Central / national / federal government policies Books

Book SynopsisShould be required reading for all policy makers.” —Warren BuffettFrom the three primary architects of the American policy response to the worst economic catastrophe since the Great Depression, a magnificent big-picture synthesis--from why it happened to where we are now.In 2018, Ben Bernanke, Tim Geithner, and Hank Paulson came together to reflect on the lessons of the 2008 financial crisis ten years on. Recognizing that, as Ben put it, the enemy is forgetting, they examine the causes of the crisis, why it was so damaging, and what it ultimately took to prevent a second Great Depression. And they provide to their successors in the United States and the finance ministers and central bank governors of other countries a valuable playbook for reducing the damage from future financial crises. Firefighting provides a candid and powerful account of the choices they and their teams made during the crisis, working under two presidents and with the leaders of Congress.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisA concise but informative overview of AI ethics and policy.Artificial intelligence, or AI for short, has generated a staggering amount of hype in the past several years. Is it the game-changer it's been cracked up to be? If so, how is it changing the game? How is it likely to affect us as customers, tenants, aspiring homeowners, students, educators, patients, clients, prison inmates, members of ethnic and sexual minorities, and voters in liberal democracies? Authored by experts in fields ranging from computer science and law to philosophy and cognitive science, this book offers a concise overview of moral, political, legal and economic implications of AI. It covers the basics of AI's latest permutation, machine learning, and considers issues such as transparency, bias, liability, privacy, and regulation.Both business and government have integrated algorithmic decision support systems into their daily operations, and the book explores the implications for our lives as citizens. For example, do we take it on faith that a machine knows best in approving a patient's health insurance claim or a defendant's request for bail? What is the potential for manipulation by targeted political ads? How can the processes behind these technically sophisticated tools ever be transparent? The book discusses such issues as statistical definitions of fairness, legal and moral responsibility, the role of humans in machine learning decision systems, “nudging” algorithms and anonymized data, the effect of automation on the workplace, and AI as both regulatory tool and target.

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Book Synopsis#1 NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • In this urgent, authoritative book, Bill Gates sets out a wide-ranging, practical—and accessible—plan for how the world can get to zero greenhouse gas emissions in time to avoid a climate catastrophe.Bill Gates has spent a decade investigating the causes and effects of climate change. With the help of experts in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, political science, and finance, he has focused on what must be done in order to stop the planet''s slide to certain environmental disaster. In this book, he not only explains why we need to work toward net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases, but also details what we need to do to achieve this profoundly important goal.He gives us a clear-eyed description of the challenges we face. Drawing on his understanding of innovation and what it takes to get new ideas into the market, he describes the areas in which technology is already helping to reduce emissions, where and how the current technology can be made to function more effectively, where breakthrough technologies are needed, and who is working on these essential innovations. Finally, he lays out a concrete, practical plan for achieving the goal of zero emissions—suggesting not only policies that governments should adopt, but what we as individuals can do to keep our government, our employers, and ourselves accountable in this crucial enterprise.As Bill Gates makes clear, achieving zero emissions will not be simple or easy to do, but if we follow the plan he sets out here, it is a goal firmly within our reach.

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPreface Trade Agreements: Issue Areas 1. Enforcement and Dispute Settlement J.-H. Park 2. The Escape Clause in Trade Agreements M. Beshkar and E.W. Bond 3. Dumping and Antidumping Duties B.A. Blonigen and T.J. Prusa 4. Subsidies and Countervailing Duties G.M. Lee 5. Non-Tariff Measures and the World Trading System J. Ederington and M. Ruta 6. Preferential Trade Agreements N. Limão 7. Special and Differential Treatment for Developing Countries E. Ornelas 8. Trade, Intellectual Property Rights, and the World Trade Organization K. Saggi 9. Issue Linkage G. Maggi

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Book SynopsisAn explosive, news-breaking account of Donald Trump's collision with the American national security establishment.

