A critical component for economic growth and development, steel has played an important role in the wide-based industrial sector of many countries. In _Asian Crucible_, China and India are the subjects of an intriguing discussion of their respective steel industries in relation to the growth experienced in both country"s economies. The authors" main findings are that China"s growth rate has proven to be faster than India"s and that it has forged ahead because of that country"s imaginative policies. The volume opens with an analysis of the political framework and its impact on the economy. Then, the authors present a profile of the steel industry in the two countries and assess the present deficiencies and the possible remedies within the framework of the basic policy adopted by both countries. Particular issues discussed include the need for expansion of the steel industry in both countries, the extent to which a country should import foreign technology, and whether resources should be supplemented by borrowing. _Asian Crucible_ will be of interest to scholars in the fields of development economics, policy studies, industrial relations, and South Asian studies.