Microeconomics Books

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe astonishing reality of living without our most important resource: money. 'An inspiring and entertaining guide to escaping the money trap and reconnecting with reality.' Paul Kingsnorth, author of Real England Imagine a year living without spending money... Former businessman Mark Boyle undertook this extraordinary challenge and recounts the amazing adventure it led him on. Going back to basics and following his own strict rules, Mark learned ingenious ways to eliminate his bills and discovered that friendship has no price. Encountering seasonal foods, solar panels, skill-swapping schemes, caravans, compost toilets, and – the unthinkable – a cash-free Christmas, Boyle puts the fun into frugality and offers some great tips for economical (and environmentally friendly) living. A testament to Mark’s astounding determination, this witty and thought-provoking book will make you reevaluate what is most precious in life.Trade Review‘Essential and enjoyable reading. The fascinating story of an important social experiment, told with humility, insight and great humour.’ —Chris Cleave, author of Everyone Brave is Forgiven'An inspiring and entertaining guide to escaping the money trap and reconnecting with reality.' —Paul Kingsnorth, author of Real England: The Battle Against the Bland'An inspiring, hair-raising journey into a world which most of us can only begin to imagine. Fearless and funny, Boyle’s descriptions of simple living and its unexpected repercussions are guaranteed to make you smile.' —Kate Aydin'Whether you think him brave or foolhardy, his book contains cogent ideas and practical tips that, post-credit crunch, you many no longer be able to ignore.' —Waterstones'It’s difficult not to admire the philosophy, and the infectious home-spun and passionate tone!' —Benedict Allen - Survivalist and author of The Faber Book of Exploration

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis***THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER***BOOK OF THE YEAR IN GUARDIAN, ECONOMIST & NEW STATESMAN'Excellent and provocative... a passionate, timely book.' Sunday Times'A fine new book... thoughtful, deeply reported and impeccably even-handed.' The TimesEmerging from a collection of city states 150 years ago, no other country has had as turbulent a history as Germany or enjoyed so much prosperity in such a short time frame. Today, as much of the world succumbs to authoritarianism and democracy is undermined from its heart, Germany stands as a bulwark for decency and stability.Mixing personal journey and anecdote with compelling empirical evidence, this is a critical and entertaining exploration of the country many in the West still love to hate. Raising important questions for our post-Brexit landscape, Kampfner asks why, despite its faults, Germany has become a model for others to emulate, while Britain fails to tackle contemporary challenges. Part memoir, part history, part travelogue, Why the Germans Do It Better is a rich and witty portrait of an eternally fascinating country.Trade ReviewExcellent and provocative... a passionate, timely book. * Sunday Times *A fine new book... One of the best English-language introductions in recent years to modern Germany and its politics: thoughtful, deeply reported and impeccably even-handed. * The Times *A rich guide to modern Germany... For the British readers this book is directed at, the implied contrasts are startling. German conservatism produced Angela Merkel, easily the most respected democratic leader in the world, while the English variety produced Boris Johnson. * Guardian *Highly readable and well-informed... [Kampfner] mixes historical sweep with vivid reporting to celebrate Germany's strengths and achievements. * Financial Times *A revelation of a book... with insights based on painstaking research and evidence gleaned from months crisscrossing the country... Kampfner's analysis is simply peerless. * Literary Review *A nuanced but compelling account... Kampfner marshals a convincing argument that other countries would be foolish to ignore Germany's emotional maturity and solidity. * New Statesman *Authoritative, timely and courageous, this is a compellingly readable book that raises profoundly important questions on history, our times and the future. * Philippe Sands, bestselling author of East West Street and The Ratline *A lively, affectionate portrait... A paeon to Germany. * Irish Times *Passionate yet carefully argued, Why The Germans Do It Better is a must-read. * James Hawes, author of The Shortest History of Germany *A well-argued case for learning from our German cousins. * Prospect *Smart, provocative and entertaining, this is a timely and enthralling love letter to our much misunderstood near neighbour. * Kay Burley *A forensic and highly readable account of Germany's ability to get things right. Kampfner's clear and unanswerable argument should be compulsory reading for every politician, civil servant and commentator in Britain. * John Simpson *We need a great book on Germany as the Merkel era ends: this is that book. It confronts the country's history, and charts with authority and affection its modern course with lessons for us all. * Lyse Doucet, BBC Chief International Correspondent *Kampfner's admiration of what post-war Germany has achieved doesn't blind him to her imperfections. Why the Germans Do It Better abounds with sharp analysis and telling anecdotes. A lively, very readable introduction to a country we ought to understand a lot better than we do. * David Lidington *One of Britain's most distinguished political writers. * Mail on Sunday *Kampfner roams widely in Germany and has a reporter's ear for the telling anecdote. He knows his history too. * Lionel Barber, The Spectator *There is plenty of good material here and the timing is impeccable. * TLS *A fascinating, affectionate and deeply researched portrait of Germany in the modern era -- Kampfner vividly brings Germany's turbulent history to life, and explains its profound influence on Europe today. Why The Germans Do It Better is essential for all who want to understand what Britain should do post-Brexit. * Sir Anthony Seldon, author of May at 10 *Germany's success in tackling the great pandemic of 2020 has surprised many. John Kampfner shows why it should not have done so. This is a compelling account of how, in two generations, a country adopted the principles of liberal democracy, then mastered them, and now has more to teach us than we might wish to admit * Baroness Catherine Ashton, former EU High Representative and former Leader of the House of Lords *Table of Contents1: Rebuilding and Remembering 2: Mutti's Warm Embrace 3: Multikulti 4: No Longer a Child 5: The Wonder 6: The Dog Doesn't Eat the Dog 7: No More Pillepalle

