Economics Books

Book SynopsisThe United States recognized the independence of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia when the former Soviet Union broke up at the end of 1991. The United States has fostered these states'' ties with the West in part to end their dependence on Russia for trade, security, and other relations. This book provides profiles of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia; examines political developments; and discusses the interests of the United States in these countries.

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Book SynopsisAzerbaijan is an important power in the South Caucasus by reason of its geographic location and ample energy resources, but it faces challenges to its stability, including the unresolved separatist conflict involving Nagorno Karabakh (NK). This book discusses the profile, foreign rights and human rights of the European country of Azerbaijan.

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Book SynopsisThe small Black Sea-bordering country of Georgia gained its independence at the end of 1991 with the dissolution of the former Soviet Union. The United States had an early interest in its fate, since the well-known former Soviet foreign minister, Eduard Shevardnadze, soon became its leader. The August 2008 Russia-Georgia conflict caused much damage to Georgia''s economy and military, as well as contributing to hundreds of casualties and tens of thousands of displaced persons in Georgia. This book discusses the profiles, foreign relations and human rights of the European country of Georgia.

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Book SynopsisUzbekistan gained independence at the end of 1991 with the breakup of the Soviet Union. The landlocked country is a potential Central Asian regional power by virtue of its population, the largest in the region, its substantial energy and other resources, and its location at the heart of regional trade and transport networks. The United States pursued close ties with Uzbekistan following its independence. This book discusses the profiles, foreign relations and human rights of the European country of Uzbekistan.

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Book SynopsisThis collected volume presents immigration research from an interdisciplinary perspective. It includes chapters written by psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, economists, educators, and lawyers. The book''s chapters focus on both immigrants and the host societies, reflecting different narratives of immigration. The studies presented in the book use a wide array of methodologies: quantitative and qualitative research, longitudinal studies, and analyses of macro-level data. They also provide a broad time perspective on immigration processes that span from the pre-migration period, and include second and third generation immigrants. Finally, the book includes studies conducted in different parts of the world: in Australasia, Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East, and both Americas.

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Book SynopsisOver the years, the United States has been concerned about threats to Latin American and Caribbean nations from various terrorist or insurgent groups that have attempted to influence or overthrow elected governments. Although Latin America has not been the focal point in the war on terrorism, countries in the region have struggled with domestic terrorism for decades and international terrorist groups have at times used the region as a battleground to advance their causes. This book examines Latin America as a national security threat with a focus on Iran''s increasing activities with Venezuela; drug-trafficking related violence in Mexico and Columbia; and Cuba''s lack of cooperation in antiterrorism efforts.

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Book SynopsisThis book assesses the financial literacy of retail investors in the United States. Literacy involves the "ability and confidence to effectively apply or use knowledge related to personal finance concepts and products." Investor knowledge is particularly important in an age in which retirement programs in the United States have moved from defined-benefit plans, in which the employer bears investment responsibility, to defined-contribution plans, in which the responsibility has shifted to employees. If employees do not have the requisite knowledge, they will not be prepared to make informed decisions regarding the management of their financial affairs, including investing for a secure retirement. Studies have found that American investors repeatedly do not understand the most basic financial concepts, such as compound interest and inflation; the meaning of stocks and bonds; the role of interest rates in the pricing of securities; the function of the stock market; and the value of portfolio diversification, among others.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides an overview on the contemporary political system of China, the world''s second largest economic power, one of five permanent members of the United National Security Council, and the only Communist Party-led authoritarian state in the G-20 grouping of major economies. By introducing some of the distinct features and governance challenges of China''s political culture, this book aims to help Congress understand the ways in which political actors in China interact, or in some cases, fail to interact, with implications for China''s relationship with its neighbours and the world. Also discussed is China''s formal political structures; and the diplomacy and human rights implications of Chinese legal advocate Chen Guangcheng.