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Book SynopsisHow did American welfare policy move from the altruistic goals of LBJ's Great Society to the penurious provisions of the Personal Responsibility and Work Reconciliation Act of 1996? This text explores the power of ideology and rhetoric in the transformation of the American liberal welfare state.Trade ReviewO'Connor's timely volume is a vital reminder to scholars of American politics and government that ideas do indeed matter! He demonstrates how both liberals and conservatives in America have wrestled with the problem of accommodating the need to aid the disadvantaged with America's individualistic political culture. Moroever, his analysis of the politics behind the 1996 welfare reform, based on interviews with many of the key participants, is brilliant. A Political History of the American Welfare System has set the standard of scholarship on the politics of welfare reform. -- Nicol Rae, Florida International UniversityIdeas have consequences. The ideas that emerged in the sixties had more radical consequences than could have been anticipated, as the world came to be turned right-side-up. In this book, Brendon O'Connor's achievement is to track and explain this process and its practical results. An important book. -- Peter Beilharz, Latrobe University, AustraliaBrendon O'Connor's book provides a refreshingly balanced and sober assessment of the vexed issues around U.S. welfare policies, based on extensive research. For foreigners, the passions aroused by the debate on welfare in the U.S. is often hard to fathom, and O'Connor clarifies and illuminates the ways in which these debates often touch on competing visions of the nature of American society and of human nature itself. -- Dennis Altman, president, AIDS Society of Asia and the PacificO'Connor provides a complex, nuanced, and important analysis of a major policy transformation that mandated work requirements for poor women to receive income supports. Moreover, he analyzes U.S. conservative ideologies that have had and will continue to make major impacts on many public policies other than welfare during the Bush administration. -- Bruce Johnson, director, Institute for Special Populations ResearchTable of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction Part 2 I The Liberal Welfare System Chapter 3 Liberalism and Welfare: The Ideological and Political Roots of the American Welfare System Chapter 4 The Liberal Consensus and the Great Society Chapter 5 The Seeds of Doom for Liberalism Part 6 II The Conservative Attack on Welfare Liberalism Chapter 7 The Neoconservatives Chapter 8 Reagan's Conservatives: The Supply-Siders, George Gilder, and Charles Murray Chapter 9 The New Right Chapter 10 A Populist Backlash? Part 11 III The Emergence of a Conservative Welfare System Chapter 12 Bill Clinton's Third Way Welfare Politics: Innovation, Compromise, and Capitulation Chapter 13 Newt Gingrich, the Contract with Americaand Justifying the PRWORA Chapter 14 Conservative Welfare Policy in Practice

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Book SynopsisThough the world''s population continues to grow, total fertility rates are dropping below replacement level in many parts of the world. The Baby Bust, a landmark book of essays by demographic, economic, and political science experts, examines the global ''birth dearth'' and its causes, implications, and policy options. Focusing in large part on the United States, this book also includes data from Europe and Japan and makes important comparisons between the three regions. It concludes with suggestions for making America''s future sound and prosperous, through the regularization and legalization of appropriate levels of immigration; enhancing governmental efforts to increase productivity; and finally, ending the present waste of so many underutilized members of the workforce, particularly minorities and the poor.Trade ReviewThe book...provides a good and very accessible account of the trends in fertility in economically advanced countries...the book...[is] a valuable addition to reading lists in courses in demography and sociology, particularly in the light of its accessibility and its broad coverage... -- John Ermisch, University of Essex * Population Studies: A Journal of Demography *Table of ContentsChapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Introduction Part 3 I The Global Baby Bust Chapter 4 Japan's Baby Bust: Causes, Implications, and Policy Responses Chapter 5 Low Fertility in Europe: Causes, Implications, and Policy Options Part 6 II The United States and the Baby Bust Chapter 7 The U.S. Baby Bust in Historical Perspective Chapter 8 Combating Child Poverty and Enhancing the Soundness of Social Security Chapter 9 Latino Immigrants, National Identity, and the National Interest Chapter 10 Ending America's Waste of Its Most Precious Resource—Its People

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Book SynopsisPart of the "History Highway" series, this title is aimed at those conducting historical research on North, Central, or South America. Complete with a CD with live links to sites, it covers all periods of US, Canadian, and Latin American History, and includes coverage of Hispanic American and Asian American History.Table of ContentsThis work shows that the collapse of socialist employment and social service systems - and of the USSR itself - has had profoundly damaging effects, manifested in dislocation and homelessness, ethnic strife, family breakdown, declining life expectancy, and soaring rates of violence and crime.

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Book Synopsis What role do think tanks play in shaping public policy and public discourse in the United States?In The Fifth Estate: Think Tanks, Public Policy, and Governance, James G. McGann illustrates how policymakers have come to value the independent analysis and advice provided by think tanks and why it has become one of the defining characteristics of the American political system. Drawing on case studies in both foreign and domestic policy, McGann clarifies the correlation between think tank research and the policies enacted by the past three presidential administrations. He also describes a phenomenon known as the revolving door, where think tanks provide former government officials an opportunity to share insights from public service, remain involved in policy debates, and continue to provide advice and commentary.Based on the history and the level of involvement seen today, the influence of think tanks is unlikely to diminish in the coming years.

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Book Synopsis Artificial Intelligence is here, today. How can society make the best use of it? Darrell West and John R. Allen discuss both the opportunities and risks posed by artificial intelligenceand how near-term policy decisions could determine whether AI leads to utopia or dystopia. Drawing on in-depth studies of major uses of AI, the authors outline a policy and governance blueprint for gaining the benefits of artificial intelligence while minimizing its potential downsides. Turning Point offers major recommendations for actions that governments, businesses, and individuals can take to promote trustworthy and responsible artificial intelligence. Their recommendations include: creation of ethical principles, strengthening government oversight, defining corporate culpability, establishment of advisory boards at federal agencies, using third-party audits to reduce biases inherent in algorithms, tightening personal privacy requirements, using insurance to m