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe corporation is one of the most important and remarkable institutions in the world. It affects all our lives continuously. It feeds, entertains, houses and, employs us. It generates vast amounts of revenue for those who own it and it invests a substantial proportion of the wealth that we possess. But the corporation is also the cause of immense problems and suffering, a source of poverty and pollution, and its failures are increasing. How is the corporation failing us? Why is it happening? What should we do to restore trust in it? While governments are subject to repeated questioning and scrutiny, the corporation receives relatively little attention. Firm Commitment provides a lucid and insightful account of the role of the corporation in modern society and explains why its problems are growing. It gives a fresh perspective on the crises in financial markets, developing countries, and the environment. Based on decades of analysis and research, it describes a new approach to thinkingTrade Review[A] splendid book. * Martin Wolf Financial Times *A constructive critique of the commercial corporation and ultimately an ambiguous agenda for change. Worthy of wide readership because it is also a carefully weighed historical reflection, and thus unlike the majority of books published in this genre. * Oxford Today Vol. 25 No. 2 *A provocative book ... Mayer's critique of the modern corporation will resonate with millions who sense that something serious has gone amiss. * Bloomberg News *There is no shortage of reflections on the market failure in the West. [But this is] not just another fashionable tome on the topic. Rather, it is a solemn contemplation of the roots of corporations' defects. You can sense the seriousness of his thoughts in every line. * China Daily *A smart new book. * The Atlantic *An important book. It provides an impressive explanation of the state of things and a blueprint for converting the corporation into a 21st century organisation that could perhaps be trusted to promote the interests of economies and societies everywhere. * New Zealand Management *Mayer makes his case clearly and passionately. * Financial Times Summer Books Guide *An outspoken book ... This is not a theoretical debate but one of urgent importance for economies around the world. * GRC-Daily (Governance, Risk Management and Compliance) *The combination of theory and its commercial application comes through in this thoughtful study of the corporation. The analysis is quality. * Neil Hedges, Management Today *Blunt ... thoughtful ... thought-provoking * Eric Krell, Business Finance Magazine *Lays out a plan for a radical rethink of the purpose of the corporation. * CSRwire.com *Lucid analysis * John Lloyd, Financial Times *Corporate governance is manifestly in crisis: in this lucid and truly important book Colin Mayer explains why. Not only should you read this book, so should governments. * Paul Collier, author of 'The Bottom Billion' *An impassioned and important plea for a reorientation of values in the modern corporation, offered by one of the world's leading scholars of corporate finance, ownership, and control. * Henry Hansmann, Oscar M. Ruebhausen Professor of Law, Yale Law School *Companies and wealth generation, as Professor Colin Mayer argues in his important book, are about co-creation, sharing risk and long-term trust relationships. * Will Hutton, The Observer *One lesson of the financial crisis is that the corporation which is a purely financial entity is a financial failure. Colin Mayer makes an important contribution to the rethinking of the nature of modern capitalism. * John Kay, Chairman, Kay Review of Equity Markets and Long Term Decision Making *Modern theory on incentives, ownership and control of large publicly-traded corporations is broken. In Firm Commitment, Colin Mayer makes a huge and thoughtful contribution to fixing the broken theory. I heartily endorse his prescriptions - values, trustees and time-based shares - which are at the same time practical and break-through. Anyone interested in the future of democratic capitalism should read this book. * Roger Martin, Dean of the Rotman School of Management at University of Toronto *Original and provocative, Colin Mayer's ideas on reforming the corporation deserve very serious attention. * John Roberts, Stanford Graduate School of Business and author of 'The Modern Firm' *Table of ContentsPART I: HOW THE CORPORATION IS FAILING US; PART II: WHY IT IS HAPPENING; PART III: WHAT WE SHOULD DO ABOUT IT; APPENDIX: REFERENCES AND FURTHER READINGS

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis textbook looks at decisions how we make them, and what makes them good or bad. In this bestselling introduction, Erik Angner clearly lays out the theory of behavioral economics and explains the intuitions behind it. The book offers a rich tapestry of examples, exercises, and problems drawn from fields such as economics, management, marketing, political science, and public policy. It shows how to apply the principles of behavioral economics to improve your life and work and to make the world a better place to boot. No advanced mathematics is required. This is an ideal textbook for students coming to behavioral economics from various fields. It can be used on its own in introductory courses, or in combination with other texts at advanced undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It is equally suitable for general readers who have been captivated by popular-science books on behavioral economics and want to know more about this intriguing subject. New to this Edition:- An updated cTrade ReviewThis is an exceptionally clear guide to the alternative ways economists can approach decision-making and choice. It presents a thorough introduction to both standard and behavioural theories of decision-making, equipping readers to understand the issues raised by ‘nudge' policies as opposed to their more conventional alternatives. * Diane Coyle, University of Cambridge, UK *Erik Angner has written a wonderful introductory overview of behavioral economics. This book has a unique balance between accessibility and precision, which enhances a good understanding of the key concepts in behavioral economics. It has a concise style with many examples and exercises, and thereby is a great book for teachers and students. * Kirsten Rohde, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands *This text combines a succinct yet rigorous outline of standard choice theory with a lively and engaging discussion of many key findings and concepts of behavioral economics. I especially welcome its discussion of how these insights may be used (and abused) in government and business alike. * Stephen L. Cheung, University of Sydney, Australia *Table of Contents1 Introduction PART I CHOICE UNDER CERTAINTY 2 Rational Choice Under Certainty 3 Decision-making Under Certainty PART II JUDGMENT UNDER RISK AND UNCERTAINTY 4 Probability Judgment 5 Judgment Under Risk and Uncertainty PART III CHOICE UNDER RISK AND UNCERTAINTY 6 Rational Choice Under Risk and Uncertainty 7 Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty PART IV INTERTEMPORAL CHOICE 8 The Discounted Utility Model 9 Intertemporal Choice PART V STRATEGIC INTERACTION 10 Analytical Game Theory 11 Behavioral Game Theory PART VI CONCLUDING REMARKS 12 Behavioral Policy 13 General Discussion.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEmpower your students to solve today's important business problems with the basic tools of economics and without overwhelming calculus. Ideal for MBA courses, Brickley focus on data-driven decision-making and managerial applications within the structure of an organization. Using multidisciplinary examples, students leverage the underlying economic framework to analyze a variety of problems managers face today. It also provides an in-depth analysis of the firm and corporate governance topics.Brickley paired with Connect Economics provides assignable,auto-gradable versions of test bank content. Assignable content is fully integrated with the eBook. Students are also able to search, highlight, and take notes within the ReadAnywhere eBook and complete adaptive reading assignments offline. Connect provides instructors with powerful reporting tools allowing them to plan, track, and analyze student performance across learning outcomes.Table of ContentsPart 1: Basic ConceptsChapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Economists’ View of Behavior Chapter 3 Exchange and Markets Part 2: Managerial EconomicsChapter 4 Demand Chapter 5 Production and CostChapter 6 Market StructureChapter 7 Pricing with Market PowerChapter 8 Economics of Strategy: Creating and Capturing ValueChapter 9 Economics of Strategy: Game Theory Chapter 10 Incentive Conflicts and Contracts Part 3: Designing Organizational ArchitectureChapter 11 Organizational Architecture Chapter 12 Decision Rights: The Level of EmpowermentChapter 13 Decision Rights: Bundling Tasks into Jobs and Sub-units Chapter 14 Attracting and Retaining Qualified EmployeesChapter 15 Incentive Compensation Chapter 16 Individual Performance EvaluationChapter 17 Divisional Performance EvaluationCapstone Case Study on Organizational Architecture: Arthur Andersen LLP Part 4: Applications of Organizational ArchitectureChapter 18 Corporate Governance Chapter 19 Vertical Integration and Outsourcing Chapter 20* Leadership: Motivating Change within Organizations Chapter 21 Understanding the Business Environment: The Economics of Regulation Chapter 22 Ethics and Organizational Architecture Chapter 23* Organizational Architecture and the Process of Management Innovation

