Foreword

Acknowledgements

1. Global and regional economic developments: implications and prospects for the ESCAP region
   (Shahid Ahmed, ESCAP secretariat)

2. Social protection in the "new" economy
   (Linda Low)
   
   
3. A note on unemployment in the wake of the Asian economic crisis and some responses (Development Policy Analysis Section, ESCAP secretariat)

4. A perspective on good governance (N.V. Lam, ESCAP secretariat)

5. Promoting SME development: some issues and suggestions for policy consideration (Thitapha Wattanapruttipaisan)

6. Empowering women through self-help microcredit programmes
   (Thelma Kay, ESCAP secretariat)

7. Competition policy in developing countries: an Asia-Pacific perspective
   (Pradeep S. Mehta)

8. Regional financial cooperation in East Asia: the Chiang Mai Initiative and beyond
   (Seok-Dong Wang, ESCAP secretariat)
   
   
9. Export diversification in Pacific island countries
   (Marin Yari, ESCAP secretariat)