Economics of industrial organization Books

Book SynopsisGeoffrey West's research centres on a quest to find unifying principles and patterns connecting everything, from cells and ecosystems to cities, social networks and businesses.Why do organisms and ecosystems scale with size in a remarkably universal and systematic fashion?Is there a maximum size of cities? Of animals and plants? What about companies?Can scale show us how to create a more sustainable future?By applying the rigour of physics to questions of biology, visionary physicist Geoffrey West found that despite the riotous diversity in the sizes of mammals, they are all, to a large degree, scaled versions of each other. This speaks to everything from how long we can expect to live to how many hours of sleep we need. He then made the even bolder move of exploring his work's applicability to cities and to the business world. These investigations have led to powerful insights about the elemental natural laws that bind us together in profound ways, and how all complex systems are dancing to the same simple tune, however diverse and unrelated they may seem.Trade Review'The sort of big-ideas book that comes along only every few years . . . This is a book full of thrilling ideas' * Sunday Times *'Magisterial . . . you reach the end of this profound, revealing book rewarded. West shows how scientific method helps to peel back the hidden reality of our world. The concepts of physics dominated the last century. It is the concepts of biology - of networks, evolution and feedback dynamics - that are going to dominate the next' -- Matthew Syed * The Times *'Quite dazzling . . . The book proceeds by introducing one mathematical concept in each chapter (power laws, fractals and so on), and explaining it vividly through numerous examples drawn from biology, history, urban planning, and many other fields . . . written with great joy and a disarming humility' -- Steven Poole * The Spectator *'An absolutely riveting read. Like the best detective story, West lays out the amazing challenge of understanding why animals, cities and companies all scale so uniformly and then skilfully lets us into the secrets that his detective work has uncovered. This book captures the spirit of science in the twenty-first century, revealing the deep connections not just across physics and biology but society and life. The book is a perfect balance between the big scientific story and West's own personal narrative. We accompany the author on his quest to face up to his own mortality while at the same time being exposed to the theoretical discoveries that West has pioneered in his groundbreaking work' -- Marcus du Sautoy, Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University and author of The Great Unknown 'This is an important and original book, of immense scope. Geoffrey West is a polymath, whose insights range over physics, biology and the social sciences. He shows that the sizes, shapes and lifetimes of living things - despite their amazing diversity - display surprising correlations and patterns, and that these follow from basic physical principles. He then discovers, more surprisingly, the emergence of similar 'scaling laws' in human societies - in our cities, companies and social networks. This fascinating book deserves a very wide readership' -- Lord Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal'Scaling is the most important yet most hidden and rarely discussed attribute -- without understanding it one cannot possibly understand the world. This book will expand your thinking from three dimensions to four. Get two copies, just in case you lose one' -- Nassim Nicholas Taleb'I can think of no more exciting thinker in the world today than Geoffrey West. By bringing a physicist's razor-sharp mind to wonderfully surprising questions - "Why Aren't There Mammals the Size of Tiny Ants?" or "Are Cities and Companies Just Very Large Organisms?" - West forces us to see everything anew, from our own bodies to the mega-cities our species increasingly chooses to inhabit. Scale is a firework display of popular science' -- Niall Ferguson'Trees, brains, hallucinogenics and even imaginary monsters are considered in this joyous, mind-boggling study of scientific methods' * Telegraph, Top 50 Best Books of 2017 *'An enchanting intellectual odyssey . . . also a satisfying personal and professional memoir of a distinguished scientist whose life's work came to be preoccupied with finding ways to break down traditional boundaries between disciplines to solve the long-term global challenges of sustainability . . . Mr West manages to deliver a lot of theory and history accessibly and entertainingly . . . Provocative and fascinating' * New York Times *'It's rare in the history of science that someone has a big, bold, beautiful, stunningly simple new idea that also turns out to be right. Geoffrey West had one. And Scale is its story' -- Steven Strogatz, Professor of Mathematics, Cornell University and author of The Joy of X 'Geoffrey West's Scale is a revelation. Based on his path-breaking theory and research on super-linear scaling, it provides powerful new insights into the basic scientific laws that power our modern society and economy, its start-up companies, large corporations and cities. The book is a must-read for CEOs, technologists, mayors, urban leaders and anyone who wants to understand the simple laws that shape the complex, self-organizing world in which we live' -- Richard Florida, author of THE RISE OF THE CREATIVE CLASS and a senior editor at THE ATLANTIC'Scale is filled with brilliant insights. West illuminates the laws of nature underlying everything from tiny organisms and humans to cities and companies, and provides a quantitative framework for decoding the deep complexity of our interconnected world. If you want to know why companies fail, how cities persist and what is needed to sustain our civilization in this era of rapid innovation, read this amazing book' -- Marc Benioff, founder and CEO of Salesforce'If there were a Nobel Prize for transdisciplinary science Geoffrey West would have won it for the work covered in Scale. This is a book of great originality and deep importance, containing startling insights about topics as seemingly unrelated as aging and death, sleep, metabolism, cities, energy use, creativity, corporations, and even the sustainability of our existence. If you are curious about how the world really works, you must read this book' -- Bill Miller, LMM Investments'This spectacular book on how logarithmic scaling governs everything is packed with news - from the self-similar dynamics of cells and ecosystems to exactly why companies always die and cities don't. I dog-eared and marked up damn near every page' -- Stewart Brand, creator of the WHOLE EARTH CATOLOG'When Geoffrey West, a brilliant theoretical physicist, turned his lens to the study of life spans, biological systems or cities he stumbled onto a game-changing universal insight about growth and sustainability. Scale is dazzling and provocative and West proves himself to be a compelling and entertaining writer - this is a book we will be talking about for a long time' -- Abraham Verghese, author of CUTTING FOR STONEThis book is breathtaking in its scope and vision! It represents the culmination of exciting theoretical work addressing critical questions in life. Written by a clever physicist and one of the most influential thinkers of the time, Geoffrey West, this volume elaborates on the author's intriguing discovery that the growth, organisation and dynamics of humans, animals and plants scale with their size. .....It is really an enjoyable readthat takes readers on a journey of fresh insights and illuminating perspectives. -- Walid El-Sharoud * SCIENCE PROGRESS *In this "grand unified theory of sustainability", physicist Geoffrey West explores underlying laws that link society and nature, called scaling theory. Insights (into city size and walking speed, for instance) abound -- Mary Craig * NATURE *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe role of small business enterprise in a mature market economy is one of the major issues in contemporary industrial organization, and is the focus of this book. Small Business Enterprise brings new standards of rigour and insight into the study of small firms by importing contemporary ideas from industrial economics and by using up-to-date statistical and econometric techniques. Based on a uniquely rich set of data, Small Business Enterprise focuses on the early period after start-up of the small firm. It investigates competitive niches and how they are established, determinants of growth and profitability, the factors fostering survivial, and many other central issues. This core of economic analysis is complemented by an innovative case profile approach, which considers the real behaviour of small firms in a competitive environment; and a section on the political economy of small firms, which looks at the ethics of competition and the enterprise culture.Trade Review`The book is rich in ideas and insight, and will be useful for reference. ... is accessible and lucidly written, ... Any economist with a shelf of books on small firms has to add this one.' - The Business Economist Vol 25 No 1 93`... a book combining empirical research, economic analysis and theory for SMEs is very welcome. And for a book of this quality, it is an event.' - Graham Bannock, Economic Affairs`With the publication of this book and the bold research agenda he proposes Reid single handedly moved the entire field of small business economics forward towards maturity.' - David B. Audretsh, Kyklos`Professor Reid is almost religious in his drive to persuade researchers to gather primary data, and devise estimation techniques to advance the frontiers of small business economics. With this I can hardly quibble. To my knowledge this is the finest work of its kind. It fills an important niche in our understanding of small firms, and the effort has to be judged a success.' - The Journal of Economic LiteratureTable of ContentsPreface Part I Introduction 1 Analysing the small business enterprise 2 The small firms relational database Part II Statistical analysis 3 The typical small business enterprise 4 Cost curves and scale economies 5 Rankings data on financial inception Part III Case studies 6 Enterprise profiles 7 Competitive and defensive strategies 8 The forces of competition Part IV Econometrics 9 Staying in business 10 Pricing asymmetries 11 Growth and its determinants Part V Political economy 12 Small firms and fair trade 13 Perceptions of the enterprise culture Part VI Conclusion 14 A small firms research agenda