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Book SynopsisIncome tax rates have been at the centre of recent policy debates over taxes. Some policy-makers have argued that raising tax rates, especially on higher income taxpayers, to increase tax revenues is part of the solution for long-term debt reduction. For example, the Senate recently passed the Middle Class Tax Cut, which would allow the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts to expire for taxpayers with income over $250,000. The Senate recently considered legislation, the Paying a Fair Share Act of 2012, that would implement the "Buffett rule" by raising the tax rate on millionaires. Other recent budget and deficit reduction proposals would reduce tax rates. This book examines individual income tax rates since 1945 in relation to these arguments and seeks to establish what, if any, relationship exists between the top tax rates and economic growth, using statistical analysis.

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Book SynopsisThis series examines issues and economic matters particular to small businesses. The term Small Enterprise (or Small Organisation) is sometimes used for this same category of business or organisation. A small enterprise/organisation may also be a non-profit organisation. This volume covers several topics including: the increasing importance of credit unions in small business lending; an analysis of small business innovation in green technologies; and understanding small business activity at the state level.

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Book SynopsisThis book looks at theories of nature-society relations and development, applied to soil erosion and environmental change in West Africa, and Ghana. Acknowledging the importance of power relations for environmental management, the book begins with an examination of the field of political ecology, alternately the "political economy of the environment." It assesses the role of this sub-discipline within geography and anthropology, and its role in practical conservation planning and the management of soil erosion. Political ecology tilts towards a structuralist approach, hence social theories (actor oriented studies and structuration theory) sensitive to actor analysis are examined as complementary frameworks. Structuration theory is discussed as attempting to tie the concepts of structure and actor together and provide a basis for the study of political, economic, socio-cultural and environmental contexts. These theories connect to the issues of livelihood and household analysis, gender relations and the economic, ecological and Green political variants of the paradigm of sustainable development.

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Book SynopsisThis book takes an incisive, political ecology perspective of the development of agriculture in the West African nation of Ghana (formerly the British colony of the Gold Coast), focusing on agricultural, socio-cultural, economic, political and environmental issues during the pre-colonial (pre-16th century), colonial and post colonial periods (after 1957, up until 1992, the start of the last Republic). This integrated approach for the study of agricultural development and environmental change is very relevant to the Ghanaian context. Here, complex historical, political and socio-cultural factors have been combined, within a fairly short period, to contribute to an environmental metamorphosis. A complicated mosaic of indeterminate vegetation climaxes, such as depleted and secondary forests, derived savannah and savannah woodland, has gradually replaced the primeval rain forest, deciduous forest and savannah. Problems include soil erosion and desertification risk. This, largely due to human agency, is explainable by examining the political and economic relations behind the resource exploitation methods devised by the different actors in the political, economic and social system.

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Book SynopsisMillions of individual and business taxpayers owe billions of dollars in unpaid federal tax debts, and the IRS expends substantial resources trying to collect these debts. Other federal agencies that are owed non-tax debts report such debts to credit bureaus, in part as a tool to encourage debtors to pay. However, the IRS is not allowed to directly report tax debts to credit bureaus because long-standing federal law protects the privacy of taxpayers'' information. This book examines the inventory of tax debts and the characteristics that may be relevant to a potential proposal to report tax debts to credit bureaus.

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Book SynopsisThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers 15 domestic nutrition assistance programs. The five largest programs are: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Although SNAP''s reputation as one of the Nation''s primary counter-cyclical assistance program, expanding during economic downturns and contracting during periods of economic growth, is well established, there has been little analysis of the effect of the economy on other programs. This book examines the relationship between U.S. economic conditions and participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture''s nutrition assistance programs and how changes in program policy may have influenced this relationship.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides an overview and examination of the Vietnamese services sector. Vietnam is growing rapidly as it transitions from a state-planned economy to a hybrid economy with an expanded private sector. Besides broadening its international trade relationships, in recent years Vietnam has committed to liberalising its industries and strengthening its intellectual property laws through bilateral treaties, regional associations, and accession to the World Trade Organization. Service industries account for a growing share of Vietnam''s economy, as new businesses seek services like banking and logistics while consumers with rising income demand education, retail, and telecommunication services. Liberalisation and foreign investment have increased the supply of services in Vietnam, but many industries are still hampered by shortages of skilled workers and good infrastructure, and by a weak business environment in which regulations impede commerce and state-owned enterprises have many advantages.

