South Asia: Rising to the Challenge of Globalization

This timely book reviews how South Asia is rising to the challenge of globalization. In particular, how are South Asian countries maximizing the benefits of globalization whilst minimizing its costs? What lessons have these countries learned from the East Asian financial crisis? What actions have they taken at the national, regional, and global level? Some important topics covered in this book include policy reforms and economic integration in South Asia, comparisons between South Asia (mainly India) and China, and economic linkages between South Asia and East Asia including the possibility of an integrated Pan-Asia similar to the European Union. Academics, researchers, students, policymakers and observers of South Asian, and more broadly Asian, economic development and integration will want to read this book.

There has been a proliferation of books on East Asia's dynamism and it's integration intraregionally as well as with the global economy. In contrast, much less has been written on South Asia which has, until recently, been a relative laggard in economic growth as well as in terms of embracing the global market economy ... There are also encouraging signs regarding the gradual integration of India and -- to a lesser extent -- the rest of South Asia with China and the rest of East Asia, leading some to talk about "Pan-Asian" integration. The revitalization of South Asia has also given impetus for enhanced intra-South Asian economic integration ... There has, however, been little careful and thoughtful analysis of these important trends and ongoings. The book by Rana and Dowling very ably fills this gap. The authors, both of whom have extensive policy experience in Asia, should be commended for writing a book that offers a thorough and detailed analysis of the data and provides highly useful and insightful policy recommendations.