`The subject of this book - Asia-Pacific economies and their integration - is very topical and of major importance to the world trade and global trading system. As the book explains, the region's market-led or 'open regionalism' contrasts with the more closed regionalism of Europe and North America, offering an attractive alternative to the other developing-country regions.' - Kym Anderson, Centre for International Economic Studies, University of Adelaide Over the last three decades, dramatic growth has occured in the Asia- Pacific economies. They have in fact grown into an economic force of international dimensions as they not only succeeded in reducing their economic dependence on major industrial countries but have also come to have a 'locomotive' effect on the international economy. This unique growth phenomenon is analysed in this