Explosive economic and social changes in the Asia Pacific region have meant that much of what we know about the area is outdated. This book addresses this and looks at the "human resource period" with detailed analysis, discussion and predictions for the future. Focusing on the areas of China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand the book explores the reasons behind changes and whether they indicate movement of convergence or divergence, the key issues for management and the implications for theory development. This is the latest research available on this subject. A must for managers, researchers and those teaching undergraduate or postgraduate courses, as well as those interested in international business, sociology and employee relations.