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is the story of a dedicated group of foreign and Chinese reformers who tried, but failed, to solve China's intractable industrial problems over the three decades prior to 1949. It explores the complex rivalries of Chinese and foreigners against a backdrop of extreme nationalism.Table of ContentsPart 1 The Task Defined, 2 The Movement for Industrial Reform. Conclusion.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis Element introduces the replicator dynamics for symmetric and asymmetric games where the strategy sets are metric spaces. The authors provide conditions to approximate the replicator dynamics on a space of measures by means of a finite-dimensional dynamical system and a sequence of measure-valued Markov processes.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book compiles empirical evidence on both the challenges raised by neo-liberal policies and the internet to trade unions, and the development of more flexible forms of worker organisation and collective representation. The relationship with digital devices seems inevitably to contribute to differentiating trends, simultaneously acting as an internal and external constraint on organisation. Gathering academics and experts from European and Brazilian universities, this book is recommended for researchers and students in the fields of sociology of work, labour studies and collective action, as well as practitioners and others interested in worker interest organisations and collective representation in the early 21st Century. Table of ContentsChapter 1Introduction.- Chapter 2Precarious work and possibilities of union resistance in Brazil.- Chapter 3How to represent the unrepresented? Renewing the collective action repertoires of autonomous workers in three countries.- Chapter 4Digitization and collective representation strategies in Spain.- Chapter 5The representation of precarious workers: two case studies from Portugal.- Chapter 6Work platforms, informality and forms of resistance: the case of on-demand workers in the city of São Paulo.- Chapter 7Gender representation in the high-tech sector in Italy: the required alliance between trade unions and women associations.- Chapter 8The representation of platform workers through Facebook groups in Bulgaria – a partially-filled void.- Chapter 9Conclusion.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEnergy is a key resource for transformational development globally. Oil and gas continue to play a key role in this sector irrespective of the gradual transition towards renewables and will continue to do so in most developing and emerging economies in the near future. The industry is complex and highly capital intensive not only with significant risk, but also with significant benefits. Such a complex but important sector is generally not well understood both in academic and policy circles. This book fills this void by serving as a comprehensive reference to the oil and gas sector, with a focus on emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). It offers in-depth coverage of the critical and contemporary issues in the economics of the oil and gas industry by carefully integrating the relevant theoretical underpinnings and practical policy issues across the value chain of the industry in relation to the development, fiscal arrangements, and the economic and financing aspects of the industry. These insights will significantly deepen the understanding of the industry and extend knowledge of the sector in ways that existing books do not. The book includes relevant cases and, thus, will serve as a valuable resource for students taking courses in market analysis of the oil and gas industry, energy economics, development economics and finance, environmental and resource economics, the political economy of the extractive industry, and development studies. Researchers and practitioners working in these areas will also find the book to be a useful reference guide.Table of ContentsPart I: Overview of the Oil and Gas Industry 1. Introduction to the Economics of the Global Oil and Gas Industry in Emerging and Developing EconomiesPart II: Oil and Gas Development and Fiscal Arrangement 2. The Oil and Gas Industry in Emerging and Developing Economies 3. Oil and Gas Exploration, Development and Production in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies 4. Legal, Regulatory and Fiscal Arrangement in the Oil and Gas Industry in Emerging and Developing Countries 5. Oil and Gas Energy Security PartIII: Oil and Gas Economics and Finance 6. The Economics of Oil and Gas Resources 7. Economics of Downstream Oil & Gas Project, Risk & Decision Analysis 8. The Market for Crude Oil 9. Financing of Oil and Gas Companies in Emerging and Developing Economies 10. Project Finance for the Oil and Gas Industry in Emerging and Developing Economies 11. Investment Appraisals for Oil and Gas Projects 12. Financial Analysis and Performance of Oil and Gas Firms 13. Financial Planning and Forecasting in the Oil and Gas Industry 14. Oil and Gas Valuation 15. Mergers and Acquisitions in the Oil and Gas Sector 16. Enterprise Risk Management in the Oil and Gas Industry: Evidence from a Developing Market 17. Derivative Markets for Oil and Gas Transactions 18. Petroleum Wealth Management in Emerging and Developing Countries 19. Oil Revenues, Finance and Economic Development 20. The Political Economy of the Oil and Gas Sector in Emerging and Developing Countries

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis text presents statistical methods for studying causal effects and discusses how readers can assess such effects in simple randomized experiments.Trade Review'This book offers a definitive treatment of causality using the potential outcomes approach. Both theoreticians and applied researchers will find this an indispensable volume for guidance and reference.' Hal Varian, Chief Economist, Google, and Emeritus Professor, University of California, Berkeley'By putting the potential outcome framework at the center of our understanding of causality, Imbens and Rubin have ushered in a fundamental transformation of empirical work in economics. This book, at once transparent and deep, will be both a fantastic introduction to fundamental principles and a practical resource for students and practitioners. It will be required readings for any class I teach.' Esther Duflo, Massachusetts Institute of Technology'Causal Inference sets a high new standard for discussions of the theoretical and practical issues in the design of studies for assessing the effects of causes - from an array of methods for using covariates in real studies to dealing with many subtle aspects of non-compliance with assigned treatments. The book includes many examples using real data that arose from the authors' extensive research portfolios. These examples help to clarify and explain many important concepts and practical issues. It is a book that both methodologists and practitioners from many fields will find both illuminating and suggestive of further research. It is a professional tour de force, and a welcomed addition to the growing (and often confusing) literature on causation in artificial intelligence, philosophy, mathematics and statistics.' Paul W. Holland, Emeritus, Educational Testing Service'A comprehensive and remarkably clear overview of randomized experiments and observational designs with as-good-as-random assignment that is sure to become the standard reference in the field.' David Card, Class of 1950 Professor of Economics, University of California, Berkeley'This book will be the 'Bible' for anyone interested in the statistical approach to causal inference associated with Donald Rubin and his colleagues, including Guido Imbens. Together, they have systematized the early insights of Fisher and Neyman and have then vastly developed and transformed them. In the process they have created a theory of practical experimentation whose internal consistency is mind-boggling, as is its sensitivity to assumptions and its elaboration of the key 'potential outcomes' framework. The authors' exposition of random assignment experiments has breadth and clarity of coverage, as do their chapters on observational studies that can be readily conceptualized within an experimental framework. Never have experimental principles been better warranted intellectually or better translated into statistical practice. The book is a 'must read' for anyone claiming methodological competence in all sciences that rely on experimentation.' Thomas D. Cook, Joan and Sarepta Harrison Chair of Ethics and Justice, Northwestern University, Illinois'In this wonderful and important book, Imbens and Rubin give a lucid account of the potential outcomes perspective on causality. This perspective sensibly treats all causal questions as questions about a hidden variable, indeed the ultimate hidden variable, 'What would have happened if things were different?' They make this perspective mathematically precise, show when and to what degree it succeeds, and discuss how to apply it to both experimental and observational data. This book is a must-read for natural scientists, social scientists and all other practitioners who seek new hypotheses and new truths in their complex data.' David Blei, Columbia University, New York'This thorough and comprehensive book uses the 'potential outcomes' approach to connect the breadth of theory of causal inference to the real-world analyses that are the foundation of evidence-based decision making in medicine, public policy and many other fields. Imbens and Rubin provide unprecedented guidance for designing research on causal relationships, and for interpreting the results of that research appropriately.' Mark McClellan, Director of the Health Care Innovation and Value Initiative, Brookings Institution, Washington DC'This book will revolutionize how applied statistics is taught in statistics and the social and biomedical sciences. The authors present a unified vision of causal inference that covers both experimental and observational data. They do a masterful job of communicating some of the deepest, and oldest, issues in statistics to readers with disparate backgrounds. They closely connect theoretical concepts with applied concerns, and they honestly and clearly discuss the identifying assumptions of the methods presented. Too many books on statistical methods present a menagerie of disconnected methods and pay little attention to the scientific plausibility of the assumptions that are made for mathematical convenience, instead of for verisimilitude. This book is different. It will be widely read, and it will change the way statistics is practiced.' Jasjeet S. Sekhon, Robson Professor of Political Science and Statistics, University of California, Berkeley'Clarity of thinking about causality is of central importance in financial decision making. Imbens and Rubin provide a rigorous foundation allowing practitioners to learn from the pioneers in the field.' Stephen Blyth, Managing Director, Head of Public Markets, Harvard Management Company'A masterful account of the potential outcomes approach to causal inference from observational studies that Rubin has been developing since he pioneered it fourty years ago.' Adrian Raftery, Blumstein-Jordan Professor of Statistics and Sociology, University of Washington'Correctly drawing causal inferences is critical in many important applications. Congratulations to Professors Imbens and Rubin, who have drawn on their decades of research in this area, along with the work of several others, to produce this impressive book covering concepts, theory, methods and applications. I especially appreciate their clear exposition on conceptual issues, which are important to understand in the context of either a designed experiment or an observational study, and their use of real applications to motivate the methods described.' Nathaniel Schenker, Statistician'The book is well-written with a very comprehensive coverage of many issues associated with causal inference. As can be seen from its table of contents, the book uses multiple perspectives to discuss these issues including theoretical underpinnings, experimental design, randomization techniques and examples using real-world data.' Carol Joyce Blumberg, International Statistical Review'Guido Imbens and Don Rubin present an insightful discussion of the potential outcomes framework for causal inference … this book presents a unified framework to causal inference based on the potential outcomes framework, focusing on the classical analysis of experiments, unconfoundedness, and noncompliance. The book has become an instant classic in the causal inference literature, broadly defined, and will certainly guide future research in this area. All researchers will benefit from carefully studying this book, no matter what their specific views are on the subject matter.' Matias D. Cattaneo, Journal of the American Statistical Association'Guido Imbens and Donald Rubin have written an authoritative textbook on causal inference that is expected to have a lasting impact on social and biomedical scientists as well as statisticians. Researchers have been waiting for the publication of this book, which is a welcome addition to the growing list of textbooks and monographs on causality … the authors should be congratulated for the publication of this impressive volume. The hook provides a unified introduction to the potential outcomes approach with the focus on the basic causal inference problems that arise in randomized experiments and observational studies.' Alicia A. Lloro, Journal of the American Statistical AssociationTable of ContentsPart I. Introduction: 1. The basic framework: potential outcomes, stability, and the assignment mechanism; 2. A brief history of the potential-outcome approach to causal inference; 3. A taxonomy of assignment mechanisms; Part II. Classical Randomized Experiments: 4. A taxonomy of classical randomized experiments; 5. Fisher's exact P-values for completely randomized experiments; 6. Neyman's repeated sampling approach to completely randomized experiments; 7. Regression methods for completely randomized experiments; 8. Model-based inference in completely randomized experiments; 9. Stratified randomized experiments; 10. Paired randomized experiments; 11. Case study: an experimental evaluation of a labor-market program; Part III. Regular Assignment Mechanisms: Design: 12. Unconfounded treatment assignment; 13. Estimating the propensity score; 14. Assessing overlap in covariate distributions; 15. Design in observational studies: matching to ensure balance in covariate distributions; 16. Design in observational studies: trimming to ensure balance in covariate distributions; Part IV. Regular Assignment Mechanisms: Analysis: 17. Subclassification on the propensity score; 18. Matching estimators (Card-Krueger data); 19. Estimating the variance of estimators under unconfoundedness; 20. Alternative estimands; Part V. Regular Assignment Mechanisms: Supplementary Analyses: 21. Assessing the unconfoundedness assumption; 22. Sensitivity analysis and bounds; Part VI. Regular Assignment Mechanisms with Noncompliance: Analysis: 23. Instrumental-variables analysis of randomized experiments with one-sided noncompliance; 24. Instrumental-variables analysis of randomized experiments with two-sided noncompliance; 25. Model-based analyses with instrumental variables; Part VII. Conclusion: 26. Conclusions and extensions.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPepall's Industrial Organization: Contemporary Theory and Empirical Applications, 5th Edition offers an accessible text in which topics are organized in a manner that motivates and facilitates progression from one chapter to the next. It serves as a complete, but concise, introduction to modern industrial economics.Table of ContentsAbout the Authors v Preface to the Fifth Edition vii Part One Foundations 1 1 Industrial Organization: What, How, and Why 2 2 Basic Microeconomics 19 3 Market Structure and Market Power 47 4 Technology and Cost 64 Part Two Monopoly Power in Theory and Practice 91 5 Price Discrimination and Monopoly: Linear Pricing 92 6 Price Discrimination and Monopoly: Nonlinear Pricing 119 7 Product Variety and Quality Under Monopoly 142 8 Commodity Bundling and Tie-In Sales 173 Part Three Strategic Interaction and Basic Oligopoly Models 213 9 Static Games and Cournot Competition 214 10 Oligopolistic Price Competition 242 11 Dynamic Games and First and Second Movers 264 Part Four Anticompetitive Behavior and Antitrust Policy 283 12 Entry Deterrence and Predation 284 13 Predatory Conduct: More Recent Developments 316 14 Price Fixing, Repeated Games, and Antitrust Policy 349 Part Five Contractual Relations Between Firms 385 15 Horizontal Mergers 386 16 Vertical and Conglomerate Mergers 427 17 Vertical Price Restraints 459 18 Non-Price Vertical Restraints 486 Part Six Non-Price Competition 515 19 Advertising, Market Power, and Information 516 20 Research and Development 548 21 Patents and Patent Policy 578 Part Seven Networks, Auctions, and Strategic Policy Commitment 611 22 Network Issues 612 23 Auctions: Basic Theory and Applications 637 24 Strategic Commitments and International Trade 661 Answers to Practice Problems 677 Index 695

