M. RAMESH is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Government, at the University of Sydney. He currently teaches post-graduate courses on international political economy, Asian Pacific politics and public policy in the newly industrialising countries of Asia. He is co-author (with Michael Howlett) of two books, The Politics Economy of Canada and Studying Public Policy , and has published widely on a variety of topics in political economy, public policy, and international relations in a range of international journals. MUKUL G. ASHER is based at the National University of Singapore.

'...an introduction to social policy in the region that manages to be succinct yet detailed at the same time.' - Stephan Haggard, American Political Science Review

• List of Tables Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Introduction Economic Conditions in Southeast Asia Social Security; M.G.Asher Health Education The Political Economy of Social Policies Conclusion: Social Welfare Policies in Southeast Asia and the Economic Crisis References Index