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Law and Development in East and Southeast Asia (review)

successful transformations. In the final part, four chapters are devoted to examining the country's record with respect to what is collectively referred to in the book as the social dimensions covering human resources, poverty, regional development, and the environment. Despite important strides in health and education (for example, in spending), rapid population growth and the lack of a strong population policy are deemed by Alejandro N. Herrin and Ernesto M. Pernia as the major stumbling blocks which must be squarely faced. Arsenio M. Balisacan investigates the nature, pattern, characteristics, and causes of poverty and inequality in the Philippines and emphasizes that the type of economic growth is as important as the rate of growth in attaining any headway. Another kind of inequality, spatial inequality, is the focus of Rosario G. Manasan and Shiladitaya Chatterjee. They examine the persistent disparities among the regions and offer concrete recommendations to address the uneven development. Ian Coxhead and Sisira Jayasuriya conclude the volume with a discussion of the state of the environment pointing out the major threats to sustainable economic development. These twelve chapters individually and collectively lead to a better understanding of a country that is described in the opening line of the book as "one of the world's development puzzles". As a scholarly piece, there is no question that this collection is a valuable contribution to the literature. Beyond being an academic endeavour however, the volume has practical value as well. It will enable policy-makers, development planners and practitioners, and even aid agencies to gain a better grasp of both the systemic and idiosyncratic problems that need to be addressed. Through careful and critical examination of the Philippine's past economic record, this volume provides an excellent starting point for the design of mutually reinforcing policies and programmes which will hopefully contribute to achieving sustainable, durable, and equitable growth.