Over the past two years, the world has been preoccupied with the Asia crisis, its contagion and its economic impact. The social dimension of the turmoil has only recently become the point of focus for debates and investigations by national and international organizations. This book is the first serious academic contribution to this important dimension and contains extensive research, sound analysis and concise presentation by national and international experts on such issues as poverty, education, training, health, nutrition and employment for a number of major economies in Asia and Oceania affected by the crisis.