Read more less

Book SynopsisFirst published as ‘Markets for Managers’, this book has proved to be a popular way for non-economists to understand and apply the key tools of economics in a business setting. Professor Anthony J. Evans, one of Europe’s leading Managerial Economics instructors, brings the content that works in his classrooms to an even wider audience. Written in an engaging and informal way, whether you are a busy executive or simply an interested amateur this is your go-to guide. In this revised and updated edition, you will be led through the building blocks of economic theory and how they relate to the real world. You will see how thinking like an economist can improve your decision making, and how markets can be used to generate value within organizations and in society at large. The book incorporates the main principles of both micro and macroeconomics and takes a broad and diverse approach. In it you will encounter the most interesting economists and understand their contributions in a historical context. The practical format is perfect for professionals and students who want to gain an applied perspective on today’s most pressing issues.Trade Review“This book is an engaging, clear, comprehensive course in economics that will give managers the key insights used every day by professional economists. For the average layperson interested in economics, this book is important. For the manager who wants their firm to thrive in an uncertain world, this book is essential. This is the best book on managerial economics I have ever read.” SAM BOWMAN, Director of Competition Policy, International Centre for Law and Economics; “The perfect way for busy people to understand how markets function, how they can be used to help managerial decision making, and how economic policy impacts corporate performance. Evans provides an excellent overview of the key debates in economic theory and leaves the reader enlightened, rather than frustrated. Highly recommended.” ALLISTER HEATH, Editor, The Sunday Telegraph

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat is business for? Day one of a business course will tell you: it is to maximise shareholder profit. This single idea pervades all our thinking and teaching about business around the world but it is fundamentally wrong, Colin Mayer argues. It has had disastrous and damaging consequences for our economies, environment, politics, and societies. In this urgent call for reform, Prosperity challenges the fundamentals of business thinking. It sets out a comprehensive new agenda for establishing the corporation as a unique and powerful force for promoting economic and social wellbeing in its fullest sense - for customers and communities, today and in the future.First Professor and former Dean of the Säid Business School in Oxford, Mayer is a leading figure in the global discussion about the purpose and role of the corporation. In Prosperity, he presents a radical and carefully considered prescription for corporations, their ownership, governance, finance, and regulation. Drawing together insights from business, law, economics, science, philosophy, and history, he shows how the corporation can realize its full potential to contribute to economic and social wellbeing of the many, not just the few.Prosperity tells us not only how to create and run successful businesses but also how policy can get us there and fix our broken system.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition "Mayer of the Saïd Business School at Oxford is one of the world's foremost critics of the idea that the aim of companies is to maximise shareholder value. This, he argues cogently, represents a betrayal of one of humanity's most extraordinary inventions." * Martin Wolf, Books of the Year 2018, The Financial Times *The book is far more than a manifesto for change ... Mayer's book performs a great service. * Richard Bronk, the Society of Professional Economists, Reading Room (open access) *"A powerful reply to the steadily increasing criticism of free market business... So far, the defenders of capitalism have failed to find a convincing voice or to offer any significant ways to improve how business is perceived. Now Colin Mayer provides answers and a coherent manifesto for change." * Peter Chadwick, IEDP Book Reviews *"A wonderful manifesto for change and essential reading for any who remain to be convinced that business can - and should - be a force for a societal good. One of the most insightful and comprehensive accounts yet of how - and why - the corporation needs to change if it is to meet the needs and expectations of a new era. Thoughtful and well-argued, Mayer has done the cause of enlightened capitalism great service." * Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever *Table of ContentsPart I: Principles 1: Purpose 2: Values Part II: Provenance 3: Evolution 4: Ownership Part III: Practice 5: Governance 6: Performance Part IV: Policy 7: Law 8: Regulation Part V: Partnership 9: Finance 10: Investment

