The essays in this book explore the role of the ethnic Chinese economies in economic recovery and development in Asia in the 21st century. They are largely the product of an international conference on ethnic Chinese and the world economy that was held in China in May of 1998, which brought together scholars from a range of disciplines, from politics and sociology to mainstream economics. The belated publication of the papers has been edited by Professor Yu Chunghsun from Asia University in Tokyo.
Before commenting any further on the subject matter of this book, it should be noted that the collection has been poorly edited, and this will almost certainly color readers' assessment of the book as a whole. Two or three excepted, all the essays are badly in need of the attention of a native English writer, and in some cases require substantial rewriting.
That said, if readers persist, they will find much of interest in the subjects that are explored and the questions scholars raise concerning the prospects for the ethnic Chinese economies, particularly in the wake of the Asian financial crisis.