Discussion Topics" are added, and contemporary issues such as the Global Financial Tsunami, Asian economic integration and Michael Spence’s World Bank Report are also dealt with.

Contents:

? The Land and Its History
? Economic Diversity
? Agriculture: Rice
? Agriculture: Rubber, Oil Palm and Other Crops
? Agriculture: Prospects and Policy Options
? Industrialisation: Comparative Strategy
? Economic Inter-Dependence: External Trade
? Economic Regionalism
? Fiscal Policy
? Financial Policy
? Population Explosion and Characteristics
? The Asian Financial Crisis
? Trinity Development Model and Southeast Asian Development

Praise:

"A terrific book on a dynamic region by a prolific writer, by any measure. Insights found in this book are grossly in short supply. Congratulations, Professor Lim."

Professor Mohamed Ariff
Executive Director
Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER), Malaysia

"Professor Lim's lifelong scholarship and his exemplary energy are reflected throughout the Third Edition of his textbook on economic development in Southeast Asia. As the region grapples with the current global economic crisis, his policy insights and focus on fundamental factors of governance and economic growth are particularly relevant. This is arguably the most comprehensive textbook on economic development of Southeast Asia."

Professor Mukul G Asher
Professor of Public Policy
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
National University of Singapore, Singapore

"The third edition of Southeast Asia: The Long Road Ahead is a welcome addition to the literature on the economic development of Southeast Asia, and a must-buy for anybody seeking a deeper understanding of this fascinating and important region. This edition has been thoroughly revised to take account of the region's progress since the deep crisis of 1997-98 and other major developments. Nobody can match Lim Chong Yah for his breadth and depth of understanding of Southeast Asian development issues."

Professor Hal Hill
HW Arndt Professor of Southeast Asian Economies
Australian National University, Australia

"The Third Edition of Lim Chong Yah's most balanced text on the economic development of Southeast Asian countries is more than welcome, because during the 6 years after the 2003 edition, many puzzling events hit the ASEAN countries. Despite the catching-up of Vietnam; Indonesia, the Philippines and Myanmar remained stagnant. Divergences in growth widened in ASEAN, The book deals with these and related financial issues in the region; the best guide to ASEAN Economy in the early 21st Century."

Professor Shinichi Ichimura
Former President and Founder, East Asian Economic Association
Emeritus Professor of Economics
Kyoto University, Japan

"With a comprehensive updating of empirical evidence, the latest edition of 'South East Asia: The Long Road Ahead' provides students and policymakers with a comprehensive and authoritative understanding of the fundamental causes and challenges of economic growth and development in the South East Asia region. Written by one of the region's most distinguished economists, this book is rightly regarded as a key source for understanding how the region's economies have achieved so much and how these achievements can be sustained in the future."

Professor Colin Kirkpatrick
Professor Emeritus of Development Economics
University of Manchester, United Kingdom

"Lim Chong Yah has long been known for his extraordinary abilty to understand how economies work, and to prescribe policies accordingly — he is one of the very best. Here, Prof Lim brings us further up to date using the latest available data to analyze the progress, or otherwise, of countries he knows well in a reagion of growing importance to all of us."

Professor Jack L Knetsch
Professor Emeritus
Simon Fraser University, Canada

"Professor Lim distinguishes himself from most other authors on SE Asian development for his practical as well as academic experiences of the region. His large network of friends and colleagues throughtout the region equips him with constant updates on the true situations of the region. This book, therefore, exudes Professor Lim's utter familiarities with the region so that the readers can feel assured that they are told definitive stories about SE Asian development."

Dr Medhi Krongkaew
Commissioner, National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), Thailand
Former President, Federation of ASEAN Economic Associations (FAEA)

"I am not at all surprised that this important book has gone through many reprints and now the updated third edition, as it is written by a very informed and knowledgeable insider, a most pre-eminent economist, who does not only have a distinguished academic career but also actual policy involvement at a high level. The book mixes accurate description with interesting theoretical analysis (notably the author's theories of EGOIN, Triple C, and the S Curve) and sensible policy recommendations."

Professor Yew Kwang Ng
Professor of Economics
Department of Economics
Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

"Professor Lim's untiring efforts to educate others on how to see and appreciate Southeast Asia as an economic region must be applauded. This book will help the region understand why it should create an ASEAN Economic Community and how best to realize that."

Dr Hadi Soesastro
Senior Fellow
Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Jakarta, Indonesia