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book provides a comprehensive guide to the economics of airports for all managers, regulators and educators within the aviation industry. Written by three renowned experts but made accessible and relevant for all those working within the industry, or aspiring to do so, it is the perfect entry point for learning about the underlying economics of airports as a crucial component of the air transport system. It explains the cost structures of airports and then relates these to how airports determine their charges.It explains how charges at different airports vary, whether this is due to different types of traffic, different input prices, ways of producing outputs or different levels of efficiency. Most airports are publicly owned or regulated, and there has been a trend towards privatisation. The book explains how airports have been regulated and assesses how well the regulatory structures have performed; it discusses the trend towards light-handed regulation and the Trade Review"One of the key strengths of the book is in discussing how recognised economic theory relates to airports but at the same time balancing debates about major issues that are particularly relevant to the airport industry today. These include long-term traffic forecasting accuracy, slot allocation, incentives for investment, interactions between aeronautical and non-aeronautical areas and the choice of till, performance measurement challenges, decarbonisation strategies, economic impact measurement and the effect of COVID-19. A novel approach is the identification of a major controversy in each chapter which is examined through discussions of the relevant issues. The book also has case studies and numerous examples which illustrate and support many of the arguments that are developed in the book by linking theory and practice.The book will be of interest to practitioners working in the airport industry but also to other air transport sectors, especially airlines. Its insights will be invaluable for informing regulation and government policy. Moreover, it will be ideal for academics, researchers and students by providing in-depth coverage of key airport economic issues in one accessible text."Anne Graham, Westminster University, UK"Airport Economics is a must read for the beginner and for the expert. The former will find a scholarly, yet highly readable presentation not only of 'traditional' topics, such as airport demand, costs and pricing, but also of more 'contemporary' ones, such as airport ownership, efficiency, regulation and environmental and social impacts. And the expert will appreciate the comprehensive and thoughtful critical reviews of the numerous related issues and solution approaches provided by Professors Forsyth, Guiomard and Niemeier. Features that this reader particularly enjoyed include: a plethora of insightful real-world examples; the book’s decidedly international perspective; the brief case studies that are interspersed throughout the text; and, best of all, the 'controversies' that are introduced at the end of each chapter – e.g., 'are private, lightly regulated airports ripping off airlines and passengers?' – that motivate the reader to re-consider and synthesize the points that the chapter discussed."Amedeo Odoni, T. Wilson Chair Professor Emeritus, MIT"Air transport is distinguished, not just by providing rapid connections between cities, but also by the sheer scale of distortions in many of its markets. The pricing of airport services developed largely on cost recovery and cross-subsidy, with landing fees often determined by how much shopping takes place at the airport, exacerbating demand for scarce landing slots. Environmental externalities are not remotely paid for. Capacity expansion is no better than pricing. It is 55 years since the Roskill Commission issued their thoughtful and pioneering report on London’s airport capacity needs. They were ignored. Poor government decision making on airports has so often resulted from adversarial politics, the tyranny of the minority, concern for newspaper headlines and, most importantly, bogus quantification that provides endless numbers but no insight. This much needed book on the economics of airports is full of insights. It should be essential reading for all those in government, regulators and the industry concerned to make rational decisions about the future development of an industry that plays such an important role in connecting cities at home and around the world."Brian Pearce, Former Chief Economist, IATATable of Contents1 An Introduction to Airport Economics, Part 1 Demand, Costs and Pricing, 2 Location, Demand and Forecasting, 3 Costs and Market Structure, 4 Pricing and Capacity Allocation, Part 2: Ownership, Regulation and Efficiency, 5 Ownership, Finance and Investment, 6 Airport Regulation and Competition, 7 Airport Performance: Efficiency and Quality, Part 3 Environment and Impacts, 8 Airports and the Environment, 9 Economic Impacts, Policy and COVID, 10 Summary and Conclusions

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow do entrepreneurs make decisions in the real world? Why are entrepreneurs absent from mainstream economics? What functions do entrepreneurs play in the market? What type of institutional environment is needed for entrepreneurship to play a role? Neoclassical economics is a market theory without entrepreneurship. This misconception distorts our understanding of how the real market works, leading to a theory of market failure that forms the common foundation of various government interventions. The market is not only an allocative process but, more importantly, a discovery and creative process. To understand the real market, Weiying Zhang argues that economics must shift from a price-centric to an entrepreneur-centric paradigm. Blending theory and narrative, Zhang intersects history with the present supporting his theory with relevant case studies. He argues that once entrepreneurship in the market is correctly understood, the foundation for government intervention is undermined and the economy can sustainably flourish.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe fourth edition of Quantity Surveyor's Pocket Book remains a must-have guide for students and qualified practitioners. Its focused coverage of the data, techniques and skills essential to the quantity surveying role makes it an invaluable companion for everything from initial cost advice to the final account stage.Key features and updates included in this new edition are as follows: The impact of Brexit on construction and public procurement; New developments in digital construction; Renewed focus on ethics in the industry; Up-to-date analysis of NRM1, 2 and 3; Latest practice guidance notes and government publications; Post-contract administration; A companion website with alternative approaches to taking off quantities using spreadsheets. This text includes recommended formats for cost plans, developer's budgets, Table of Contents1. The Quantity Surveyor and the Construction Industry 2. Forecasting cost and value 3. Measurement and quantification 4. Procurement 5. Pricing and tendering 6. Contract procedure, administration and organisation 7. Final account

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe construction industry is undergoing great change particularly with the introduction of digital technologies and the increasing emphasis on sustainability and ethical practice. The fifth edition of New Aspects of Quantity Surveying Practice introduces and discusses these changes and their impact on the industry. The book champions the adaptability and flexibility of the quantity surveyor, whilst covering the hot topics which have emerged since the previous edition's publication, including: A new chapter on the impact of digital construction Sustainable construction Procurement trends Ethics and ethical practice The RICS Futures (2020) publicationThe book is essential reading for all quantity surveying students, teachers and professionals. It is particularly suited to undergraduate professional skills courses and non-cognate postgraduate students looking for an up to date understanding of the industry and the role.Table of Contents1. The story so far . . . 2. The challenging future landscape for the industry and the quantity surveyor. 3. Procurement 4. Digital construction and the quantity surveyor 5. Ethics and the quantity surveyor 6. Delivering added value