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsNew Preface (2007); Preface to first edition; Introduction; approaching post-war trade unionism, John McIlroy, Alan Campbell, Nina Fishman; Part One: Overviews, 1945���79: The role of industrial correspondents, Geoffrey Goodman; Making trade unionists: the politics of pedagogy, 1945���79, John McIlroy; Part Two: Survey: The post-war compromise: mapping industrial politics, 1945���64, Alan Campbell, Nina Fishman, John McIlroy; Part Three: Case Studies, 1945���64: ���Shut your gob!���: the trade unions and the Labour Party, David Howell; The Trades Union Congress in the international labour movement, Anthony Carew; Cold War politics: communism and anti-communism in the trade unions, Richard Stevens; Social democracy and anti-communism: Allan Flanders and British industrial relations in the early post-war period, John Kelly; The shop floor politics of productivity: work, power and authority relations in British engineering, c.1945���57, Alan McKinlay and Joseph Melling; ���The most serious crisis since 1926���: the engineering and shipbuilding strikes of 1957, Nina Fishman; ���Spearhead of the movement���? The 1958 London busworkers��� strike, the TUC and Frank Cousins, Nina Fishman; Democracy and trade unionism on the docks, Jim Phillips; Afterword, Eric Hobsbawm; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe New School of Economics offers a coherent plan to transform our current confining and unjust economic system into a fair and prosperous economics with opportunities for all. This book addresses systematic issues and offers a roadmap to overcome denied access to prosperity, by creating a more just and vibrant society where everyone has an opportunity to thrive and find fulfilment. The author introduces a more simplified introduction to the world of Physiocracy, and the physiocrats, the 18th century group of economists who believed that the wealth of nations derived solely from the value of land agriculture' or land development' and that agricultural products should be highly priced. At the center of this book is the movement of a new way of economic thinking. With their political-economic framework, The New Physiocrats refer to this as the New School of Economics'. The New School of Economics presents many opportunities for lively debate. Especially now, when the whole Table of Contents Prologue x Update & Reflection: xvi Introduction The Dream 1 Who are the New Physiocrats? 2 The Decline of Current Market-based Models 3 Part I: The Guiding Principles of the New School 7 Georgism’ s Pragmatic Land Value Tax 10 Modern-Day Examples 14 The New Physiocratic Platform 14 Our Flag 15 Part II: Economic Reform Platform 17 The Three Pillars of Income Security 17 Commons Levies for the National Dividend 19 Lessons Learned and Property Bubbles 20 Unified Location Tax (ULT) 22 Environmental Taxation 27 Returning the Money You Earned 28 The New Management Incentives 30 Monopolies and Public-Private Partnerships 32 Sustainable Value Added Tax (SVAT) 33Types of Consumption 34 Focus on Purchasing Power 35 Sectoral Banks 36 Business-to-Business Portal 46 The Effort to Support Purchasing Power — Benefit Licenses 47 Table of Contents Community Restaurants, Cultural Clothing, and Groceries 48 Local Markets 49 Consumers and Farmers Shops 51 The New Rules for Industrial Organization: The Problems with Picking Winners 51 Static, Dynamic, and Traditional Sectors 52 Visual Space 55 The New Rules for a Functioning Market: Guardians ofTransparency 56 Private Property 57 The Path to Full Employment 58 The Effort to Restore Our Time 58 Bankruptcy 60 Perfect Information and Perverse Incentives: Publish salaries,education availability 60 Industry-Managed Rapid Retraining (IMRR) 61 Employer of Last Resort 62 Freeing the Labor Market from its Distortions 63 Sustainable Pensions and Savings 64 The New Rules for Trade: Protectionism vs. Compensatism 66 Preferential Trade Agreements 71 Planned Obsolescence 71 Economic Complexity 72 Chilean-style capital controls 72 The New Rules on Government Spending 73 Focus on Incentives 75 Part III: Political Reform Platform 76 A New System of Government 76 Financial and Monetary Reform 81New Central Bank Rules and Tools 85 Part IV: Social Reform Platform 87 Culture and Free Speech 87 Marriage and Child-rearing 87 Our Space and Health 91 Our Space and Education 92 Scale & Efficiency versus Diversity & Safety 93 Wasted Legal Efforts 94 A New Metric for Success 96 Part V: The Constitution — The General Agreement 98 The New Physiocratic Platform 99 Social Reform: 101 The Road to Power 105 Glossary 107 Annex I 110 Annex II 120

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Book SynopsisA new Urban Institute Press book offers a slate of reform opportunities for the ailing subprime mortgage market and provides one of the first comprehensive analyses of this still-evolving segment of the mortgage industry.

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Book Synopsis**USA Today bestseller and Wall Street Journal business bestseller**They say John Maynard Keynes called gold a barbarous relic. They say there isn’t enough gold to support finance and commerce. They say the gold supply can’t increase fast enough to support world growth. They’re wrong. In this bold manifesto, bestselling author and eco­nomic commentator James Rickards steps forward to defend gold—as both an irreplaceable store of wealth and a standard for currency.  Global political instability and market volatility are on the rise. Gold, always a prudent asset to own, has become the single most important wealth preserva­tion tool for banks and individuals alike. Rickards draws on historical case studies, monetary theory, and personal experience as an investor to argue that:  • The next financial collapse will

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Book SynopsisLays out an account of the origins and development of liberal political and economic theory

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Book SynopsisBrings the concept of gross negligence to the fore and highlights how distributive justice forms a better foundation for risk allocation in the offshore energy industry