Read more less

Book SynopsisNow you can truly understand and apply the latest economic models as you work directly with theoretical tools, real-world applications, and the popular new behavioral economics in this reader-friendly, market-leading book. MICROECONOMIC THEORY: BASIC PRINCIPLES AND EXTENSIONS, 12E takes a calculus-based approach to provide the ideal level of mathematical rigor, whether you are an upper-level undergraduate or beginning graduate student. Insightful graphic presentations help you visually grasp the connections between the calculus and the algebraic and geometric approach to the same material. End-of-chapter problems present simple numerical/mathematical exercises, which strengthen your microeconomic intuition and are followed by more analytical, theoretical, behavioral, and complex problems. Unlike other more theoretical texts, MICROECONOMIC THEORY, 12E closely connects all theory to real applications in the world today.Table of ContentsPart I: INTRODUCTION. 1. Economic Models. 2. Mathematics for Microeconomics. Part II: CHOICE AND DEMAND. 3. Preferences and Utility. 4. Utility Maximization and Choice. 5. Income and Substitution Effects. 6. Demand Relationships among Goods. Part III: UNCERTAINTY AND STRATEGY. 7. Uncertainty. 8. Game Theory. Part IV: PRODUCTION AND SUPPLY. 9. Production Functions. 10. Cost Functions. 11. Profit Maximization. Part V: COMPETITIVE MARKETS. 12. The Partial Equilibrium Competitive Model. 13. General Equilibrium and Welfare. Part VI: MARKET POWER. 14. Monopoly. 15. Imperfect Competition. Part VII: PRICING IN INPUT MARKETS. 16. Labor Markets. 17. Capital and Time. Part VIII: MARKET FAILURE. 18. Asymmetric Information. 19. Externalities and Public Goods.

Read more less

Book SynopsisRod Hill is a Professor of Economics in the Faculty of Business at the University of New Brunswick's Saint John campus, Canada. Tony Myatt is a Professor of Economics in the Department of Economics at the University of New Brunswick's Fredericton campus, Canada.

Read more less

Book SynopsisClear, insightful, and nondogmatic, this book gives us a new appreciation for one of our most ubiquitous institutions.Trade Review"There could be no better guide to the modern view of markets than John McMillan's book." -- Joseph E. Stiglitz, Nobel prize winner in economics

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn account of the golden trade of the Moors, and a source book on Saharan trade routes, caravan organization and Sudanese history. The author covers anthropology and economic geography as well as history, as he examines and explores the hot little towns, sharp traders and the brutal rulers. He seeks to encourage and inspire a generation of scholars to discover more about parts of Africa still surprisingly little known to the outside world.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPhil Thornton is lead consultant at Clarity Economics, a consultancy and freelance writing service he set up after a 15-year career as a newspaper journalist. Before founding Clarity Economics he was Economics Correspondent at the Independent newspaper, a post he held for eight years. Phil is an award winning journalist, with a strong platform. His awards include Feature Journalist of the Year award in the Work World Media Awards, 2010 and Print Journalist of the Year Work World Media Awards, 2007Table of ContentsAbout the Author Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1 – Adam Smith – the ‘founding father’ of economics Chapter 2 – David Ricardo – from immigrant to gentleman Chapter 3 – Karl Marx – the fallen hero? Chapter 4 – Alfred Marshall – microeconomics arrives Chapter 5 – John Maynard Keynes – the rise, fall, rise … and fall Chapter 6 – Friedrich Hayek – the archetypal libertarian Chapter 7 – Milton Friedman – father of monetarism Chapter 8 – Paul Samuelson – the neoclassical economist synthesist Chapter 9 – Gary Becker – economics in the real world Chapter 10 - Daniel Kahneman – economic psychologist