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisFirst published in 1955, this book offers a detailed history from the past to the mid-20th century on economic control. The book examines economic competition, particularly regarding the British economic system, and Fogarty looks at its scope, as well as its limits. This analysis considers working conditions in the mid-20th century, examining the impacts of industry on the life and work of the British agricultural population. The book first examines production decisions, arguing that a systematic and periodic overhaul of control mechanisms are required. Fogarty goes to give a detailed analysis on decisions about industry objectives. Ultimately, a broader look is given on the wider economic setting, and the definition of the economist is itself examined, taking into account the wider role that economics played in 20th century society.  Table of ContentsList of Tables and Charts; Part One – The Problem 1. Foreword: the Problem of Control Part Two – Production Decisions 2. The Scope and Limits of Economic Competition, Immediately Significant Decisions within a Given Social Framework 3. The Scope and Limits of Economic Competition, Immediately Significant Decisions within a Given Social Framework – testing the Effectiveness of Competition in British Conditions 4. The Scope and Limits of Economic Competition, where Competition is less effective 5. Direction 6. Consultation as a Form of Control 7. The Need for a Systematic and Periodic Overhaul of Control Mechanisms Part Three – Decisions about Objectives 8. Consumption and Savings 9. Provision for the Future - Investment 10. Provision for the Future - Research 11. Provision for the Future – Physical and Mental Health 12. Inter-Regional and International Relations - Population 13. Inter-Regional and International Relations – Trade and Investment: the Role of Competition 14. Inter-Regional and International Relations – Trade and Investment: the Role of Direction and Consultation Part Four – Economics and its Wider Setting 15. What an Economist 16. The Economist and his Neighbours 17. The Changing Background; Further Reading; Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book focuses on the process of designing a new business, known as entrepreneurship. It gives emphasis to the deep relationship between entrepreneurship and organizational innovation. This book provides a wide range of information and knowledge, namely: - on the different initiatives to be developed in order to promote an entrepreneurial culture; - on the different types and levels of innovation and organizational change to be implemented by organizations; - on the possible strategies to be developed with a view to fostering qualified entrepreneurship through a strong training component; -on the involvement of the different agents of innovation to equip the promoting entrepreneurial projects teams with scientific and technical knowledge in the different areas of intervention, such as marketing, finance, human resources management, the protection of intellectual property, techniques to persuade investors, etc.This book contributes not only to the transmission of knowledge and know-how in what concerns the techniques, procedures and strategies of entrepreneurial management, but also, and above all, to the construction of the behaviors, characteristics and entrepreneurial attitudes, leading to high levels of success in the business world.Table of ContentsEntrepreneurship and organizational innovation.- Intra-entrepreneurship.- Organizational innovation.- Culture and organizational behaviour.- Work challenges and changes.- Communication, participation and involvement in innovative environments.- Competitive management practices.- Human resource management.- Matching human and innovative organizations needs.- Motivating people in an innovative environment.- Developing leadership / entrepreneurial skills.- Global management.- Team building and innovation.- Strategic management.- Employee motivation and entrepreneurship.- Conflict management and work challenges.- Learning skills and styles in work innovation.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMergers & acquisitions are an essential instrument of strategic corporate management for companies of all sizes. The success of an M&A project highly depends on an optimal transaction preparation, fast execution and the experience of all parties involved. Due to numerous endogenous and exogenous influences, no two M&A transactions are alike at the detailed level. This book is designed as a practical M&A guide for students and professionals alike. In addition to dealing with important basics of mergers & acquisitions, the focus is on a structured and in-depth examination of the individual process steps of a typical company sale. At various points in this book, specific differences between a company sale of medium-sized companies (mid-caps) and large companies (large-caps) are discussed in detail.Table of ContentsChapter 1. The foundation of the consideration.- Chapter 2. David and Goliath: Mid-cap and large-cap companies.- Chapter 3. M&A sales process.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEconomic Models for Industrial Organization focuses on the specification and estimation of econometric models for research in industrial organization. In recent decades, empirical work in industrial organization has moved towards dynamic and equilibrium models, involving econometric methods which have features distinct from those used in other areas of applied economics. These lecture notes, aimed for a first or second-year PhD course, motivate and explain these econometric methods, starting from simple models and building to models with the complexity observed in typical research papers. The covered topics include discrete-choice demand analysis, models of dynamic behavior and dynamic games, multiple equilibria in entry games and partial identification, and auction models.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAt a time when tech giants have amassed vast market power, Jonathan Baker shows how laws and regulations can be updated to ensure more competition. The sooner courts and antitrust enforcement agencies stop listening to the Chicago school and start paying attention to modern economics, the sooner Americans will reap the benefits of competition.Trade ReviewThe Antitrust Paradigm is a call to action by a premier scholar of competition policy. Baker makes a compelling case to change the guidepost for U.S. antitrust enforcement from ‘do no harm’ to ‘do some good.’ Anyone with a keen interest in antitrust should read this book, and I hope that includes some judges. -- Richard J. Gilbert, University of California, Berkeley, and former Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Economics in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of JusticeBaker’s timely book will be required reading for competition policymakers. It provides a concise, sophisticated, and informed account of nearly fifty years of change that has reshaped antitrust law and legal doctrine, and uses that account to identify much-needed reforms that would contribute to greater competitive vitality in the American economy. -- Andrew I. Gavil, Howard University School of LawJonathan Baker has written a superb and timely treatment of one of the hottest economic issues: how to make the economy more competitive, especially in the face of rapidly changing technology. Baker draws on his research and policy experience to write a book that avoids the heated rhetoric that often dominates these debates to instead present a compelling analysis and prescription that is firmly grounded in economic research. -- Jason Furman, Harvard Kennedy School and former Chairman of the Council of Economic AdvisersJonathan Baker is one of the country’s leading antitrust scholars. This well-written and thought-provoking book meticulously sets forth the theoretical and empirical foundation for his view that antitrust policy needs to be radically changed and must become much more active if the United States is to remain a dynamic economy. Even readers who disagree will be challenged to reexamine the reasons for their views. -- Dennis W. Carlton, University of Chicago Booth School of Business and former Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Economic Analysis in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of JusticeBaker’s powerful and accessible prose makes the case for more vigorous twenty-first-century antitrust enforcement focused on market realities. He both diagnoses the problems and offers practical solutions. A must-read for those who care about ensuring markets that work to benefit consumers. -- Bill Baer, former Assistant Attorney General in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and former Director of the Bureau of Competition at the Federal Trade CommissionContains a meticulous exploration of the most common theories of antitrust harm, spanning the rules on agreements, monopolies, and mergers. Baker focuses on these problems within the digital economy, seeking to make the case that despite its nineteenth century origins, the current US antitrust framework is sufficiently nimble to meet contemporary challenges. -- Niamh Dunne * Project Syndicate *Why are citizens not experiencing market competition in daily life? And is there hope that antitrust enforcement might rise to the challenge? Jonathan Baker provides an insightful analysis of antitrust enforcement from the origin of the Sherman Act, through the anti-enforcement ideology of the Chicago School, to present-day, corporate-friendly policies. The Antitrust Paradigm illuminates why antitrust is fashionable again in policy circles. It presents the economic and legal evidence of the decline in competition in an accessible and compelling fashion and then goes on to provide intelligent and interesting recommendations of changes to make to address particular competition problems that characterize the modern economy. -- Fiona Scott Morton, Yale University School of ManagementJonathan Baker’s book is a stirring and painstaking achievement in both intellectual and political terms. It offers not only a subtle takedown of the Chicago School’s conceptual dominance over American antitrust law but a powerful redefinition of how intensifying market concentration actually hurts our economy and our people. The Antitrust Paradigm builds up into the most rousing kind of call to arms: one that is rooted in rigorous analysis, vivid facts, and a margin of practical hope. Baker has written a profoundly useful book. -- Congressman Jamie Raskin (Maryland)A good overview of the current debate about competition policy, and the Chicago School versus neo-structuralist (aka ‘hipster’) clash going on in the U.S. at the moment. -- Diane Coyle * Enlightened Economist *Shows how antitrust reforms ostensibly aimed at spurring competition ended up causing an increase in market power. * ProMarket *A powerful argument for antitrust reform to bring about the benefits long and emptily promised by the Chicago School. * Harvard Law Review *An extremely valuable contribution to what he rightly notes is one of the most compelling current debates. -- Zephyr Teachout * Democracy *An informed, thoughtful, and provocative antitrust manifesto that every antitrust thinker should read. -- Barak Orbach * Antitrust Source *

Read more less

Book SynopsisApple, Starbucks, Amazon, Zara, McDonald's - these are some of the brands and companies that are at the forefront of today's global economy. They are embedded in virtually every city and town. But when the global economy goes wrong (as in 2008), it can leave local communities vulnerable in the form of unemployment and bankruptcy. This forward-looking book argues for the creation of local economies as a means of resisting the seismic changes that globalization often brings, especially in times of crises. Moreover, research shows that for every GBP100 spent in a local shop, 45% will remain in the community (compared with only 15% if spent in retail chains such as Tesco or Aldi). As part of the design of the future, Elmark argues for the need to break up the global economy into local economies, so that communities can regain their independence and be less exposed to the tide of globalization.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe significant evolution of EU competition law in the last 15 years has been fundamentally influenced by economic theory, and economic aspects of cartel prosecution are increasingly relevant in modern competition practice. EU Cartel Law and Economics is the first book-length assessment of cartels from an integrated law and economics perspective. This perspective allows for a more insightful evaluation of the wide variety of practices at the intersection between collusive restrictions of competition and pro-competitive agreements between firms. It sheds light on the underlying mechanics of cartels, including how to detect anti-competitive conspiracies in the absence of hard evidence. It also provides a more conceptual approach to cartel law, outlining ways in which the current legal structure can be applied more effectively to deter anti-competitive conduct without discouraging pro-competitive forms of cooperation between firms. The book is divided into four parts: the first part proviTrade ReviewThe present book is indeed the first comprehensive study that has been conducted on EU cartel law and economics. It can serve as guidance for scholars, practitioners and competition authorities from both economic and legal backgrounds. The authors succeeded at exploring all the economic and legal aspects of cartel enforcement while emphasizing in their analysis on the main and the most important issues that truly needed reform. Most importantly, they confirmed the fact that economic theory is crucial for the design and enforcement of an effective competition law, including cartel enforcement, which was demonstrated notably by the recommendations and proposals that they have put forward. * Fatma El-Zahraa Adel, Egyptian Competition Authority (Cairo), Concurrences *This book covers a significant amount of ground, doing this very concisely. It engages with EU law and principles of microeconomics and game theory which can illuminate the competition rules. Both of these are complex disciplines. However, in its engagement, the book neither oversimplifies these matters nor does it engage in overly complicated, highly technical discussions (as many economics-oriented works are wont to do). It is eminently readable and should appeal to both lawyers and economists: to the former for its elegant discussion of the economic insights, and to the latter for its clear discussion of the law. * Dr Bruce Wardhaugh, European Competition Law Review *This is the first comprehensive study of the overall impact of economics on cartel enforcement. The book aims to examine the extent to which EU cartel law is consistent with the economics of collusion and identify areas where greater reliance on economics might be desirable ... The authors also explain the answers to a number of key questions. Why do firms form cartels? Are cartels necessarily a bad thing? What is the social cost of cartels? This book, which is written in a clear, non-technical style, makes the theory, law and practice of cartel enforcement accessible to readers from both economic and legal backgrounds. * Kevin McVeigh, Elliott Duffy Garrett , The Law Gazette *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: A Primer on Cartels 2: The Regulatory and Institutional Framework of EU Cartel Law 3: Cartel Detection 4: Cartel Prosecution 5: Civil Damages