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe weighty question of whether a truly unified human family is possible deserves an equally weighty analysis. Thank goodness, then, for this profoundly important book. -- Robert B. Cialdini, Author, Influence: Science and PracticeHow do we know who is a relative? If you're a rat, it's easy-there's instinctual recognition by smell. But it's hard for humans, because amid us figuring it out rationally, a sludge of emotions helps determine who feels like an Us and who like a Them. In this superb book, Ehrlich and Ornstein explore the evolutionary biology, brain science, anthropology and psychology of how a Them can become an Us, how we can expand our sense of empathy, family and relatedness. But the book is more than merely a masterful and readable review of the subject. It is also a clarion call about what will happen if we don't get better at turning Them's into Us's. This is a deeply important book. -- Robert Maurice Sapolsky, Ph.D., Professor of Neuroscience, Stanford University; author of Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers and A Primate's MemoirIn this compact, thought-provoking book, well-known authors Paul Ehrlich and Robert Ornstein have collaborated to lay out a blueprint for our survival in this globalized world. We got away with attitudes of 'us vs. them' in the past; we can no longer get away with those attitudes today. -- Jared Diamond, Professor of Geography at UCLA, and Pulitzer-prize-winning author of best-selling books including Guns, Germs, and Steel and ColEhrlich, the author of numerous influential environmental books, and award-winning psychologist Ornstein address the need for empathy to maintain the health of civilization. While drawing on a long line of psychological experiments to show the inherent development of family ties and persistent 'us vs. them' mentality in human society, the authors also examine the development of the perfect Leave It To Beaver family stereotype and its enduring impact that has extended far beyond pop culture. A focus on family values that never actually existed, this has created a myth that justifies the concept of a different 'them' that thwarts attempts at transcending differences. With stark examples such as Rwanda to serve as warnings, Ehrlich and Ornstein segue into chapters on 'building the global family.' While political watchers may find it impossible to believe we could ever see beyond the smallest of differences, the authors remain hopeful and offer plenty of evidence that change will come, simply because the twenty-first century requires it. Thoughtful and sincere, this is a solid evidentiary presentation of an all-too-often emotional topic. * Booklist *These guys, not for the first time, have cut to the heart of the problem we face. And do not for a moment think it can't be done. Last year at 350.org we organized 5,200 simultaneous rallies in 181 countries to demand scientific action on climate change-we can work globally, but we've got to think through precisely the problems outlined here. -- Bill McKibben, author of "Radio Free Vermont"A rich book that delves into the root of the world’s most pressing problems: the lack of empathy in mankind. The whole book revolves around this central idea of how we human beings as a whole global family should develop more empathy toward each other to ensure a sustainable future....Ehrlich and Ornstein expose readers to some mind-blowing aspects of cultures in the hidden corners of the world....With a smart pun of humanity teetering on the tightrope just as the tightrope performer, Ehrlich and Ornstein showcase their beliefs in the super-power of empathy – that it can save humanity and save the world we live in. * The Stanford Daily *The authors' hearts are in the right place with this earnest plea to all mankind to develop empathy and embrace the interdependency that connects us all. Ehrlich (The Population Bomb) and Ornstein (The Healing Brain) argue that human behavior is the biggest threat to our collective future and strongly suggest we create less "us" vs. "them" binaries. From environmental conservation to ending consumerism to the pervasive ignorance that feeds xenophobia, they approach their focus through the lenses of anthropology, neuropsychology, and history. * Publishers Weekly *With their intriguing analogy of the tightrope walker, authors Ehrlich and Ornstein draw readers into their compelling argument for redefining our notions of family and community. That walker, the authors say, is the human race, the rope the many global crises confronting us, and that perilous journey our own progress towards an uncertain future. And what the world sorely needs to navigate that perilous rope is empathy, specifically that of its more privileged nations. * Bookpleasures.com *Humanity on a Tightrope reads like an engaging after-dinner conversation between two old friends. Ehrlich tackles global issues with the ease and sometimes bluster of someone who has been on a soapbox for more than four decades. Ornstein brings insights from psychology. * Journal Gazette *What the book offers is an "adult conversation" about sustainability….Humanity on a Tightrope leaves no stone unturned, touching on religion, politics, wealth imbalance and the class-driven status quo. * Examiner *Humanity is balancing on a tightrope, according to Stanford biologist Ehrlich and psychologist Ornstein, because of environmental deterioration, overpopulation, poverty and pandemics, and the threat of nuclear war. The barrier to remedies for these complex problems is our lack of empathy and inability to see "other" people as "us," part of the same human family. These problems could be dealt with by changes in human behavior and by adopting policies that take us toward a sustainable and equitable society. The authors argue that we should expand our consciousness to be more inclusive not only of the rest of humanity's needs and plights, but also of those of our grandchildren and beyond. Ehrlich and Ornstein present a wealth of evidence from biology, brain science, anthropology, and psychology, and advocate the necessity of building an empathetic, sustainable, and fair world. Further, they emphasize the need to educate people about the essential similarity of all people through reorganization of school and university courses, and by revitalizing mass media and religion to enhance human empathy and create a real global family. This stimulating book should be required reading at all levels. Summing Up: Essential. All levels/libraries. * CHOICE *[I]t is the Appendix, Notes and Selected Bibliography which may prolong the thought and then sharpen it for wider, individual effort. This is the evident purpose of the authors. . . .Any such attempt is valuable. * International Journal of Environmental Studies *Table of Contents1 Section 1 Connecting with others: The Evolution of Humanity, Families and Empathy 2 Chapter 1 On a Tightrope 3 Chapter 2 Empathy, And "Us" Family Members versus "Them" 4 Chapter 3 The Seeds Of Family Values And How They Sprouted 5 Chapter 4 The Evolution of "Them" 6 Section 2 Changing Our Mind and Changing the World we Made 7 Chapter 5 The Neuropsychology Of Getting To "Us": The More Alike The More We Like 8 Chapter 6 It's All Us Now: Closing the Culture Gap and Building a Global Family 9 Chapter 7: The Beginnings of a New Stage in History 10 Chapter 8 Getting To "Alike" One Another 11 Chapter 9 Revitalizing Religious Empathy and Staying on the Tightrope 12 Appendix Going Further: Reading, Informing, Acting 13 Bibliography 14 Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisDecisively cutting through the hyperbole on both sides of the debate, distinguished NASA climatologist Claire L. Parkinson brings much-needed balance and perspective to the highly contentious issue of climate change. Offering a deeply knowledgeable overview of global conditions past and present, the author lays out a compelling argument that our understandings and models are inadequate for confident predictions of the intended and unintended consequences of various projects now under consideration to modify future climate. In one compact volume, Parkinson presents a coherent synopsis of the 4.6-billion-year history of climate change on planet Earthboth before and after humans became a significant factorand explores current concerns regarding continued global warming and its possible consequences. She ranges over the massive geoengineering schemes being proposed and why we need to be cautious about them, the limitations of current global climate models and projections, the key argumentsTrade ReviewClimatologist Parkinson (Earth From Above), a senior fellow at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, warns against the 'massive geoengineering schemes,' currently under consideration by government and advocacy groups, which are meant to avert impending climate catastrophe, but