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is the first definitive introduction to behavioral economics aimed at advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students. Authoritative, cutting edge, yet accessible, it guides the reader through theory and evidence, providing engaging and relevant applications throughout. It is divided into nine parts and 24 chapters: Part I is on behavioral economics of risk, uncertainty, and ambiguity. The evidence against expected utility theory is examined, and the behavioral response is outlined; the best empirically supported theory is prospect theory. Part II considers other-regarding preferences. The evidence from experimental games on human sociality is given, followed by models and applications of inequity aversion, intentions based reciprocity, conditional cooperation, human virtues, and social identity. Part III is on time discounting. It considers the evidence against the exponential discounted utility model and describes several behavioral models such as hyperbolic discounting, attribute based models and the reference time theory. Part IV describes the evidence on classical game theory and considers several models of behavioral game theory, including level-k and cognitive hierarchy models, quantal response equilibrium, and psychological game theory. Part V considers behavioral models of learning that include evolutionary game theory, classical models of learning, experience weighted attraction model, learning direction theory, and stochastic social dynamics. Part VI studies the role of emotions; among other topics it considers projection bias, temptation preferences, happiness economics, and interaction between emotions and cognition. Part VII considers bounded rationality. The three main topics considered are judgment heuristics and biases, mental accounting, and behavioral finance. Part VIII considers behavioral welfare economics; the main topics are soft paternalism, and choice-based measures of welfare. Finally, Part IX gives an abbreviated taster course in neuroeconomics.Trade ReviewIt is many years since the subject of African economic development has been treated with the best insights and methods that modern social science has to offer. Cramer, Sender, and Oqubay have set a new standard in this respect. * David Booth, African Affairs *The publication of this book is a landmark occasion for the field of behavioural economics. Until now there has been no comprehensive survey of the field suitable for graduate students. Professor Dhami has thoroughly and rigorously filled that gap. The book will be placed in a handy place in my office since I plan to consult it regularly. * Richard H. Thaler, University of Chicago *The Foundations of Behavioral Economic Analysis offers a fascinating mix of theory and evidence and is the most comprehensive synthesis of behavioral economics at an advanced level. It will be very useful for advanced researchers as well as for graduate students in behavioral economics and beyond. * Ernst Fehr, University of Zurich *This book is a tour de force, a literal encyclopedia of behavioral economics. Its extraordinary breadth and depth, spanning all aspects from psychological foundations to the most recent advances and seamlessly integrating theory with experiments, will make it the must-have reference for anyone interested in this field, and more generally in where economics is headed. It will quickly become the standard textbook for all graduate courses in behavioral economics, and a much-thumbed companion for all researchers working at the frontier. * Roland Benabou, Princeton University *For someone like myself, who started by being ignorant of the richness of the conversation within behavioral economics on a variety of issues, this magisterial volume is the ideal introduction, at once lucid and sophisticated. * Abhijit Banerjee, Massachusetts Institute of Technology *In Foundations of Behavioral Economic Analysis, Sanjit Dhami offers the first summary and exposition of research in this rapidly growing and increasingly influential subfield. The coverage is comprehensive, extending even to the recent subtopics of behavioural welfare economics and neuroeconomics. The book is distinguished by its detailed yet readable coverage of theory and evidence and its balanced discussion of the philosophical and methodological differences and similarities between behavioural and neoclassical approaches to microeconomics. Select undergraduates, graduate students, and interested scholars will all gain from this masterful book. * Vincent P. Crawford, University of Oxford and University of California, San Diego *Economic theory in the twentieth century developed an extremely powerful repertoire of analytical techniques for studying human behavior.Sanjit Dhami has performed a monumental task in consolidating this research and explaining the results in a rigorous yet accessible manner, while highlighting major controversies and sketching the central research questions facing us today. * Herbert Gintis, Santa Fe Institute *In the development of any field there comes a moment where the results already established must be synthesized, explained and consolidated both for those in the field and those outside. In this amazing volume Sanjit Dhami has done just that and far more. This book will serve as an encyclopedic must-have reference for anyone seeking to do work in this field or just curious about it. The coverage is exhaustive and the exposition extremely clear and at a level suitable for advanced undergraduates, graduate students and professionals. This is truly an achievement. * Andrew Schotter, New York University and Center for Experimental Social Science *Displaying wit and wisdom, in Foundations of Behavioral Economic Analysis Professor Dhami conveys both the substance and the excitement of the burgeoning field of behavioral economics. This remarkable volume will serve as a reference for practitioners and a compelling entry-point for the curious. * George Loewenstein, Carnegie Mellon University *This is a unique and truly remarkable achievement. It is a magnificent overview of behavioral economics, by far the best there is, and it should define the field for at least a generation. But it is much more than that. It is also a brilliant set of original discussions, with pathbreaking thinking on every important topic. An invaluable resource for policymakers, students, and professors - and if they want to try something really special, for everyone else. * Cass Sunstein, coauthor of Nudge and Founder and Director of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy, Harvard Law School *The expansion of behavioral economics during the past twenty years has been remarkable, much of it concerning strategic interaction and using tools from game theory. Sanjit Dhami's amazing book summarizes - and even defines - the field, broadly as well as in depth. His coverage of theory as well as of experiments is superb. The Foundations of Behavioral Economic Analysis will be an indispensable resource for students and scholars who wish to understand where the action is. * Martin Dufwenberg, University of Arizona *Sanjit Dhami's Foundations of Behavioral Economic Analysis is a major and most impressive achievement. It provides an exhaustive account and a masterful synthesis of the state of the art after more than three decades of behavioral economics. For many years to come it will be an indispensable reference for researchers in economics and psychology, and it is bound to become the standard text in graduate and advanced undergraduate courses on behavioural and experimental economics. * Klaus M. Schmidt, University of Munich *This is the most complete and stimulating book on behavioral economics. With elegance and unprecedented elaborateness, it ties together a wealth of experimental findings, rigorous theoretical insights and exciting applications across all relevant fields of behavioral research. Sanjit Dhami's work has been shaped by numerous comments from the leaders in the field. Now, in the years to come, it will be the standard that shapes how the next generation of students and researchers think about behavior and its science. * Axel Ockenfels, University of Cologne, Speaker of the Cologne Excellence Center of Social and Economic Behavior *This book covers all relevant theoretical aspects of behavioral economics in great depth. A great strength is its comprehensiveness: it covers the whole field. The book thus is unique in bringing to the fore the unity and diversity of the behavioral approach. The material is well-organized and accessible to a wide audience. It is invaluable to anyone teaching or studying any topic in behavioral economics, showing how the topic fits into the whole. * Peter Wakker, Erasmus University Rotterdam *Foundations of Behavioral Economic Analysis will be a central textbook for behavioral economics. One key feature is its appealing focus on the interplay between theory and evidence. For researchers, it will be a great source of information, puzzles, and challenges for the many years to come. It is a major achievement. * Xavier Gabaix, New York University, Stern School *Sanjit Dhami has spent more than 10 years on the monumental task to lay out the foundations of behavioral economics. The result is a major achievement. The book provides a comprehensive and encompassing survey and I think it will shape how the next generation of researchers thinks about the field. Overall, this is an excellent book that can be commended to advanced students of behavioural economics and to non-behavioural economics who are looking for an entry point into the field. It will also serve researchers in behavioural economics as an authoritative reference book. It is a must-have for anyone with a serious interest in the field. * Jean-Robert Tyran, Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics *The Foundations of Behavioural Economic Analysis is a major contribution to the contemporary economic studies in the areas of behavioural economics, psychology and game theory. It will remain as a major treatise on behavioural economics for many decades. I cannot think that another book will supersede this book in terms of rigour, comprehensiveness, and analytical sophistication in the foreseeable future. This book is also a very interesting and extremely useful publication for academic analysis, policy design and practical applications. * Professor.Sardar M. N.Islam, Victoria University *Almost all the chapters follow a basic structure: they sketch the neoclassical theory; review evidence on its empirical plausibility; introduce alternative behavioral theories; finally go on to discuss further evidence of the newer theories' relative successes and failures compared to the neoclassical theories. A lot of thought has gone into writing the introductions of each section as they outline the broad trends, debates, and core empirical results, making it easy to get into the detailed chapters with a clear idea of the direction of research in that topic.To sum it up, the book ends up doing exactly what it promised, take stock of behavioral economicscourse text for advanced students.., a research handbook for behavioral economists, and an invitation to economists and other social scientists of all persuasions to explore this exciting new field. * Utteeyo Dasgupta, Studies in Microeconomics *Table of ContentsPART I: BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS OF RISK, UNCERTAINTY, AND AMBIGUITY; PART II: OTHER-REGARDING PREFERENCES; PART III: BEHAVIORAL TIME DISCOUNTING; PART IV: BEHAVIORAL GAME THEORY; PART V: BEHAVIORAL MODELS OF LEARNING; PART VI: EMOTIONS; PART VII: BOUNDED RATIONALITY; PART VIII: BEHAVIORAL WELFARE ECONOMICS; EXERCISES; PART IX: NEUROECONOMICS; APPENDIX ON GAME THEORY