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this classic text, Masahiko Aoki explores how the 2008-9 financial crisis demanded a re-examination of the role of corporations and the working of financial markets around the world, providing a compelling new analysis of the corporate firm; the role of shareholders, managers and workers; and institutional governance structures.In recent decades the firm has predominantly been seen as an organization run and governed in the interests of shareholders, where management act as the agent of shareholders, and the workers simply as instruments for share-value maximization. This book reverses this viewpoint. It sees corporations as associational cognitive systems where ''cognitive actions'' are distributed amongst managers and workers, with shareholders supplying ''cognitive tools'' and monitoring their use in the systems. Aoki analyses the different relationships that can exist between shareholders, managers, and workers from this perspective, and identifies a range of different models of organizational architecture and associated governance structures. He also discusses ways in which corporations act as players in social, political, and organizational games, as well as global economic games; how these inter-related social dynamics may change particular distinctive national structures into the diversity incorporated in the global corporate landscape; and how they now call for new roles for financial markets.Trade ReviewAn intriguing read. * Ethical Corporation Magazine *Masahiko Aoki uses the social mathematics of game theory to reveal the deep structure of corporate governance systems, in the process explaining the persistence of diversity under conditions of globalization. His profound and highly original analysis speaks directly to the issue of corporate governance reform in the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2008-9. * Simon Deakin, Professor of Law, University of Cambridge *The recent wave of fraud, corruption, and fiscal irresponsibility at the highest corporate levels dramatizes the need for a model of the modern corporation that is at the same time deeply economic in the recognition of the centrality of incentives, and deeply sociological in the recognition of the centrality of social norms and a culture of corporate morality. Professor Aoki has combined his magisterial knowledge of business organization with a foundational study of the role of culture in epistemic game theory to produce, for the first time, a truly transdisciplinary model of the corporation. * Herbert Gintis, Santa Fe Institute *This is a path breaking book that provides a rigorous analysis of the cognitive underpinnings of corporations. It gives fundamental insights into the diversity of organizational forms that exist and the association of these with the historical, political, social, and technological contexts within which they operate. As with so much of Professor Aoki's work, it will radically alter the way in which we view the corporation. * Colin Mayer, Peter Moores Dean, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford *A pioneering contribution which formalizes in game theoretic language complex institutional structure and environment of the corporation both at a moment of time and over time. * Douglass C. North, Nobel Laureate in Economics 1993, Spencer T. Olin Professor in Arts and Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis *Table of Contents1: Introduction: What Do Corporations Do? 2: Frames of Corporate Cognition and Governance 3: Societal Games that Corporations Play 4: How do Institutions Evolve? 5: The Evolving Diversity of the Corporate Landscape: "Convergence to Diversity"?

Read more less

Book SynopsisPaper and the British Empire examines the evolution of the paper industry within British organisational frameworks and highlights the role of the Empire as a market and business-making area in a world of shrinking commerce and rising trade barriers.Drawing on a valuable range of primary sources, this book covers the period 18611960 and examines events from the establishment of free trade backed by the gold standard to Britain's membership of the European Free Trade Association. In the field of the paper industry, the speed and intensity of the industrialisation process around the globe have been shaped by a wide variety of variables, including the surrounding institutional framework; entrepreneurial and organisational strategies; the cost and accessibility of transport; and the availability of capital, knowledge, energy resources, and technology. The supply of papermaking raw materials has also been key and has historically been the most important determinant for geoTable of Contents1. Introduction 2. The Political Economy of Raw Materials in the Global Paper Industry 1861–1960 3. The Esparto Grass Trade 4. The Pursuit of Wood Pulp 5. Bamboo for Papermaking 6. The Paper Trade and the British Empire 7. A Retrospective View of the British Paper Industry 8. Conclusions

Read more less

Book SynopsisShipping flows â maritime âfootprintsâ â remain underexplored in the existing literature despite the crucial importance of freight transport for global trade and economic development. Additionally, decision-makers lack a comprehensive view on how shipping flows can be measured, analyzed, and mapped in order to support their policies and strategies. This interdisciplinary volume, drawing on an international cast-list of experts, explores a number of crucial issues in shipping data estimation, construction, collection, mining, analysis, visualization, and mapping. Advances in Shipping Data Analysis and Modeling delivers several key messages. First, that in a world of just-in-time delivery and rapid freight transit, it is important to bear in mind the long-term roots of current trends as well as foreseeable future developments because shipping patterns exhibit recurrent, if not cyclical and path-dependent, dynamics. Second, shipping flows are currently often understood at the miTable of ContentsForewordCHAPTER 1Introduction: taking the pulse of world trade and movementCésar DUCRUETPart 1: Connectivity analysesCHAPTER 2Winds and maritime linkages in Ancient GreeceRay RIVERS, Tim EVANS and Carl KNAPPETTCHAPTER 3Reconstituting the maritime routes of the Roman EmpirePascal ARNAUDCHAPTER 4Ship logbooks help to understand climate variabilityRicardo GARCÍA-HERRERA, David GALLEGO, David BARRIOPEDRO and Javier MELLADOCHAPTER 5Complex network analysis of cross-strait container flowsLie-Hui WANG, Yan HONG, and Yushan LINCHAPTER 6Liner shipping forelands of Portugal’s main portsTiago A. SANTOS and Carlos GUEDES SOARESCHAPTER 7The complex network of coastal shipping in BrazilCarlos César RIBEIRO SANTOS, Marcelo DO VALE CUNHA, Hernane Borges DE BARROS PEREIRACHAPTER 8Intra vs. extra-regional connectivity of the Black Sea port systemKateryna GRUCHEVSKA, Theo NOTTEBOOM, and César DUCRUETCHAPTER 9Maritime connections and disconnections in a changing ArcticMia BENNETTPart 2: Geospatial analysesCHAPTER 10GIS-based analysis of US international seaborne trade flowsGuoqiang SHENCHAPTER 11Vessel tracking data usage to map Mediterranean flowsAlfredo ALESSANDRINI, Virginia FERNANDEZ ARGUEDAS, Michele VESPECHAPTER 12Geovisualizing the sail-to-steam transition through vessel movement dataMattia BUNEL, Françoise BAHOKEN, Cé

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisExtending your home? New kitchen or bathroom? Planning to decorate? If you''re taking on a job like this you need to know three things - can you do it on your own; how long is going to take; and most important of all, how much is it going to cost.This book tells you the answers. With simple-to-follow guidance on all your home improvement projects it tells you: the time the job will take the costs of the materials how difficult it''s going to be and what a professional is going to charge to do it for youTrade Review"Beat the builders at their games of bluff...this is a new trump card for the householder..." Sunday Times "...invaluable for anyone thinking of undertaking home improvements, both large and small." Citizens Advice BureauTable of ContentsPart 1 Part One; Chapter 1 Using a Contractor; Part 2 Part Two; Chapter 2 Doing it Yourself; Part 3 Part Three; Chapter 3 Hours, Materials and Costs; Part 4 Part Four; Chapter 4 Building Your Own Home; Part 5 Part Five; Chapter 5 Total Project Costs; Part 6 Part Six; Chapter 6 Tool and Equipment Hire; Part 7 Part Seven; Chapter 7 General Construction Data;