which themselves may have disastrous unintended consequences. Looking at past examples—from Egypt’s massive Aswan Dam, which has spread parasitic diseases and is eroding the fertile delta, to the addition of lead to internal combustion engines and paint—Parkinson worries that fixes under discussion today, like capturing and storing carbon waste or introducing sulfur into the stratosphere to reflect solar heat may actually cause problems 'far worse than the damage that we are already causing.' Instead, Parkinson recommends a moderate approach—limiting population growth; replacing fossil fuels with solar, nuclear, and wind power; changing consumption patterns—while more ambitious plans are carefully evaluated for safety and feasibility. She also raises the possibility that, despite present scientific consensus, predictions of impending catastrophe rest too heavily on climate models that are 'far from perfect.' This thoughtful treatment of a highly controversial subject merits careful attention from the powers that be, and those who wish to influence them. * Publishers Weekly *Dr. Parkinson, whose book deals largely with the evidence that human actions are altering climates, notes that 'good intentions do not necessarily lead to good results.' So far, she writes, humanity’s record of environmental manipulation does not inspire confidence. . . . Humanity is already engaged in a gigantic geoengineering experiment, one that has been under way, however inadvertently, since people started large-scale burning of fossil fuels 150 years ago. So far, the world’s efforts to act together on the problem have been, to be charitable, unimpressive. The lesson, as [Parkinson puts] it, might therefore lie not in figuring out how to 'hack the planet' but rather to change things so that planetary hacking will not be needed at all. * The New York Times *In this examination of the global warming debate, Parkinson, a NASA climatologist, notes that our planet’s climate made many transitions, some abrupt, before civilization emerged, so that could happen again. Human activities are likely partly responsible for the present warming trend. The author points out that the 'earth system' is extremely complex, still beyond our ability to model completely, so climate scientists can’t make accurate predictions. Although there is a scientific consensus on global warming, it could be overturned by new evidence. Parkinson’s main concern is that large-scale geoengineering projects will be tried with unknown consequences. An example would be fertilizing the Southern Ocean with iron to encourage phytoplankton growth and reduce carbon dioxide. She does laud many initiatives to reduce emissions and believes we should put a price on carbon, as well as reduce air travel. Verdict: This measured approach will appeal to readers who sense alarmism on the topic. * Library Journal *Parkinson is a NASA climatologist and argues against hasty decision-making in the face of potential global warming. She works to eliminate the polarization of the climate change debate, instead focusing on key issues and facts that should be thoroughly considered prior to the initiation of large-scale preventative projects. She emphasizes the need for evaluating climate change on a geologic scale, rather than relying on year-to-year data, in order to discern accurate, noteworthy patterns of change. Striving to inform, Parkinson combines several factors of time, resources, and behavior in her clarifying work. * Foreword Reviews *Purposeful modification of climate is not a new concept, but it has received renewed attention due to recent and anticipated global warming. In Coming Climate Crisis? Parkinson (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) examines proposed environmental manipulation strategies for climate change mitigation. The book first addresses climate system behavior, focusing on long-term change and the relative roles of natural and human drivers, including an impressive treatment of uncertainty in the understanding of past, current, and future climate. Though Parkinson subscribes to the consensus view on climate change, she does not hesitate to identify instances in which knowledge is limited. This balanced overview of the climate system and its sensitivity is one of the strengths of this book. The remainder of the work focuses on historical weather modification and proposed geoengineering strategies, pointing out the unintended consequences of the former whenever possible. This historical perspective, and demonstration that the understanding of proposed techniques is imperfect, is used to support the author's cautious position on geoengineering. Instead, Parkinson calls for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and greater research into the possible side effects of proposed geoengineering approaches. Recommended. * CHOICE *NASA climatologist Claire L. Parkinson brings a welcome skepticism. She shows the inadequacy of many of the models on which climate forecasts are based. She warns against large-scale, simplistic solutions. For instance, if carbon dioxide is a major factor contributing to the greenhouse effect (which it is), then a simple solution might be to plant more trees to soak it up. But as Parkinson points out, trees also soak up solar radiation, so the overall effect could be more heat, not less. * The Chronicle of Higher Education *I also think that insults are unlikely to change minds, and that too many books about climate change (on both sides) are 'preaching to the choir.' If we want a better-quality debate, Parkinson's approach seems closer to the mark. * Physicsworld.Com *Parkinson brings much-needed balance and perspective to the highly contentious issue of climate change. * Ocean News and Technology *I was captivated by the detailed descriptions of many examples of past attempts by humans to manipulate the weather and climate. . . . The author's excellent understanding of the climate system and current climate issues comes through strongly. . . . A good book written by a climate scientist using easy-to-understand language, with in-depth discussions and broad coverage of the climate issues that are facing our society today. It is well worth reading for anyone who is interested in or concerned about our climate. * Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society *This is a book that the author was compelled to write and that everyone needs to read. The climate debate is fierce and polarized, resulting in serious public confusion. Dr. Parkinson has a reasoned, nonadversarial way of illuminating key contentious issues that must be clearly understood before policymakers consider launching initiatives with potentially huge economic and environmental consequences. -- Stephen P. Leatherman, Florida International UniversityThis essential book offers a much-needed assessment of our present understanding of climate change. Written with care and attention to detail, it delivers a compelling message that could influence how humankind responds to climate change. It also provides a balanced perspective and unique insights into today's scientific process that should be required reading for scientists, the media, and the public alike. Books by others . . . cannot begin to compete with this book’s insights into the scientific process (gained by Parkinson’s more than thirty years in the scientific trenches) or with the balance in the presentation. -- John E. Walsh, University of Alaska and University of IllinoisClaire Parkinson is an accomplished, respected, and widely published scientist whose opinions on climate change and its solutions are well worth our attention. . . . Parkinson provides an excellent overview of Earth history, the factors affecting Earth’s climate and environment, and how those factors have changed over time. . . . She recommends that humanity exhibit extreme caution when considering geoengineering projects. At this juncture in Earth history, the stakes could not be higher as 6.8 billion people currently rely upon the Earth system for survival. -- Lonnie Thompson, The Ohio State UniversityTable of ContentsPart I: The Earth System and Its Ever-Changing Nature Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: 4.6 Billion Years of Global Change Chapter 3: Abrupt Climate Change Part II: The Human Factor Chapter 4: A Short History of Human Impacts Chapter 5: The Future: Why Some People Are So Concerned while Others Aren't Part III: Good Intentions and Geoengineering Chapter 6: Good Intentions Gone Awry Chapter 7: Geoengineering Schemes Chapter 8: The Record on Smaller-Scale Attempted Modifications Part IV: Further Cautionary Considerations Chapter 9: The Possible Fallibility of Even a Strong Consensus Chapter 10: The Unknown Future: Model Limitations Chapter 11: Compounding Social Pressures Part V: Avoiding Paralysis despite Uncertainty Chapter 12: What Are the Alternatives? Chapter 13: Closing Plea