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Book SynopsisThe U.S. government uses federal credit (direct loans and loan guarantees) to allocate capital to a range of areas including home ownership, student loans, small business, agriculture, and energy. A direct loan is "a disbursement of funds by the government to a non-federal borrower under a contract that requires the repayment of such funds with or without interest." A loan guarantee is "a pledge with respect to the payment of all or part of the principal or interest on any debt obligation of a non-federal borrower to a non-federal lender." At the end of FY2011, outstanding federal direct loans totalled $838 billion and outstanding guaranteed loans totalled $2,017 billion. This book describes the concepts, budgetary treatment and reform proposals of federal credit.

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Book SynopsisU.S. trade in goods and services grew in 2011, but by less than in 2010. Lower growth in U.S. aggregate demand led to similarly lower growth in U.S. imports of goods and services in 2011 compared to 2010. Likewise, generally lower growth in most foreign countries led to lower growth in U.S. exports of goods and services in 2011. The U.S. economic recovery that began in the summer of 2009 stalled in 2011 after a relatively weak rebound in 2010. Real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 1.7 percent in 2011, following growth of 3.0 percent in 2010 and a 3.5 percent contraction in 2009. This book provides an overview of international activities, agreements and data for 2011 on trade in the United States.

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Book SynopsisEvery dollar an executive proposes to spend or proposes not to spend has to be subjected to economic decision making. Expenditure and investment proposals can be for cost reduction or income expansion. In some cases, both may be realized. For both the proposals, economic decision making is essential. The goal of equipment selection in a business system is acceptable financial efficiency, not engineering efficiency. The engineering economic analysts test the profitability of a proposed operation, or choose the best option among the existing alternatives. The book "Principles and Practices of Engineering & Industrial Economics" covers issues ranging from project formulation steps - through data collection, costing of project, detail financial analysis, decision rules, risk analysis and environmental considerations to model study for financial and scenario analysis for decision making.

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Book SynopsisWhat does Moroccan culture mean to a group of Moroccan academics at this decisive conjuncture and turning point of the 21st Century characterised by the advent and the shaking impact of the Arab Spring? How does culture, broken down in terms of intergenerational values, cultural identity related to language, language behaviour, socio-political debate, the meaning of space and place, and the meaning of ancient festivals fare in today''s Moroccan socio-cultural and socio-political contexts? Marrying theory and fieldwork, the authors in the six chapters that constitute the present book volume have tackled the above themes insightfully and discussed them by using in-depth analysis and investigation. They have given a firsthand, autochthonous account of aspects of Moroccan culture in the wake of the recent and still reverberating events that have swept across much of North Africa and part of the Middle East.

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Book SynopsisThis book presents policy and oversight issues for Congress arising from (1) maritime territorial disputes involving China in the South China Sea (SCS) and East China Sea (ECS) and (2) an additional dispute over whether China has a right under international law to regulate U.S. and other foreign military activities in its 200-nautical-mile maritime Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). China is a party to multiple maritime territorial disputes in the SCS and ECS, including, in particular, disputes over the Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, and Scarborough Shoal in the SCS, and the Senkaku Islands in the ECS. Maritime territorial disputes involving China in the SCS and ECS date back many years, and have periodically led to incidents and periods of increased tension. The disputes have again intensified in the past few years, leading to numerous confrontations and incidents, and heightened tensions between China and other countries in the region, particularly Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

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Book SynopsisThe 11 September 2012 terrorist attacks on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi underscored the serious security challenges facing Libya''s citizens, their newly elected leaders, and U.S. diplomats. U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other U.S. personnel were killed after armed individuals attacked and burned buildings on the main mission compound and subsequently attacked a second annex site where U.S. personnel had been evacuated. Libyan officials and citizens have condemned the murder of U.S. personnel and investigations have begun. Libya''s post-conflict transition is underway, as Libyans work to consolidate change from the 40-year dictatorship of Muammar al Qadhafi to a representative government based on democratic and Islamic principles. This book explores Libya''s transition and state building efforts with a focus on political developments and challenges; and domestic and regional security issues.

