Education, Industry, Trade and Development of Asia-Pacific countries in 1980-99

We compare the economic development of Asia-Pacific countries in the 20th century with world average, and analyse the evolution of education, fertility, population and economic growth in Asia-Pacific countries at the end of the 20th century, showing that, after centuries of slow economic development, many Asian countries have experienced an important take-off during the last two decades of that century, mainly thanks to the increase in the educational level of population and industrialization. It is important to remark the positive role of education in economic development as it contributes to moderate population growth, industrial investment per inhabitant and real income per inhabitant.