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Book SynopsisLurking in the back of the minds of many students of American government is the question, How well does the American political system work? This book examines this in a way that is broad in approach and accessible to readers.Such an ambitious examination of the effectiveness of the American policymaking system leads to one inescapable question: how can you measure effectiveness? The answer taken in this book is to employ a number of different criteria. These criteria include:the public's attitudes towards the institutions of governmentthe degree in which all participate equally in political activitiesthe level of which public policy is responsive to public opinionthe ability of the actors in the process to create effective public policythe extent the political system imposes costs and benefits on us equally, regardless of our economic condition race, gender, or ageIn doing so, this book ties together and expands upon numerous scholarly studies conducted on American public policymaking Trade ReviewThis textbook evaluates American policy making through a systems framework. Representativeness and responsiveness are overarching themes. The early chapters cover characteristics of the political system and major legislation. The final chapters evaluate equality and equity outcomes across several dimensions. Schreckhise (Univ. of Arkansas) includes compelling narrative examples in each chapter. . . The author integrates discussion about foundational political science studies. Detailed, original analyses of public opinion surveys and secondary data are complemented by excellent figures and discussion questions. . . the book is most appropriate for American political science courses, especially those intended for adult learners or for students who already have some familiarity with American government. It is also recommended for public policy courses that are organized thematically around equality or policy responsiveness and that may be followed by courses on particular policy areas. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. * CHOICE *A fresh look at the status of American democracy through a systems perspective wherein public trust and confidence in government are of central concern. -- Christopher A. Simon, University of UtahWilliam Schreckhise’s work is a valuable addition to the understanding of how public policy in the United States is made. The focus on the inequality inherent in policy system outputs challenges one to reexamine traditional approaches to studying U.S. public policy. -- Patrick Fisher, Seton Hall UniversityTable of ContentsChapter 1 Public Policy-Making in America Chapter 2 A History of Policy-making in the U.S. Chapter 3 The Environment of Policymaking in the U.S. Chapter 4 Actors in the Policymaking System Chapter 5 Views of Government Chapter 6 Participation and Public Policy Chapter 7 Shaping Public Policy: The Unofficial Actors Chapter 8 Shaping the Response: Official Institutions Chapter 9 Policy Responsiveness Chapter 10 Economic Equality Chapter 11 Income Equality Chapter 12 Sex Equality Chapter 13 Age Equality Chapter 14 Conclusion