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book explores the extent to which economic theory is able to provide the theoretical foundations of strategic management. To this end it draws on the philosophy of science; microeconomic theory; and different approaches to strategic management. The work shows that many of the propositions of strategic management are deducible from the economic theories considered. It argues that these propositions should be made open to empirical testing and that a unified theory of strategic management should be developed. Thus the book addresses a current major concern of theorists - that strategy remains 'atheoretical' and that this reduces the predictive power of the subject and hampers further theory development. The essential contribution made is that economic theory should be systematically explored in order to establish the foundations of business strategy.Trade Review'Strategic management has generally developed outside of mainstream economic analysis. There have been a number of notable exceptions such as the work of Porter, Teece and Grant. This book builds upon these pioneering attempts to ground our understanding of the logical foundations of strategic management by relating it to recent economic analysis. As such it is a welcome addition for both students and teachers.' Professor P. M. Jackson, University of Leicester, UK 'The book takes its point of departure in the relatively scattered debates on the legitimate uses of economic reasoning in the field of strategic management that have appeared in the 1980s and 1990s in journals such as Strategic Management Journal, Journal of Management Studies, and Organization Science, as well as in various book chapters. The main contribution of this book appears to be that it pulls together these debates in a unified exposition and using a methodological approach that has not been applied by the various participants to the debates.' Professor Nicolai J. Foss, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark 'The book provides a lucid discussion of the key issues surrounding the economic foundations of strategic management. The author covers a wide range of literatures, and discusses each with subtlety. The book will be of considerable use to both those who teach strategic management and managerial economics and those who research these areas. I think this is a wonderful book. More, I learned a lot from what Barca had to say.' Dr. Sigmund Wagner-Tsukamoto, University of Leicester, UK 'The book makes a contribution in the following areas: 1. It provides a detailed account of the linkages and inter-connections between economics and strategic management. 2. It identifies those areas of economic theory most useful for the analysis of corporate strategy and intra-industry profit differentials. 3. It presents a framework upon which theories of strategic management can be furthered developed.' Dr David Law, University of Wales, Swansea, UKTable of ContentsContents: Introduction: does strategic management theory need economics? Setting Criteria to Appraise and Judge Economic Theories: What are the problem area and hard core assumptions of strategic management theory? Market Theories: Neoclassical perfect competition; Theories of industrial organisation; Austrian school of economics; Evolutionary school of economics. Firm Theories: Neoclassical theory of the firm; New institutional economics: transaction cost theory and agency theory; The theory of the growth of the firm; Behavioural theory of the firm; Conclusions: potential of economics for its foundational service to strategic management theory; Bibliography; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book is the first to lay out the detailed relationship between economic property rights, transaction costs, and information costs. It uses these concepts to develop a theory of economic property rights to explain why life is organized the way it is. Applications range from marriage and dueling to homesteading and ownership of wildlife.Trade Review'This new Third Edition of Economic Analysis of Property Rights carries one of the greatest classics of economics into the twenty-first century. Starting with unusually rigorous definitions of transaction costs, property rights, and resources, Barzel and Allen lay out a fruitful framework for analyzing institutions and employ it to generate a stunning array of insights into a wide variety of real-world situations. This book is essential reading for economists, legal scholars, policymakers, and anyone else who wants a fresh take on the way institutions work.' Henry E. Smith, Harvard Law School'As is fitting for a Third Edition of Economic Analysis of Property Rights by Yoram Barzel and Douglas W. Allen, there is a lot to learn in this new volume. The authors have been leaders in the New Institutional Economics. They examine property rights, transaction costs, information costs, organizations, and institutions. They describe how these arrangements coordinate and direct economic behavior and impact human welfare. Global economic performance depends more upon property rights and related structures of production than upon demographic, intellectual, and natural resource endowments. The topics addressed in this new edition are critical for understanding why.' Gary D. Libecap, University of California, Santa Barbara, and National Bureau of Economic ResearchTable of ContentsPart I. Conceptual Issues: 1. The Neoclassical Problem; 2. Economic Property Rights; 3 : Transaction Costs; 4. Information Costs; 5. The Theory of Economic Property Rights; Part II. Contracts, Organizations, and Institutions: 6. Exchange, Contracts, and Contract Choice; 7. Divided Ownership and Organization; 8. Institutions; Part III. Establishing Property Rights: 9. Capture in the Public Domain; 10. Forming Property Rights; 11. Benefits of the Public Domain; Part IV. Non Price Allocation and Other Issues: 12. Non-wage Labor Markets; 13. Property Rights in Non-Market Allocations; 14. Additional Property Rights Applications; 15. The Property Rights Model; Bibliography; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAccomplishing sustainability in the agribusiness sector is a significant, yet time-sensitive, challenge, especially when balanced with the need to grow sufficient quantity and quality of food to keep the growing global population healthy.Through both quantitative and qualitative methods, this book explores the extent to which the agribusiness sector is already evolving to become sustainable and the ways in which innovation in the industry can help address sustainable development goals, particularly around zero hunger, gender equality, decent work, responsible consumption and production, and climate action. The contributors to this volume address the following key questions: What are the drivers and barriers for the agribusiness sector to become sustainable? Which business models best facilitate the implementation of sustainable goals? How can we measure the extent to which the agribusiness sector is becoming more sustainable? How can the agribusiness sector leverage recent teTable of ContentsIntroduction, PART 1 THEORIES, CONCEPTS, AND DEFINITIONS, Chapter 1 State of the art and conceptual issues: Agribusiness and Sustainability, Chapter 2 The role of agribusiness in achieving Sustainable Development Goals: technologies, strategies, and ecosystems, Chapter 3 Gender Equality in Sustainability Reporting: Insights from Listed Italian Agri-Food Companies, PART II THE ROLE OF BUSINESS MODELS AND ECOSYSTEMS, Chapter 4 Inclusive value creation in the coffee industry A Framework of Blockchain-Enabled Dynamic Capabilities for Sustainable International Supply Chain Transformation, Chapter 5 Associativism as a promoter of sustainability in farmers and a driver for creating value for sustainable practices: the case of Socicana, Chapter 6 Social business models in agri-food: An interview with Sara Rajabli, founder of Buta Art & Sweets, PART III THE ROLE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR SUSTAINABILITY, Chapter 7 The role of innovative technologies for sustainability, Conclusion Sustainability in agribusiness: what is still in the works

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn alternative theory of the firm is needed that helps better understand the nature and actual functioning of firms as well as the challenges raised by digital platform firms. In defining firms as economic collective ventures organised by political means, this book offers a political economy vision of firms.Specifically, the book provides an authority-based conception of the firm that supplies a theoretical grounding for democratic governance. It is argued that workers must be viewed as actors of the firm, not passive subjects of capital, given that authority is a non-coercive form of power. The book examines authority and subordination from the workers' perspective and argues that when workers accept authority, it is because they see it as facilitating mutually beneficial cooperation between people with divergent interests. As managerial authority is based on its acceptance by workers, it calls for legitimacy. Neither ownership nor the function that authority performs makes Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: The agency theory of the firm – Discarding authority and the collective Chapter 2: Authority in work organisations – Definitions and challenges Chapter 3: The firm considered from the work standpoint – Why do workers cooperate? Chapter 4: Governance models and the constituent parties of the company Chapter 5: The pluralistic model of corporate governance Chapter 6: Digital labour platforms – Algorithmic authority? Epilogue: Using the concepts developed in the book to address the ecological transition

Read more less

Book SynopsisFuture farm managers need a range of tools and knowledge to run successful businesses, and this accessible textbook provides the required foundations from economics and management, applied to the farm context. In today's world where farms are subject to ever-changing industrial, labor, demographic, and technological factors, this textbook provides a clear focus and methodology for business stability and growth. It covers core microeconomic and macroeconomic principles, plus the full range of management topics, from accounting and marketing to operations management and human resource management. It also covers family succession planning and farming mega-trends.This second edition has been updated with the latest data and literature, and gives deeper attention to sustainability and conservation. It also offers a broader range of examples, showcasing the diversity of farm types and farm sizes across the US and globally. Instructor materials are available as digital suppleTrade Review"If there is one book that any agriculture student or farmer should refer to, to better manage farm business and conduct farm-related analysis, this is the one."Jebaraj Asirvatham, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, USATable of Contents1. Managing the Farm in an Integrated World Economy, 2. Management, 3. Business Plans, 4. Lessons from Microeconomics, 5. Lessons from Macroeconomics, 6. Government Policies Affecting Farming around the World, 7. Strategic Management: Planning, 8. Strategic Management: External and Internal Analysis, 9. Crafting Strategy, 10. Strategy Execution and Control, 11. Marketing Basics, 12. Financial Statements, 13. Financial Analysis, 14. Financial Management, 15. Enterprise Budgets: Uses and Development, 16. Partial Budgets, 17. Whole-Farm Planning, 18. Operations Management for the Farm, 19. Quality Management and Control, 20. Investment Analysis, 21. Land Ownership and Use, 22. Risk Management, 23. Production Contract Evaluation, 24. Human Resource Management, 25. Business Organization, 26. Farm Transfer and Succession Planning, 27. Farming in the Future