Read more less

Book SynopsisRecords of prices span the entire range of history, from medieval grain prices to modern statistics. Going beyond the economic data, this text gives a history of the people of the Western world: the economic patterns they lived in, and the politics, culture and society they created as a result.Trade Reviewa work of phenomenal scope and erudition ... Fischer's history of inflation is a thoroughly good read ... He should send the Treasury a copy. * Mark Archer, The Sunday Telegraph *a provocative and thoughtful journey through history * The Economist *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTransport Economics is a revised and refined fourth edition of a well-established textbook which applies economic analysis to transport issues.Each chapter has been carefully reworked and includes new material dealing with the regulation of transport markets. To assist in pedagogy, twenty or so free standing ‘Exhibits’ now provide a variety of case studies and narratives to supplement the text. More up-to-date examples and illustrations also make the understanding of economic principles easier and assist in the assimilation of economic concepts. The theoretical content is supported with considerable empirical evidence drawn from a wide range of international sources. Although aimed primarily at university students, this volume is accessible to non-specialists who have an interest in transport economics. It has no modal bias but rather examines in general terms the many aspects of the demand for, and supply of, transport together with the various methods of government intervention needed to ensure that social and environmental criteria are attained.This successful and widely adopted textbook has been meticulously revised and updated for the fourth edition. As the best intermediate text currently available, it will be welcomed by students, policymakers and all those concerned with the supply of transport services.Trade ReviewAcclaim for the third edition:‘Button draws together the burgeoning literature in transportation economics. It is a comprehensive standalone text covering all aspects of the field including new sections on logistics and congestion pricing. It should be required reading for every student of transportation and on the library shelf of all transportation researchers and practitioners, an excellent book.’ -- David Gillen, University of British Columbia, CanadaTable of ContentsContents: Preface 1. Transport, Economics, and Economists 2. Transport and the Economy: Some Numbers 3. Transport and Location 4. The Demand for Transport 5. Direct Costs of Transport 6. The External Economic Costs of Transport 7. The Pricing of Transport 8. Containing the Environmental Costs of Transport 9. Optimizing Traffic Congestion 10. Economics and Transport Logistics 11. Investment Criteria: Private and Public Sector Analysis 12. Transport Planning and Forecasting 13. Transport and Economic Development 14. Political Economy and Transport Regulation Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe authors bring into the classroom the ideas that today's researchers and policy-makers use - including behavioral economics, game theory, and incomplete contracts. Modern microeconomics is applied to pressing issues that students care about - inequality, climate change, and innovation - and illustrated with empirical case studies.Trade ReviewI envy the students who will have the opportunity to take a microeconomics course based on this brilliant textbook. Not only will they find it fascinating. It will change their lives, in every way, for the better. * George Akerlof, Georgetown University, Nobel Laureate in Economics *In a thick wall of textbooks about rational agents trading in perfect markets, Bowles and Halliday open up a window through which students can see economists at work as they seek answers to market failures, behavioral biases and all the obstacles that must be overcome to build a society that is fair and efficient. This book can change how economics is understood by students who will go on to help us find the answers. * Oriana Bandiera, Sir Anthony Atkinson Professor of Economics, LSE, Winner of the Yrjö Jahnsson Award *This text will make for an exciting course - and one especially relevant to contemporary problems like inequality and climate change. Normally, students don't see recent economic ideas until they reach the end of the book. Here such ideas are introduced starting in the first chapter. * Eric Maskin, Harvard University, Nobel Laureate in Economics *Bowles' and Halliday's textbook unusually puts at its core the key concepts of social sciences: the interactions (competition, conflict, and coordination) among individuals, groups, and firms. You will come away from this riveting reading understanding how economists deploy theory to help design impactful public policies, and why economics is essential to making this world a better place. * Jean Tirole, Toulouse School of Economics, Nobel Laureate in Economics *Ambitious and exciting! The authors propose a completely new problem-centred approach to teaching microeconomics which gives space to discussion of issues often ignored by undergraduate microeconomics textbooks. * Dr Marco Pelliccia, Associate Professor in Economics, Heriot-Watt University *The key strength of the content is the refreshing, big-picture way in which the concepts are presented, as well as the care in carrying out the real-world examples used to illustrate the arguments. * Dr Daniele Tavani, Associate Professor, Colorado State University *Table of ContentsPART I: People, Economy, and Society 1: Society: coordination problems and economic institutions 2: People: preferences, beliefs, and constraints 3: Doing the best you can: constrained optimization 4: Property, power, and exchange: mutual gains and conflicts 5: Coordination failures and institutional responses PART II: Markets for Goods and Services 6: Production: technology and specialization 7: Demand: Willingness to pay and prices 8: Supply: firms' costs, output, and profit 9: Competition, rent-seeking, and market equilibration PART III: Markets with Incomplete Contracting 10: Information: contracts, norms, and power 11: Work, wages, and unemployment 12: Interest, credit, and wealth constraints PART IV: Economic Systems and Policy 13: A risky and unequal world 14: Perfect competition and the invisible hand 15: Capitalism: innovation and inequality 16: Public policy and mechanism design

Read more less

Book SynopsisMicroeconomic Analysis has been a fixture of graduate programs in economics for fifteen years. It has held this position because it has the authority, the clarity, and the breadth necessary for a classic text. This new Third Edition continues to supply the building blocks of microeconomic analysis a thorough treatment of optimization and equilibrium methods, coupled with numerous examples of their application. The Third Edition expands on the earlier editions in two ways. First, the existing coverage has been rewritten and rearranged.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisPrice Theory and its Applications is an authoritative collection of influential papers which illustrate with unusual force the uses and techniques of applied price theory. The collection includes articles by Nobel laureates as well as less well-known economists and covers North America, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia. The articles selected display a variety of techniques from verbal exposition through geometric methods to sophisticated mathematical techniques such as optimal control theory and game theory. The first section of the book provides an insight into the diversity of market institutions. Some classic questions in market dynamics are addressed in section two, which is followed by a section on the rationale and consequences of government interventions. Various aspects of monopoly power are explored in the next three sections which cover cartels and monopolies, so-called 'natural monopoly' situations and monopolistically competitive markets. In conclusion a more light-hearted example is offered.Table of ContentsContents: Introduction (F.M. Scherer and B. Saffran) Part I: Markets, Primitive and Sophisticated Part II: Market Dynamics Part III: Intervening in Competitive Markets Part IV: The Economics of Cartels and Monopoly Part V: Increasing Returns and Natural Monopoly Part VI: Monopolistic Competition Name Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn How Markets Fail, veteran New Yorker staff writer John Cassidy offers a provocative take on the misguided economic thinking that produced the 2008 financial crisisnow with a new preface addressing how its lessons remain unheeded in the present.A Pulitzer Prize FinalistAn Economist Book of the Year A Businessweek Best Book of the YearFor fifty years, economists have been developing elegant theories or how markets facilitate innovation, create wealth, and allocate society''s resources efficiently. But what about when they fail, when they lead us to stock market bubbles, glaring inequality, polluted rivers, and credit crunches? In this updated and expanded edition of How Markets Fail, John Cassidy describes the rising influence of utopian economiesthe thinking that is blind to how real people act and that denies the many ways an unregulated free market can bring on disaster. Combining on-the-ground repo

Read more less

Book SynopsisHonoring the life and work of Herbert Simon, this illuminating Companion provides an in-depth survey of one of the most prolific social scientists of our age. Mirroring the breadth of Simonâs studies, chapters analyze his contributions to artificial intelligence, economics, entrepreneurship, management, psychology and other fields.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisManagerial economics is the application of economic theory and quantitative methods (mathematics and statistics) to the managerial decision-making process. This book contains a chapter on game theory and on the time value of money and capital budgeting. It is intended for students with limited prior training in economics and quantitative methods.Table of ContentsIntroduction. Introduction to Mathematical Economics. The Essentials of Demand and Supply. Additional Topics in Demand Theory. Production. Cost. Profit and Revenue Maximization. Market Structure: Perfect Competition and Monopoly. Market Structure: Monopolistic Competition. Market Structure: Duopoly and Oligopoly. Pricing Practices. Capital Budgeting. Introduction to Game Theory. Risk and Uncertainty. Market Failure and Government Intervention.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFor courses in Health Economics, U.S. Health Policy/Systems, or Public Health, taken by health services students or practitioners, the text makes economic concepts the backbone of its health care coverage.Folland, Goodman and Stano's book is the bestselling Health Care Economics text that teaches through core economic themes, rather than concepts unique to the health care economy. This edition contains revised and updated data tables, where applicable. The advent of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) in 2010 has also led to changes in many chapters , most notably in the organization and focus of Chapter 16.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTable of Contents1. Introduction 2. Supply and Demand 3. A Consumer’s Constrained Choice 4. Demand 5. Consumer Welfare and Policy Analysis 6. Firms and Production 7. Costs 8. Competitive Firms and Markets 9. Properties and Applications of the Competitive Model 10. General Equilibrium and Economic Welfare 11. Monopoly and Monopsony 12. Pricing and Advertising 13. Game Theory 14. Oligopoly and Monopolistic Competition 15. Factor Markets 16. Uncertainty 17. Property Rights, Externalities, Rivalry, and Exclusion 18. Asymmetric Information 19. Contracts and Moral Hazards Answers to Selected Questions and Problems Definitions References Sources for Challenges and Applications Index Credits