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Book SynopsisAmericans know that something has gone wrong in this country's effort to prosper in the face of growing global economic competition. The vast benefits promised by the supporters of globalization, and by their own government, have never materialized for most Americans. This book is the story of what went wrong, and how to correct the course. It is a compelling history of the last four decades of US economic and trade policies that have left Americans unable to adapt to or compete in the current global marketplace. Failure to Adjust argues that, despite the deep partisan divisions over how best to respond to America's competitive challenges, there is achievable common ground on such issues as fostering innovation, overhauling tax rules to encourage investment in the United States, boosting graduation rates, investing in infrastructure, and streamlining regulations. The federal government needs to become more like U.S. state governments in embracing economic competitiveness as a centralTrade ReviewIn this critical—and thorough–—analysis of US government policies regarding the country’s involvement in the global economy during the last half century, the author (Council on Foreign Relations) concentrates on the changing competitive environment the US faces. In the process of assessing the impact of those changes, he discusses a wide range of policies and how they affect US economic progress and international relations. Those policies include not only tariffs and trade agreements but also domestic tax policies, government support for enhanced investment, improvements in the education system, immigration issues, and monetary policies as they influence the international role of US currency. Part of the analysis deals with state and local governments’ attempts to take advantage of international economic opportunities in the face of insufficient federal commitments. In the process, the author also provides an insightful history of worldwide economic transformation over the last 50-plus years. This analysis is very well written and documented and is strongly recommended to anyone interested in international trade and global economic development, especially as national policy pertains to them. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. * CHOICE *Rising opposition to globalization has thrown an already polarized political environment in America into near mayhem, with our key economic partnerships hanging in the balance. Ted Alden provides a cogent and constructive analysis of the origins of opposition to economic openness that charts a viable path forward. It is essential reading for all who care about America's role in the global economy. -- Gordon Hanson, Pacific Economic Cooperation Chair in International Economic Relations at UCSD and Director, Center on Global Transformation“Ted Alden hits the nail on the head with this cogent analysis of the trade issue, its impact on American workers, our failure to meaningfully help those adversely affected and what we should now be doing to save globalization by adopting more thoughtful and far-reaching policies.” -- Steven Rattner, Chairman, Willett Advisors LLC"Ted Alden's new book, Failure to Adjust, captures vividly the inherent tension in America’s role in the post-war global economy: that between the principal architect and guardian of an open system, on the one hand, and a participant and competitor within that system, on the other. That tension cannot be removed. But in Alden’s thoughtful analysis, as the global economy grows, the balance between player and referee that needed to shift in America in favor of the former, has been late in coming. It is a really interesting and detailed assessment, that avoids overly simple diagnoses and prescriptions." -- Michael Spence, Nobel Laureate and William R. Berkley Professor in Economics and Business, New York University[Alden] demonstrates how four decades of market-friendly economic and trade policies have been insufficiently inclusive, setting the stage for the populist backlash we’re now experiencing. -- Sebastian Mallaby, The Wall Street JournalTable of ContentsAcknowledgments 1 The End of the World’s Greatest Autarky 2 Confronting the Competition: The Limitations of Trade Policy 3 Confronting the Competition: How a Strong Dollar Has Hurt 4 Investment: The Winners and the Losers from Offshoring 5 Helping the Losers: The Tragedy of Trade Adjustment Assistance 6 Tiger Moms and Failing Schools – The Competitive Challenge at Home 7 How to Think About Economic Competitiveness 8 A Strategy for Competing in a Globalized World Notes Index About the Author

