This book comprehensively and systematically explores demographic profile, lifestyles, value priorities, and subjective and objective quality of life of the ordinary citizens in most societies in Asia, utilizing the AsiaBarometer Surveys conducted annually from 2003 through 2008. The surveyed area encompasses 29 societies in East, Southeast, South and Central Asia. The book examines life quality in each individual society and compares it between societies. In addition, the book studies generalized characteristics of life quality in the entire and sub-regions of Asia. This book is intended for scholars in the fields of quality of life, political science, sociology and economics as well as for policymakers.

Takashi INOGUCHI is Professor of Political Science at Faculty of Law, Chuo University and Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo. Dr. Inoguchi is the editor of the Japanese Journal of Political Science published by Cambridge University Press. He is director of the AsiaBarometer project. He served as the Senior Vice-Rector of the United Nations University at the rank of Assistant-Secretary-General and President of Japan Association of International Relations. His published works include: The Quality of Life in Confucian Asia (forthcoming) (co-edited with Doh Chull Shin); Citizens and the State: Attitudes in Western Europe and East and Southeast Asia (2007) (coauthored with Jean Blondel); and Political Cultures in Asia and Europe (2006) (coauthored with Jean Blondel). Dr. Inoguchi graduated from the University of Tokyo with B.A. and M.A. in international relations in 1966 and 1968 respectively and received Ph.D. in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1974.