Read more less

Book SynopsisRoger LeRoy Miller received his PhD from the University of Chicago. Miller is a legal specialist and author of numerous books on law and the legal environment, including criminal procedure. In addition, Miller has authored books on the war on drugs, the economics of crime and criminal behavior, and on related topics. Daniel K. Benjamin is an Alumni Distinguished Professor in the John E. Walker Department of Economics, Clemson University. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Virginia and completed his PhD in economics in 1975 at the University of California at Los Angeles where he was a National Science Foundation Fellow. Benjamin has taught at Montana State University, the University of Washington, and the University of California at Santa Barbara. He is Alumni Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Clemson University. Douglass C. North Table of ContentsBrief Contents PART ONE: THE FOUNDATIONS OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS Death by Bureaucrat Innovation Flying the Friendly Skies? The Mystery of Wealth The Economics of Exclusion PART TWO: SUPPLY AND DEMAND Sex, Booze, and Drugs The Economics of Obesity Kidneys for Sale Are We Running Out of Water? Bankrupt Landlords, from Sea to Shining Sea PART THREE: LABOR MARKETS Das Kapital in the Twenty-First Century (Why) Are Women Paid Less? The Effects of the Minimum Wage The (Dis)incentives of Higher Taxes PART FOUR: MARKET STRUCTURES The Platform Economy Contracts, Combinations, and Conspiracies Coffee, Tea, or Tuition-Free? Keeping the Competition Out PART FIVE: POLITICAL ECONOMY Health Insurance for All . . . Or Maybe Not The Deception of Green Energy The Fight over Genetically Modified Foods Student Loans The Graying of America For Whom the Roads Are Tolled PART SIX: PROPERTY RIGHTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT What to Do About the Climate? Save That Species Ethanol Madness The Death of Recycling PART SEVEN: GLOBALIZATION AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY The Economics of the Big Mac Globalization and the Wealth of America The $750,000 Steelworker Selected References

Read more less

Book SynopsisAssume nothing, question everything.This is the message at the heart of Freakonomics, Levitt and Dubner''s rule-breaking, iconoclastic book about crack dealers, cheating teachers and bizarre baby names that turned everyone''s view of the world upside-down and became an international multi-million-copy-selling phenomenon.''Prepare to be dazzled'' Malcolm Gladwell''A sensation ... you''ll be stimulated, provoked and entertained. Of how many books can that be said?'' Sunday Telegraph''Has you chuckling one minute and gasping in amazement the next'' Wall Street Journal''Dazzling ... a delight'' Economist''Made me laugh out loud'' Scotland on Sunday

