Governments and Markets in East Asia examines the relationship between economic performance, elite co-operation, and political regime stability in the context of the Asian crisis, and argues that economic crisis is not the cause of greater political harmony or discord, but rather that it serves as a catalyst that may encourage elites to cooperate or conflict depending upon the particular circumstances at the time of crisis. 

This book maintains that the political consequences of the Asian crisis varied according to the type of elite that existed in each stricken society. Including a comprehensive comparative study of five countries' experiences during the economic crisis: Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea and the Philippines, this book investigates the pre-crisis political context and elite configuration of these five countries, and considers what lessons can be drawn from their experiences. Constituting an impressive body of descriptive and theoretical material on the Asian crisis, this book looks towards the implications of economic crisis for elite behaviour and political stability.