Read more less

In a rapidly changing world, with increasing competition in all sectors of transportation, railways are currently restructuring their planning, management, and technology. As commercial and pricing policies change and new methods of organization are introduced, a more entrepreneurial spirit is required. At the same time, new high-speed tracks are being constructed and old tracks are being renewed, magnetic levitation trains are in operation, hyperloop systems are being planned, high-comfort rolling stock vehicles are being introduced, logistics and combined transport are being developed. Awareness of environmental issues and the search for greater safety attribute a new role to the railways within the transportation system. Meanwhile, methods of analysis have evolved significantly, principally due to computer applications, the internet revolution, satellite technologies, and artificial intelligence, all of which offer new ways of thinking about and addressing old problems.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Practical Guide to Cost Engineering aims to show you how to work as a cost engineer out in the real world.Written by an experienced cost engineer and training program developer, this book introduces the practical side of cost management (cost estimation, cost reduction, and cost control) through real cases and realistic examples from a diverse range of engineering-based projects. With examples from nuclear, oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors, the book introduces and demonstrates the activities of the cost engineer throughout a project life cycle. The content is divided into logical sections covering basic concepts, cost estimation, cost control, economic feasibility, sustainability, and more, and the chapters are packed full of features such as definitions, formulas, exercises, and examples. The focus is on providing a practical approach where the reader can first understand a concept and then apply it using an Excel tool developed by the author which allows the reader to simulate different scenarios and results.The simple approach focusing on essential information backed up by practical scenarios presented in this book allows cost engineers and related professionals to execute and understand their activities, develop their professional skills, and even develop in-house training programs. A Practical Guide to Cost Engineering is accompanied by online resources, accessible via the Routledge Resource Centre wesbite.Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. Basic Concepts 3. Cost Estimate – Quick Methods 4. Cost Estimate – Detailed Method 5. Probabilistic Cost Estimate 6. Economic Costs 7. Economic Feasibility Study 8. Cost Control 9. Additional Topics 10. Sustainability and Cost Annex

Read more less

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

Read more less

This book, originally published in 1995 is a study of crisis management in the electricity supply industry during the 20th century. The full implications of the vulnerability of the industry are examined, with special reference to past industrial action. The authors were well placed to know how close the industry came on more than one occasion to disaster. In the wake of privatisation challenging and controversial questions are asked, which are of fundamental importance to the economy, quality of life and political stability of the country. An account is also given of the past structure, technology and industrial relations of the industry. This volume is an excellent case-study for students of post war politics, public sector management and industrial relations.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDo recent moves in the construction industry towards collaborative working and other new procurement procedures really make good business sense? Procurement in the Construction Industry is the result of research into this question and it includes the first rigorous categorizing of the differences between procurement methods currently in use. In the process of carrying out this research, the team has produced a comprehensive study of procurement methods which looks in detail at the relative benefits and costs of different ways of working, with sometimes surprising results. As such, it is not only a valuable guide for practitioners on the complexities of the procurement process, but also an outline of the relevance of economic theory to the construction sector.Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. Review of Existing Knowledge 3. Research 4. Fresh Perspectives on Construction Procurement 5. Conclusions and Recommendations for Further Work 6. References 7. Indexes 8. Appendix A: Glossary of Terms 9. Appendix B: Papers Arising from the Research 10. Appendix C: Annotated Bibliography

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis two-volume work provides a comprehensive overview of the Belt and Road Initiative, examining its impact on economic growth, trade, financial systems and international relations. Weaving theory with real-world examples, Joshua makes an important contribution to the understanding of how the Global Economy is being shaped through these developments.In this second volume, Joshua focuses on the operation of the international monetary system and the effects of the Belt and Road Initiative on both China's domestic economy and the Global Economy. In addition, this volume addresses the consequences of economic growth on the environment and international relations.Table of Contents Introduction The Changing International Financial System International Economic Growth The Effects of the Belt and Road Initiative on China's Domestic Economy Effects of the Belt and Road Initiative on the Domestic Economies of Participating Countries Effects of the Belt and Road Initiative on the Global Economy The Belt and Road Initiative and International Relations The Rise and Fall of Nations

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book presents a systematic approach to the management of physical assets from concept to disposal, building upon the previous editions and brought up-to-date with the new international standards ISO55002 and ISO/TS50010. It introduces the general principles of physical asset management and covers all stages of the asset management process, including initial business appraisal, identification of physical asset needs, capability gap analysis, financial evaluation, logistic support analysis, life cycle costing, strategic asset management planning, maintenance strategy, outsourcing, cost-benefit analysis, disposal and renewal. Features include: providing a textbook for asset management courses to university level; relating closely to the ISO55000 international asset management standard series; providing a basis for the establishment of physical asset management as a professional discipline; and presenting case studies, analytical techniques and numerical examples with solutions. Written for practitioners and students in asset management, this book provides an essential foundation to the topic. It is suitable for an advanced undergraduate or postgraduate course in asset management and also offers an ideal reference text for engineers and managers specializing in asset management, reliability, maintenance, logistics or systems engineering. Table of ContentsIntroduction to Asset Management.- Structure and Activities.- Asset Management Personnel.- From Concept to Project Approval.- Financial Methods.- Developing a Business Case.- Implementing Development Plans.- Life Cycle Planning and Costing.- Know Your Assets.- Asset Continuity Planning.- Strategic Asset Management Planning.- Capital Planning and Budget.- Asset Management.- Information Systems.- Cost-Benefit Analysis.- Risk Analysis and Risk Management.- Outsourcing.- Logistic Support.- Asset Basic Care.- Maintenance Organization and Budget.- Stock Control.- Reliability, Availability, Maintainability.- Safety.- Profit, Depreciation and Tax.- Asset Decision Examples.- Economic Life.- Equipment Replacement Decisions.- Further Financial Topics.- Performance, Audit and Review.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this book Harold L. Vogel comprehensively and holistically examines the business economics and investment aspects of major components of the travel industry, including airlines, hotels, casinos, amusement and theme parks, cruise lines, and tourism. The book is designed as an economics-grounded text that uniquely integrates reviews of each sector’s history with economics, accounting, and financial aspects and analysis. As such, it provides a concise, up-to-date reference guide for financial analysts, economists, industry executives, legislators and regulators, advertisers, and journalists interested in the economics, financing, and marketing of travel and tourism-related goods and services.The fourth edition of this well-established text updates, refreshes, and significantly broadens the coverage of tourism economics. It includes new sections on travel law and applications of big data and artificial intelligence technologies as well as additional material on demographic spending patterns, the online travel agency business, the pandemic’s effects and affects on industry finances, expanded coverage of the cruise line industry, and information on the damage to tourist destinations caused by excessive pollution and traffic.Table of Contents Part I: Introduction.- Part II: Getting There.- Part III: Being There.- Part IV: Doing Things There.- Part V: Roundup.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis textbook addresses the core issues facing economists concerning price determination in commodity markets, especially food and agricultural commodities. This book hones in on the conceptual basis of the various relationships, with special emphasis on market interrelationships, both horizontally and vertically. This book covers key concepts such as consumer demand theory; quality, heterogeneous goods, and cross section demand; derived demand, marketing margins, and relationship between output and raw material prices; retail-to-farm demand linkages, imperfect competition, and short-run price determination; dynamic consumer demand; and dynamic models of the firm.What makes this textbook of particular use to students is its focus on bridging the gap between theory and empirical analysis. Going from theory to empirics requires that we have data—time series or cross section—that match the theoretical constructs. Often the data match is not perfect, either by definition or how the data are computed. In addition to problems of matching data with theoretical constructs, students and researchers need to know how to specify, estimate, and interpret results within the context of imperfect and often incomplete data. This textbook uses several data sets to illustrate how one might address problems in real-world settings. Furthermore, with exercises at the end of each chapter, students are able to test themselves on their ability to bring theory to life.Table of Contents1. Introduction.- 2. Consumer Demand: Theory.- 3. Consumer Demand: Separability and Commodity Aggregation.- 4. Consumer Demand: Empirical Analysis I.- 5. Consumer Demand: Empirical Analysis II.- 6. Quality, Heterogeneous Goods, and Cross Section Demand.- 7. Derived Demand, Marketing Margins, and Relationship between Output and Raw Material Prices.- 8. Retail-to-Farm Demand Linkages, Imperfect Competition, and Short-Run Price Determination.- 9. Dynamic Consumer Demand.- 10. Dynamic Models of the Firm.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis open access book summarizes research being pursued within the SISCODE (Society in Innovation and Science through CO-DEsign) project, funded by the EU under the H2020 programme, the goal of which is to set up an analytical, reflective and learning framework to explore the transformations in initiatives and policies emerging from the interaction between citizens and stakeholders. The book provides a critical analysis of the co-design processes activated in 10 co-creation labs addressing societal challenges across Europe. Each lab as a case study of real-life experimentation is described through its journey, starting from the purpose on the ground of the experimentation and the challenge addressed. Specific attention is then drawn on the role of policies and policy maker engagement. Finally, the experimentation is enquired in terms of its output, transformations triggered within the organization and the overall ecosystem, and its outcomes, opening the reasoning towards the lessons learnt and reflections that the entire co-creation journey brought.Table of Contents

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe financial system is currently confronted with tremendous challenges from the global economy, trade, politics, demographics, and most recently from enormous technological advancements.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPolitical Economy of Regulation.- Regulation in the EU.- Too Much Regulation.- Too Weak to Regulate.- Financial Regulation in the EU.

Read more less