The unthinkable has happened. The extraordinary success of the Asian economies has been stopped in its tracks by a series of devastating financial crises. Asia Meltdown gives a blow-by-blow account of how it all started, what caused it - from international currency speculation and central bank weakness to overlending, property inflation and huge infrastructure projects. Gough goes on to explore the world's many conflicting views about the future of the region - from positive ( the crisis merely represents economic growing pains), to pessimistic (a serious setback but recovery will eventually follow after a decade or more) to a catastrophic ( world recession - east Asia collapses taking the West with it). Based on Leo Gough's extensive interviews with business people, politicians, investors and other key players, Asia Meltdown is a penetrating insight into what could be the gravest financial crisis the world has ever seen. (cited from the book cover)