Search results for ""edward elgar publishing ltd""

This important volume gives a comprehensive overview of the economic foundations of private property law. Beginning with economic and philosophical accounts of the origins of property, the authoritative selection of articles traces the evolution of both private and common property, establishing how they coexist within a mature property rights system. Particular attention is directed towards the regulation of specific types of commons such as pastures, streets and fisheries. The study also examines the rules that govern the acquisition, protection and transfer of private property as part of a coherent system of property rights.

Read more less

Although the role of universities in the knowledge society is increasingly significant, there remains a severe lack of systematic quantitative evidence at the micro-level, with virtually all policy discussion based on country level statistics or case studies. This book redresses the balance by examining original data from universities in six European countries - Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. The authors provide micro-based evidence on the evolution of the strategic profile of universities in terms of scientific research, contract research, education and the third mission. The result is a highly innovative book that combines detailed national case studies and comparative institutional analyses with state-of-the-art quantitative techniques.Applying for the first time new generations of nonparametric efficiency measures on a large scale, Universities and Strategic Knowledge Creation will be of great interest to researchers and postgraduate students in higher education, economics of science and technology, and innovation studies. It will also appeal to policymakers and administrators in governments, ministries and universities.

Read more less

This comprehensive book covers relevant issues on how media companies are currently embracing innovation, the levels at which they are doing so, and how innovation can help media companies to meet their development needs in the future.The primary focus of this study is the relationship between management and innovation in the media industry. The book evaluates the importance and the role of innovation within the media industry and helps identify and evaluate the drivers of innovation. The contributors demonstrate and build upon an understanding of the issues and strategies that bind media firms to new processes and technologies and offer clear guidelines on how media companies can accelerate growth through effective internal and external collaboration. Management and Innovation in the Media Industry highlights those issues that influence strategies, organizational structures, media content management and public interest within media firms. This unique study offers both new theoretical and empirical insights on decision making aspects of innovation relevant for those executives and policy makers operating within the media or related industries. It will be of great interest to academics and students in the fields of communication and journalism as well as innovation management.

Read more less

This innovative book explores from an insider's perspective a company's environmental decisions and actions. Based on close observation at a major semiconductor manufacturer, Jennifer Howard-Grenville details how the company's culture - revealed through its internal practices, decisions, and norms - guided action on environmental issues. While demonstrating gaps between the mainstream work of the company and the demands placed by environmental considerations, the author's analysis demonstrates how differences were negotiated over time, offering important insights into the processes of change that can advance environmental issues within a company. Her unique viewpoint offers an important addition to current research, which often explains companies' environmental actions solely as responses to external pressures. Scholars of organizational culture and those at the intersection of business and environmental issues will find this study of great value. The challenges and opportunities surrounding the 'greening' of corporations will also interest members of companies at all levels, as well as consultants and members of non-governmental organizations. The book is written to be accessible and engaging to managers interested in making changes around environmental issues and offers a realistic assessment of the challenges and prospects for such change.

Read more less

The number of women entering small business ownership has increased significantly across the world in recent years. These women make a crucial contribution to the economic growth and development of local, national and global economies. Yet, despite their increasing numbers, they have received comparatively little attention from the academic community.This comprehensive and coherent book redresses the balance and provides an up-to-date, theoretical review of this important area of study. A distinguished group of international contributors presents the latest work from the USA, the UK, Australia, Canada, India and Singapore, which explores practical initiatives and strategies related to the experiences of women entering small business entrepreneurship.Providing a unique balance between theory and practice, this book will be welcomed by scholars and students of women in management and entrepreneurship as well as policymakers and small business service providers.

Read more less

Technological Change and Mature Industrial Regions explicitly adopts an inter-disciplinary approach to analysing the structural transformation of mature regions. The major focus of the book is from an economics perspective, but it also employs sociological analyses, business history approaches and technological analyses. It critically considers the identification and development of regional capabilities and regional policy initiatives for mature industrial areas in the context of globalisation and technological change. Specific cases from a range of different countries help to distinguish which aspects of mature regions' technology, knowledge or structure are region-specific, and which are more generally applicable to mature industrial regions throughout the world. The book will prove to be invaluable for academic researchers as well as government and policy communities.

