The book Governing the Asian Century: Innovation, Human Capital, and Inclusive Development in 21st Century China and India examines the parallel and increasingly interconnected paths of China and India as they transition from manufacturing to innovation-driven economies. The volume argues that true progress must be measured by human factors — such as education quality, health systems, and mental health — rather than just traditional economic indicators like GDP or patent counts, which often mask growing inequality. Covering topics from intellectual property and industrial digitalization to education and healthcare reform, the analysis highlights that while both nations' systems offer unique advantages — China's centralized engineering skills versus India's pluralistic flexibility — rapid growth has often come at the cost of human well-being, aligning with the Easterlin paradox. The book concludes by emphasizing the need for targeted co-specialization and a shift toward fair, purpose-driven growth for sustainable development in the 21st century Asia and the world.