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe international bestselling Freakquel to Levitt and Dubner''s Freakonomics, this book sees them looking deeper, questioning harder and uncovering even more hidden truths about our world, from global cooling to patriotic prostitutes, drunk walking to why suicide bombers should buy life insurance.''Mind-blowing'' Wall Street Journal''Page-turning, politically incorrect and ever-so-slightly intoxicating, like a large swig of tequila'' The Times''Like Freakonomics but better ... you are guaranteed a good time'' Financial Times''Great fun ... Levitt is a master at drawing counter-intuitive conclusions'' Sunday Times''Studded with intriguing examples'' Daily TelegraphTrade ReviewLike Freakonomics, but better ... thrilling ... you are guaranteed a good time ... underneath the dazzle, there is substance too -- Tim Harford Financial Times Levitt is a master at drawing counter-intuitive conclusions ... great fun ... Superfreakonomics travels further than its predecessor -- Tom Standage Sunday Times A humdinger ... Page-turning, politically incorrect and ever-so-slightly intoxicating, like a large swig of tequila The Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is the ultimate guide to the world of the Freak. Renegade thinkers and bestselling sensations Levitt and Dubner have carefully curated the very best of their blogs, conversations, wisecracks and advice from the last decade to reveal the outlandish truth about everything from lying to bankrobbing, fast food to sex taxes.''We are all Freakonomists now'' Washington Post''A phenomenon ... their approach has won them a cult following'' Observer''Lie back and let Levitt and Dubner''s bouncy prose style carry you along from one peculiarity to the next'' Sunday Telegraph''You are guaranteed a good time'' Financial Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisUnderstanding Capitalism: Competition, Command, and Change, Fourth Edition, is an introduction to economics that explains how capitalism works, why it sometimes fails, and how it undergoes and brings about change. It discusses both the conventional economic model and the role of power in economic interactions. Understanding Capitalism analyzes how profit-seeking is a source of competition among firms, conflict, and change.Trade ReviewA good contested exchange alternative to a traditional textbook. Ideal for use in an economics class with an interdisciplinary focus. * Andrew Farrant, Dickinson College *This is a versatile, comprehensive textbook that introduces undergraduate students to the principles of political economy. In contrast to conventional textbooks, it develops analytical tools for understanding capitalism that are not celebratory of capitalism. Those tools are not presented in isolation, but are integrated with the traditional topics and principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics. * Dr. Jared Ragusett, Central Connecticut State University *Understanding Capitalism is an (advanced) introductory to intermediate level textbook that seeks to explain the economic behavior of individuals, firms and the government in the context of capitalism as a dynamic economic system. * James A. Polito, Marian University *When students have been asked to rate the text on a 1 (low) to 5 (high) basis the average has been between 4 and 4.5…The technical level of the text does not seem to be an issue. In fact students remark that it is refreshingly readable in comparison with other economics texts. * Ed Ford, University of South Florida *Understanding Capitalism is a great introduction to political economy and an excellent alternative to standard texts for introducing students to economics in general. The text's framework and analysis help students develop a critical perspective on the economic and social world around them, like no other textbook on the market does. * Jonathan Cogliano, Dickinson College *Table of ContentsPART 1: POLITICAL ECONOMY CHAPTER 1: Capitalism Shakes the World The Permanent Technological Revolution Which Came First: Technology or Capitalism? The Enrichment of Material Life Growing Inequality The Population Explosion and the Growth of Cities The Changing Nature of Work The Transformation of the Family Threats to the Ecosystem The Effects of Climate Change Contamination New Roles for Government Globalization Conclusion CHAPTER 2: People, Preferences, and Society Constraints, Preferences, and Beliefs "Economic Man" Reconsidered Human Nature and Cultural Differences The Economy Produces People Conclusion: The Cooperative Species CHAPTER 3: A Three-Dimensional Approach to Economics Economic Systems and Capitalism Three-Dimensional Economics Competition Command Change Neoclassical Economics Values in Political Economy Efficiency Fairness Democracy Balancing efficiency, fairness, and democracy Conclusion CHAPTER 4: The Surplus Product: Conflict and Change Economic Interdependence, Production, and Reproduction Production Links Between Production and Reproduction A Labor Process Example: Making Pancakes The Surplus Product A Model of Production and Reproduction Who Gets the Surplus? Enlarging the Surplus Application of Model to Labor The Surplus Product and Change Conclusion CHAPTER 5: Capitalism as an Economic System Class and Class Relationships Classes and Economic Systems Slavery Feudalism Distinctions among Economic Systems Capitalism Commodities Privately Owned Capital Goods Wage Labor Capitalism, the Surplus Product, and Profits Conclusion CHAPTER 6: Government and the Economy Rules of the Game: Government and the Capitalist Economy The Emergence of Modern Legal Forms of Corporate Business From Competition to Monopoly From National to Transnational Democratic Government as Collective Provision for the General Welfare Government and the Distribution of Income, Wealth, and Welfare in the 19th Century Contention between Capital and Labor over Rules Voter turnout in the U.S. and around the world Democracy in the 20th Century Conclusion CHAPTER 7: U.S. Capitalism: Accumulation and Change Accumulation as a Source of Change The Accumulation of Process Competition for Profits Social Structures of Accumulation Changing Strategies for Profit-Making Consolidation and Decay of an SSA The Stages of American Capitalism in the United States Competitive capitalism (1860s-1898) Competitive capitalism (1860s-1898) Corporate capitalism (1898-1939) Regulated capitalism (1939-1991) Transnational capitalism (1991- ) U.S. Capitalism: Labor Organizing and Labor Markets The Rise and Fall of Labor Unions Segmented labor markets U.S. Capitalism Today is Transnational Immigration Shifts in what U.S. Labor Produces Fragmenting Global Production Rules for the Global Economy Tax Motives for TNCs to Go Global Corporate Stock Buybacks and Falling Productive Investment Conclusion PART 2: MICROECONOMICS CHAPTER 8: Supply and Demand: How Markets Work The Nature of Markets Demand and Supply Demand Supply Demand and Supply Interacting Shifts in Demand or Supply Conclusion CHAPTER 9: Competition and Coordination: The Invisible Hand Adam Smith and Laissez-Faire Economics Coordination Coordination by Rules and by Command The Limits of Coordination by Command The Invisible Hand The Invisible Hand in Action Problems with the Invisible Hand Market Failure Negative externalities as market failures Positive externalities as market failures Monopoly as a market failure Coordination Failure The Prisoner's Dilemma and the Benefits of Cooperation The Tragedy of the Common Conclusion CHAPTER 10: Capitalist Production and Profits What Are Profits? Profits from a Production Process Calculating Profit and Other Property Incomes in the Whole Economy Profit in a Grain-Growing Capitalist Economy Calculating the Rate of Profit The Corporate Profit Rate in the U.S. Corporations and Other Businesses: Who Gets the Profit or Bears the Loss? Corporations Determinants of Total Profit and the Profit Rate Example: The Good Cod Fishing Company Profit per Unit of Output Conflict Over the Profit Rate Intermediate Inputs per Unit of Output as Profit Rate Determinants Unit Labor Cost as a Profit Rate Determinant Understanding the Profit Rate Conclusion CHAPTER 11: Competition and Concentration Competition for Profits The Forms of Competition Price Competition Price as a markup over cost Economies of scale and price competition Other advantages of large size Capacity utilization Breakthroughs Monopoly Power Investing to Compete The Dynamics of Competition Toward Equal Profit Rates? Toward Economic Concentration? Large Size and Monopoly Power Trends in Concentration Antitrust Enforcement Conclusion CHAPTER 12: Wages and Work Work, Sloth, and Social Organization The Capitalist Firm as a Command Economy The Conflict between Workers and Employers Labor Discipline: Carrots and Sticks The Labor Market, the Wage, and the Intensity of Labor Cost of Job Loss Avoiding the Cost of Job Loss Additional Implications of the Labor Extraction Curve Conclusion CHAPTER 13: Technology, Control, and Conflict in the Workplace The Social Organization of the Workplace Simple Control Technical Control Bureaucratic Control Technology and the Labor Process Conflict in the Workplace Technical Change and Workplace Conflict Unions Discrimination in the Workplace Profitability Versus Efficiency Markets and Hierarchies Democratic Firms Conclusion PART 3: MACROECONOMICS CHAPTER 14: The Mosaic of Inequality Well-Being and Inequality Influences on Well-being and the Economy Measuring Living Standards and Inequality Growing Inequality Wealth Inequality Unequal Chances Race and Inequality Discrimination in Hiring Problem of Differential Pay Women's Work, Women's Wages Conclusion: Explaining the Mosaic of Inequality CHAPTER 15: Progress and Poverty on a World Scale Poverty and Progress Productivity and Income Vicious Circles of Low Productivity Intellectual Property Rights Other Government Interventions to Promote Development Requisites for Economic Development Eight Essential Conditions Other Factors in Development Foreign Investment and Development Investment Decisions by Transnational Corporations Transnational Investment and Tax Havens The High Cost of Low-Priced Clothing Conclusion CHAPTER 16: Aggregate Demand, Employment, and Unemployment Counting the Unemployed What Determines Employment and Output? Aggregate Supply and Aggregate Demand Measuring Total Output Terms for Measuring the Macroeconomy Measuring Aggregate Supply and Aggregate Demand A Basic Macroeconomic Model Unemployment and Government Fiscal Policy Effects of Deficit Spending on Employment Multiplier Effect of Deficit Spending The Business Cycle and the Built-in Stabilizers Conscious Policy Changes Automatic Built-in Stabilizers Investment, Aggregate Demand, and Monetary Policy Wages, Aggregate Demand, and Unemployment When is an Employment Situation Wage-Led? Implications for Economic Policy Conclusion CHAPTER 17: The Dilemmas of Macroeconomic Policy The High-Employment Profit Squeeze The High Employment Wage Push The Materials Cost Push The Profit Squeeze Exports, Imports, and Aggregate Demand The Demand for Exports and Imports The Foreign Exchange Rate International Trade and Macroeconomic Policy Promoting Net Exports Competing in Global Markets Monetary and Fiscal Policy at Odds What Determines the Interest Rate? Borrowing and the Exchange Rate The Conflict between Monetary and Fiscal Policy Institutions for Achieving Full Employment Institutional Obstacles to Full Employment Institutions for Achieving Full Employment Conclusion CHAPTER 18: Financial and Economic Crisis The Great Recession and the Subprime Crisis Understanding the Great Recession Why to Buy a Home Home Prices Start to Rise How to Buy a Home Securitization of Mortgages Refinancing Deregulation Liars' Loans Collateral Damage Derivatives of Other Kinds Bailouts and Buyouts Unemployment and Poverty Lessons from the History of Economic Crises Nonfinancial causes of crisis: over-investment, under-consumption Underconsumption as a cause of stagnation or crisis Asset markets differ from goods markets Why are asset markets prone to price bubbles? Feedback Loops Reflexivity Misinformation Deregulation and financial fragility Large firms exacerbate the problem Weakening the social safety net Regulation in a capitalist economy Regulating the financial sector The Dodd-Frank Act Inequality, concentration and crisis Conclusion CHAPTER 19: Government and the Economy in Transnational Capitalism More Spending, Less Health Government in the U.S.: Too Big? Government Spending: Comparing the U.S. with Other Countries Old age pensions Influencing the Rules Taxation Rules that Affect Business Costs and Profits Contracting Out Government Services Government Contracting: Profits and the Public Interest Decline in Competitive Bidding for Government Contracts Government Contracting for Private Prison Services Laws and Norms on Sentencing Rethinking Private Prisons and Mass Incarceration Selling to Government, Maximizing Profit Medical services in Private Prisons Changing the Rules Feedback Loops in Taxing Transnational Corporations Conflict Over Rules Proposals for Alternative Rules Democracy and Inequality Feedback Loops Between Inequality and Power Supranational rules and rule changes TNC Power over Foreign Government Decisions Conflict Over Rules Proposals for Alternative Rules Capitalism and Inequality Democracy and Inequality Conclusion List of Variables Sources of Economic Information Glossary Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisMost of today''s decision makers will be dead before the planet suffers the full consequences of acid rain, global warning, ozone depletion, widespread desertification, and species loss. Most of today''s young voters, however, will be alive.In this, perhaps the most important document of the decade on the future of the world, the urgency of changing certain policy decisions, some of which threaten the very survival of the human race, is made abundantly clear.The World Commission on Environment and Development, headed by Gro Harlem Brundtland, Prime Minister of Norway, was set up as an independent body in 1983 by the United Nations. Its brief was to re-examine the critical environment, to develop proposals to solve them, and to ensure that human progress will be sustained through development without bankrupting the resources of future generations.In Our Common Future, the Commission serves notice that the time has come for a marriage of economy and ecology, so that governments and theirTrade Review`a remarkably comprehensive guide to environmental concerns around the world. The book is a compact educator.' Garbage`The ... volume is one of thorough analysis and passionate argument...it contains much lively challenge.' Reconciliation Quarterly`a bold and important document. What is more, unlike so many prestigious predecessors of this genre, it is highly readable ...Our Common Future should underpin all the current deliberations on the state of the world economy.' Jonathon Porritt, The Diplomat'The volume is one of thorough analysis and passionate argument ... it contains much lively challenge ... essentially a specialist study which usefully avoids the exaggerations of ideology which have often bedevilled the whole debate on aid.''Essential reading for courses on development.' P.J. O'Brien, University of Glasgow'The most important document of the decade on the future of the world.' The Advertiser, Australia

