This volume presents detailed analyses of the role and significance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the economies of East Asia. Various aspects of SME operations are studied, including: the role and significance of networking in the conduct of business; the contribution of culture to business acumen and entrepreneurialism; human resource development constraints and issues; technology transfer processes; the utilization and application of information technology by SMEs; the impact of electronic commerce; and the policy framework needed to simulate the growth of the SME sector. A common framework is adopted between the different studies, enabling substantive lessons to be derived and policy measures to be identified. "The Role of SMEs in National Economies in East Asia" should be of interest to academics and researchers of industrial organization, Asian economies and Asian studies as well as policymakers concerned with SME growth in the area.

Machine generated contents note: 1 East Asian SMEs: Contemporary Issues and Developments - An Overview -- Charles Harvie and Boon-Chye Lee -- 2 Profile of SMEs and SME Issues in East Asia -- Chris Hall -- 3 China's SMEs: Their Evolution and Future Prospects in an Evolving Market Economy -- Charles Harvie -- 4 The Limping Tiger: Problems in Transition for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Vietnam -- David Richards, Charles Harvie, Ha Nguyen and Nguyen Van Lan -- 5 SMEs and the New Economy: Philippine Manufacturing in the 1990s -- Edgard Rodriguez and Albert Berry -- 6 Old Policy Challenges for a New Administration: SMEs in Indonesia -- Hal Hill -- 7 An Overview of the Macroeconomic Contribution of Small and Medium Enterprises in Malaysia -- Moha Asri Abdullah -- 8 Policies for SME Recovery in Thailand -- Peter Brimble, David Oldfield and Manusavee Monsakul -- 9 Promoting SMEs in Korea: Government Response to the Asian Financial Crisis -- Gary D. Gregory -- 10 Government Policies and Programs for Small and Medium Enterprises in Taiwan -- Matt Ngui -- 11 Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Australia -- James Nguyen, Gary D. Gregory, Charles Harvie, Boon-Chye Lee -- and Matt Ngui -- 12 Japan: The Role of SMEs in the Mature Economy -- Keishi Sugiura -- 13 Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in New Zealand -- Heather Wilson and Nigel Haworth -- 14 Small and Medium Enterprises in Singapore and the New Economy -- Boon-Chye Lee and Wee-Liang Tan.