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE 2017 ASPA SECTION ON PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION AND LABOR RELATIONS OUTSTANDING BOOK AWARD! This research and policy book examines the role of women in the military and the overwhelming evidence to date that warranted repealing the combat exclusion policy. It explores the following questions: How can the success of women in the military serve as justification for its repeal? What will be the potential impact of repealing the policy on the recruitment, promotion and retention of women in the military? How will repealing the combat exclusion policy change the ways in which military men relate to military women? How can repealing the policy set women on the course toward full agency and representation as full citizens in American society at large? Not only will this book help in filling the gaps of the existing literature of public administTrade Review"This is historic, and no one has written about the topic and its implications, especially for gender equity. The resilience of these women who fought the odds is truly amazing; stories that warrant telling. Also, the data presented in the various tables provides a nice complement to the narrative, and the reference lists are very thorough. The author provides an excellent overview of the implications of the combat exclusion policy and its affect not simply on equality, but on national defense… it is an amazing feat that the author was able to obtain interviews. Interviewing and storytelling strategies are extremely appropriate for research such as this, and the stories are fascinating… It is very innovative and insightful. This book addresses a major gap in the field." —Norma Riccucci, Distinguished Professor, Rutgers University, Newark"… G.L.A. Harris, PhD, does an excellent job cataloging our journey and giving specific examples of where we have been and where we have yet to go. Her work more than highlights the necessity for equal access and exposure being key to recruitment, retention, and promotion of women in today’s military if we are to have the same chance for promotion and opportunities as our male counterparts. The dedication and commitment she placed into birthing this work is evident. It should be mandatory reading for the leadership in our country."—From the Foreword by Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour, Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur, America’s First African American Female Combat PilotWINNER OF THE 2017 ASPA SECTION ON PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION AND LABOR RELATIONS OUTSTANDING BOOK AWARD!"This is historic, and no one has written about the topic and its implications, especially for gender equity. The resilience of these women who fought the odds is truly amazing; stories that warrant telling. Also, the data presented in the various tables provides a nice complement to the narrative, and the reference lists are very thorough. The author provides an excellent overview of the implications of the combat exclusion policy and its affect not simply on equality, but on national defense… it is an amazing feat that the author was able to obtain interviews. Interviewing and storytelling strategies are extremely appropriate for research such as this, and the stories are fascinating… It is very innovative and insightful. This book addresses a major gap in the field." —Norma Riccucci, Distinguished Professor, Rutgers University, Newark"… G.L.A. Harris, PhD, does an excellent job cataloging our journey and giving specific examples of where we have been and where we have yet to go. Her work more than highlights the necessity for equal access and exposure being key to recruitment, retention, and promotion of women in today’s military if we are to have the same chance for promotion and opportunities as our male counterparts. The dedication and commitment she placed into birthing this work is evident. It should be mandatory reading for the leadership in our country."—From the Foreword by Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour, Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur, America’s First African American Female Combat PilotTable of ContentsWOMEN AND WAR. Warriors to the Core. The Beginning of the Revolution: The American Experience. Marginalized, Yet Accountable: The Irrationality of the Combat Exclusion Policy. The Enemy Within: Sex Crimes and the Evils of Asymmetry. WOMEN IN WAR—LIVING LEGENDS: SISTERS-IN-ARMS UNDER COMBAT EXCLUSION. Taking Command: The Generals. Commanding the Air: The Aviators. Commanding the Sea: The Mariners. Commanding the Land: The Soldiers. WOMEN AT WAR: TOWARD FULL AGENCY. On Gender and Citizenship. Repealing the Combat Exclusion Policy: Prospects for Implementation. Impact of the Combat Exclusion Policy on the Recruitment, Promotion, and Retention of Women in the Military. Women in a Post-Combat Exclusion Environment: The Promise for Full Agency. WOMEN, WAR, THE MILITARY, AND BEYOND. In Conclusion: The Revolution Continues! Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisSergei Prozorov critically analyses Stalinism as a distinct strain of political theory, showing how it was oriented towards transforming, not protecting, life in accordance with the communist ideal. He engages with the theories of Foucault, Agamben, Esposito, Meillassoux, Henry and Malabou to critique conventional approaches to biopolitics.Trade Review'The Biopolitics of Stalinism is as lucid and usable as it is theoretically innovative. It draws connections from current issues in Soviet Studies to ongoing debates in philosophy and the social sciences… A necessary book for any scholar looking for a new perspective on Stalinism and its aftermath. It also heralds the possibility of an anarchist critique of biopolitical regimes, including of the Soviet system.' --Ania Aizman, Harvard University, Slavic and East European Journal. 'This book provides a mostly convincing case for its argument. Unlike traditional biopolitical theory, which views the biopolitical modes of Stalinism and of Western rationality as similar, Prozorov finds distinctions between those two modes. In addition, he identifies the link between the Stalinist biopolitical mode and the destiny of Stalinism. Prozorov makes valuable points, providing a new perspective on Stalinist biopolitics.' --Zhen Wei, University of Edinburgh, Europe-Asia Studies.

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Book SynopsisThrough both theoretical contributions and empirically-orientated analyses, this book provides insights into how theories and practices of multicultural citizenship and migrant integration are adapting and might adapt to the new, more dynamic but also more fluid patterns of international migration and mobility.

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Book SynopsisThrough analysis of a series of case studies, recently declassified documents and exclusive interviews with national security experts in the public and private sectors, the book provides an in-depth and illuminating appraisal of the evolving accountability regime for intelligence contractors.

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Book SynopsisThis book tells the story of how a proxy-communications war ignited and hijacked the Arab uprisings and how individuals on the ground, on air and online worked to shape history.

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Book SynopsisThis book tells the story of how a proxy-communications war ignited and hijacked the Arab uprisings and how individuals on the ground, on air and online worked to shape history.

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