* TDRI, under sponsorship of the Ford Foundation, is undertaking a four-country comparative study of the social impacts of the regional economic crisis. This paper is a synthesis from preliminary reports prepared by researchers in each of the four countries (H94). The purpose of the papers is to provide background information and ideas for a common conceptual framework for country studies to be completed over the following eight months. They were presented and discussed at a seminar in Bangkok on November 23-24, 1998.

** TDRI President, Professor at Queen’s University, CA., and TDRI Research Specialist: Human Resources and Social Development Program.

1 "Employment Challenges of the Indonesian Economic Crisis," ILO report. 1998.

2

Asian Wall Street Journal, February 25, 1999.