Read more less

Academic and accepted orthodoxy maintains that Southeast Asia, and Asia generally, is evolving into a distinctive East Asian regional order. This book questions this claim and reveals instead uncertainty and incoherence at the heart of ASEAN, the region's foremost institution.The authors provide a systematic critique of ASEAN's evolution and institutional development, as well as a unified understanding of the international relations and political economy of ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific. It is the first study to provide a sceptical analysis of international relations orthodoxies regarding regionalization and institutionalism, and is based on wide-ranging and rigorous research.Students of international relations, the Asia-Pacific, Southeast Asia, regional studies, international history and security and defence studies will find this book of great interest, as will scholars, policy makers and economic forecasters with an interest in long-term Asia-Pacific trends.

Read more less

It is now widely acknowledged that institutions are a crucial factor in economic performance. Major developments have been made in our understanding of the nature and evolution of economic institutions in the last few years. This book brings together some key contributions in this area by leading internationally renowned scholars including Paul A. David, Christopher Freeman, Alan P. Kirman, Jan Kregel, Brian J. Loasby, J. Stanley Metcalfe, Bart Nooteboom and Ugo Pagano. This essential reader covers topics such as the relationship between institutions and individuals, institutions and economic development, the nature and role of markets, and the theory of institutional evolution. The book not only outlines cutting-edge developments in the field but also indicates key directions of future research for institutional and evolutionary economics.Vital reading on one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing areas of research today, The Evolution of Economic Institutions will be of great interest to researchers, students and lecturers in economics and business studies.

Read more less

This book provides an insightful and in-depth analysis of the fiscal reform process experienced in Spain over the last 30 years.The authors initially focus on the political economy of tax reform in Spain, and the fact that political and economic bodies were able to form alliances at key junctures during the process in order to push reforms forward. A comprehensive analysis of the main instruments of the Spanish tax system, including the introduction of VAT upon Spain's accession to the European Common Market, is presented. The rapid fiscal decentralisation process that led Spain from being one of the most centralised countries in the world to being one of the least centralised is also discussed, as is the modernisation of the Spanish tax administration system.Written by a select group of scholars with deep knowledge of the Spanish fiscal system, this book will be of great interest to students, tax policymakers and researchers all over the world and especially in Latin America.

Read more less

This Handbook provides an authoritative overview of current research in the field of cost-benefit analysis and is designed as a starting point for those interested in undertaking advanced research. The Handbook contains major contributions to the development of the field, focussing on standard microeconomic policy evaluations, the relatively neglected area of macroeconomic policy and its integration into a formal CBA framework, and dynamic considerations in CBAPresenting insights from many influential thinkers, and edited by a leading academic in the field, this comprehensive work will prove an invaluable reference tool for economists, researchers and scholars.

Read more less

This fascinating and original textbook - an excellent introductory text for both graduate and undergraduate students - attempts to enhance and advance our understanding of entrepreneurship. In this intriguing book, Bjorn Bjerke contends that entrepreneurship cannot, to any great extent, be planned in advance. He goes as far as to suggest that planning could be against the very essence of entrepreneurship. The book explains that entrepreneurship is about courage rather than willpower, is to be venturesome and undertaking whilst experimenting, networking and pushing oneself forward, and concerns exploiting mistakes as essential learning curves. The importance of the entrepreneur as a human being is strongly expressed, as is the idea that entrepreneurship is closer to art and aesthetics than science and mathematics. Language, argues the author, plays a decisive role and philosophy provides a solid basis when we try to come to grips with the nature of entrepreneurship. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Bjorn Bjerke asserts that all these points alert us to one simple fact: it is not possible to define a 'typical' entrepreneur or to present a model method of operating and supporting an entrepreneurial venture.Understanding Entrepreneurship is a truly remarkable textbook that will provide an absorbing and illuminating read for all those - academics, students and practitioners alike - with an interest in entrepreneurship.