Read more less

Book SynopsisDavid Hackett Fischer, one of our most prominent historians, has garnered a reputation for making history come alive - even stories as familiar as Paul Revere''s ride, or as complicated as the assimilation of British culture in North America. Now, in The Great Wave, Fischer has done it again, marshalling an astonishing array of historical facts in lucid and compelling prose to outline a history of prices - `the history of change'', as Fischer puts it - covering the dazzling sweep of Western history from the medieval glory of Chartres to the modern day. Going far beyond the economic data, Fischer writes a powerful history of the people of the Western world: the economic patterns they lived in, and the politics, culture, and society that they created as a result. As he did in Albion''s Seed and Paul Revere''s Ride, two of the most talked-about history books in recent years, Fischer combines extensive research and meticulous scholarship with wonderfully evocative writing to create a book for scholars and general readers alike.Records of prices are more abundant than any other quantifiable data, and span the entire range of history, from tables of medieval grain prices to the overabundance of modern statistics. Fischer studies this wealth of data, creating a narrative that encompasses all of Western culture. He describes four waves of price revolutions, each beginning in a period of equilibrium: the High Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and finally the Victorian Age. Each revolution is marked by continuing inflation, a widening gap between rich and poor, increasing instability, and finally a crisis at the crest of the wave that is characterized by demographic contraction, social and political upheaval, and economic collapse. The most violent of these climaxes was the catastrophic fourteenth century, in which war, famine, and the Black Death devastated the continent - the only time in Europe''s history that the population actually declined. Fischer also brilliantly illuminates how these long economic waves are closely intertwined with social and political events, affecting the very mindset of the people caught in them. The long periods of equilibrium are marked by cultural and intellectual movements - such as the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the Victorian Age - based on a belief in order and harmony and in the triumph of progress and reason. By contrast, the years of price revolution created a melancholy culture of despair.Fischer suggests that we are living now in the last stages of a price revolution that has been building since the turn of the century. The destabilizing price surges and declines and the diminished expectations the United States has suffered in recent years - and the famines and wars of other areas of the globe - are typical of the crest of a price revolution. He does not attempt to predict what will happen, noting that `uncertainty about the future is an inexorable fact of our condition''. Rather, he ends with a brilliant analysis of where we might go from here and what our choices are now. This book is essential reading for anyone concerned about the state of the world today.Trade Reviewa work of phenomenal scope and erudition, which examines the history of inflation ... Fischer's history of inflation is a thoroughly good read ... He should send the Treasury a copy. * Mark Archer, The Sunday Telegraph *Mr Hackett Fischer's book is an important one, not least because it focuses not on a seven-week election campaign but on 700 years of history divided into four great price revolutions. Mr Hackett Fischer's scholarship is admirable. * Larry Elliott, The Guardian *This is a fascinating book; it is also an important one. It will appeal to the antiquarian that lurks in many of us ... his is a powerful piece of historical analysis and ought to become part of everyone's framework of understanding. * William Rees-Mogg, New Statesman & Society *After reading this superbly written and potentially controversial book, you'll never glare at a price tag in quite the same way again. * Keay Davidson, SF Examiner *an entertaining and provocative mixture of deep insights and highly questionable statements * Paul Ormerod, The Guardian *sweeping historical tour. ... a provocative and thoughtful journey through history. * The Economist (UK) Review section, 19 July 1997 *the book is choc-a-bloc with fascinating graphs, which chart everything from the price of oxen, wheat and cheese in England, 1210-1325, to the price of fuel oil in the United States, 1960-92. ... I admire this book hugely; it is erudite, smart, lucid and, in places, it is also very convincing. * The Sunday Telegraph, 14 September 1997 *stimulating, colourful and accessible to a wide readership ... controversial, thought-provoking ... The strength of the book is in the broad sweep of its subject matter and in the engaging narrative style which dispenses with the traditional dusty prose of the professional and substitutes a more direct and dramatic manner which makes the subject accessible to layman and student alike ... I am sure the book will attract a great deal of comment and will be of interest to both students and non-specialists alike. * Michael Collins, History Today *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis work provides a unified and simple treatment of dynamic economics using dynamic optimization as the main theme, and the method of Lagrange multipliers to solve dynamic economic problems. The author presents the optimization framework for dynamic economics in order that readers can understand the approach and use it as they see fit. Instead of using dynamic programming, the author chooses instead to use the method of Lagrange multipliers in the analysis of dynamic optimization because it is easier and more efficient than dynamic programming, and allows readers to understand the substance of dynamic economics better. The author treats a number of topics in economics, including economic growth, macroeconomics, microeconomics, finance and dynamic games. The book also teaches by examples, using concepts to solve simple problems; it then moves to general propositions.Trade ReviewChow's book is significant. Chow's book is clear and well written, and covers an enormous range of applications of dynamic optimisation. For a postgraduate student or professional economist who is convinced by Chow's argument about the superiority of the Lagrange multiplier method and wants to use it, his book would undoubtedly be the best buy. - Paul Oslington. Economic Record. September 1998.

Read more less