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Book SynopsisThe political change and unrest that have swept through the Middle East and North Africa since early 2011 are likely to have profound consequences for the pursuit of long-standing U.S. policy goals in the region with regard to regional security, global energy supplies, U.S. military access, bilateral trade and investment, counter-proliferation, counter-terrorism, and the promotion of human rights. The profound changes in the region may alter the framework in which these goals are pursued and challenge the basic assumptions that have long guided U.S. policy. This book assesses some of the policy implications of recent and ongoing events in the region, with a focus on Egypt, Iran, Syria, Libya, Israel, Tunisia, and Bahrain.

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Book SynopsisThis book addresses two interrelated problems in economics modelling: non-nested hypothesis testing in econometrics, and regression models with stochastic/random regressors. The primary motivation for this book stems from the nature of econometric models. As an abstraction from reality, each statistical model consists of mathematical relationships and stochastic, behavioural assumptions. In practice, the validity of these assumptions and the adequacy of the mathematical specifications is ascertained through a series of diagnostic and specification tests. Conventional test procedures, however, fail to recognise that economic theory generally provides more than one distinct model to explain any given economic phenomenon.

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Book SynopsisFrom the beginning of the American federal government, Congress has required executive branch agencies to release or otherwise make available government information and records. Some scholars and statesmen, including James Madison, thought access to information -- commonly referred to in contemporary vernacular as "transparency" -- was an essential cornerstone of democratic governance. Today, the federal government attempts to balance access to information with the need to protect certain information (including national security information and trade secrets) in order to achieve transparency. As a consequence, access and protection are often in tension with one another. This book first assesses the meaning of transparency and subsequently examines the statutes, initiatives, requirements, and other actions that make information more available to the public or protect if from public release. Also discussed is whether existing transparency initiatives are effective in reaching their stated goals.

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Book SynopsisThe Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is a critically important statute for combating corruption around the globe. Corruption has corrosive effects on democratic institutions, undermining public accountability and diverting public resources from important priorities such as health, education, and infrastructure. When business is won or lost based on how much a company is willing to pay in bribes rather than on the quality of its products and services, law-abiding companies are placed at a competitive disadvantage, and consumers lose. This book addresses a wide variety of topics, including who and what is covered by the FCPA''s anti-bribery and accounting provisions; the definition of a "foreign official", what constitutes proper and improper gifts; travel and entertainment expenses; the nature of facilitating payments; how successor liability applies in the mergers and acquisitions context; the hallmarks of an effective corporate compliance program; and the different types of civil and criminal resolutions available in the FCPA context.

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Book SynopsisThis book examines the close relations between the United States and Panama, stemming in large part from the extensive linkages developed when the Canal was under U.S. control and Panama hosted major U.S. military installations. The current relationship is characterized by extensive counter-narcotics cooperation; support to promote Panama''s economic, political, and social development; and a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) that entered into force at the end of October 2012.

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Book SynopsisThe main objective of this publication is establishing an understanding of the process of European integration and hence the current European Union that has resulted from this process. As this is a complicated development that includes many different areas, this book will focus on the main fields in which the integration has been settled; politics, economy, law, and social aspects. Thus, a comprehensive approach to all these fields will provide both general and professional readers with sufficient knowledge to understand the process and form their own opinion about it. Each chapter has been developed independently, and hence can be read autonomously in order to understand a specific topic, policy, or problem in the European Union. Reading of the full book will provide a wide perspective of the process, as the chapters are connected; forming different groups based on similar themes, the combination of these wider groups providing the general approach to the whole process of European integration.

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Book SynopsisThe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is Southeast Asia''s primary multilateral organisation. Established in 1967, it has grown into one of the world''s largest regional forum representing a strategically important group of 10 nations that spans critical sea lanes and accounts for 5% of U.S. trade. This book examines U.S. diplomatic, security, trade and aid ties with ASEAN, analyses major issues affecting Southeast Asian countries and U.S.-ASEAN relations, and explores ASEAN''s relations with other regional powers with a focus on multilateral diplomacy.

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Book SynopsisWhy does Iranian acquisition of ballistic missiles or Iran''s pursuit of a space launch capability matter, especially to the Congress? For decades, most in Congress have viewed Iran with concern because of its nuclear program and its support of anti-U.S. and anti-Israel militant movements in the region. Although it is not certain that Iran has made the decision to develop a nuclear weapon, it is taking steps to drastically reduce the time needed to obtain nuclear weapons should a decision be made to do so. It is the prospect of an Iranian nuclear weapon mated to an effective missile delivery capability that is especially worrisome to most. This book examines the current and prospective Iranian capabilities that challenge U.S. national security interests, with a focus on its ballistic missile and space launch programs.

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Book SynopsisMany recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and other low-income individuals find or keep jobs for a while, but far fewer remain steadily employed, advance in the labor market, or earn wages that lift their families out of poverty. To address these issues, a number of initiatives have aimed to help low-wage workers stay employed and move up in the labour market. Several such programs, trying different strategies, were studied as part of a multiyear, multisite evaluation called the Employment Retention and Advancement (ERA) project. This book examines the ERA program which outlines a few strategies that succeeded in improving individuals'' employment retention and earnings as well as strategies that did not. Key findings and lessons are detailed.

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Book SynopsisIn 2008, 12 percent of all federal revenues came from corporate income taxes. About half was paid by multinational corporations reporting income from foreign countries. How the federal government taxes U.S. multinational corporations has consequences for the U.S. economy overall as well as for the federal budget. Tax policies influence businesses'' choices about how and where to invest, particularly as corporations assess whether it is more profitable to locate business operations in the United States or abroad. The tax laws also can create opportunities for tax avoidance by allowing multinational corporations to use accounting or other legal strategies to report income and expenses for their U.S. and foreign operations in ways that reduce their overall tax liability. This book examines policy options addressing particular concerns about the current system of taxation, with a focus on multinational corporations'' investment strategies and reporting of income as well as U.S. revenues from corporate income taxes.

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Book SynopsisCongress has maintained significant interest in Mexico and played an important role in shaping bilateral relations. Recently, the centrist Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) that governed Mexico from 1929 to 2000 retook the presidency after 12 years of rule by the conservative National Action Party (PAN) in the 1 July 2012 elections. The party also captured a plurality in Mexico''s Senate and Chamber of Deputies. PRI President Enrique Pena Nieto, a former governor of the state of Mexico, took office on 1 December 2012, pledging to enact bold structural reforms and broaden relations with the United States beyond security issues. This book provides an overview of the leadership, priorities, and prospects for Mexico''s new administration. An analysis of how those priorities may affect key bilateral issues of interest to the 113th Congress is discussed with a focus on assessing the Pena Nieto Administration and its impact on U.S.-Mexican relations.

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Book SynopsisIn a 2009 study of the debt collection industry, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) concluded that the "most significant change in the debt collection business in recent years has been the advent and growth of debt buying". "Debt buying" refers to the sale of debt by creditors or other debt owners to buyers that then attempt to collect the debt or sell it to other buyers. Debt buying can reduce the losses that creditors incur in providing credit, thereby allowing creditors to provide more credit at lower prices. Debt buying, however, also many raise significant consumer protection concerns. The FTC receives more consumer complaints about debt collectors, including debt buyers, than about any other single industry. Many of these complaints appear to have their origins in the quantity and quality of information that collectors have about debts. This book provides an overview of the debt buying market and the process of buying and selling debt; and the nature and extent of the relationship between the practice of debt buying and the types of information that the FTC has found can occur when debt collectors seek to recover and verify debts.

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