Read more less

Many managers in the English-speaking world are seeking an alternative to the prevailing business model which promotes a short-term, shareholder-value approach. In this accessible and highly topical book, Gayle Avery argues that this Anglo/US approach to capitalism and business is seriously flawed and does not bring the quality of life to individuals and societies that many people seek. But what is the alternative and do business leaders have a different choice? This book demonstrates alternative ways of leading sustainable organizations. It identifies 19 criteria for sustainable leadership practices that can be found in globally successful enterprises such as Allianz, BMW, Munich Reinsurance, Nokia, Novartis, and Porsche. Sustainable principles include promoting ethical behavior, long-term thinking and innovation, and valuing employees and other stakeholders such as the community, the environment and future generations. The author presents concrete examples of leadership from 28 interesting case studies to illustrate the many different ways in which sustainable leadership principles can be implemented. The book concludes that shifting to sustainable leadership practices may appear difficult for enterprises based in the USA, UK and Australia, but is essential for the long-term survival of these firms. Indeed, several well-known businesses from these countries have already adopted sustainable leadership principles, including Colgate-Palmolive, Continental Airlines, HSBC, IBM, Marriott, Nordstrom and SAS. By highlighting a dramatically different approach to leadership which can prove financially, socially and environmentally successful, this book will have a great appeal to scholars and students with an interest in leadership, strategy, international management and organisational studies. It will also be a valuable and practical aid for managers and consultants looking for new directions and ways of running their businesses.

Read more less

There has been a great deal of discussion on the knowledge economy, but much of this has been more a matter of rhetoric than serious analysis. This book is a pioneering effort to address this gap, using a range of methods and investigating knowledge-intensive service activities (KISA) in many different sectors. The expert contributors highlight the changes that are occurring in the labor force and the organization of work, as well as in the competences and combinations of knowledge demanded in contemporary occupations. They provide corporate managers and policymakers with much needed data and analysis regarding the implications of knowledge-intensive service systems and the skills required for innovation within these sectors. By exploring these systems in both traditional and services industries, the editors point to important areas of action for improving business practices and human capital development that are key for business and employment development. This unique book deploys rich empirical material that will help put KISA onto the map for researchers, policy makers, policy analysts and practitioners across many disciplines and professions including human resources, training and skills development, and procurement. Providing in-depth and theoretically informed studies, whilst drawing on cases from many sectors and countries, this compendium will prove essential for students of business management and human resource management.Contributors: J. Albors-Garrigos, M. Broch, J.L. Hervas-Oliver, P. Marquez Rodriguez, C. Martinez-Fernandez, L.E. Martinez-Solano, I. Miles, T. Potts, S. Sharpe, T. Weyman, H. Wiig Aslesen

Read more less

It is widely recognised that many copyright issues are also economic issues. As a result the level of interest in the economics of copyright continues to grow. This carefully edited book presents a selection of the most important recent contributions to a wide range of economic topics on copyright. These include the copyright term, infringement issues, administration of copyright, incentives to artists and open source. There is relevance here for a wide readership, from teachers and students of economics, law, cultural and media studies to practitioners and policymakers.

Read more less

Economics is a matter of choice and growth, of interaction and exchange among individuals. Because property rights define the rules of these interactions and the objects of exchange, it is vital to fully understand the institutions and implications of the various property-rights regimes. With over 20 original and specially commissioned chapters, this book takes the reader from the historical and moral foundations of the discipline to the frontiers of scholarly research in the field.This Companion is both an introduction to the economics of property rights and a guide to help understand and analyse policy issues by making use of the powerful conceptual tools offered by this increasingly popular branch of economics. Following a comprehensive introduction by the editor, the book is divided in to three broad sections which examine the birth and evolution of property rights, investigate the relationship between property rights and the law, and explore contemporary economic issues from a property rights perspective. Together, the chapters in the book do not claim to offer a standard solution to the institutional questions raised by the property-rights issue. Instead, they present the theoretical tools and real-world examples needed to allow the reader to develop new ideas and evaluate existing problems.Non-technical in nature and including a distinguished list of authors from across the spectrum of economic thinking, The Elgar Companion to the Economics of Property Rights makes an invaluable contribution to the literature on economics, law, political science and public choice. For any serious scholar or student of these disciplines, this book will prove to be the ultimate reference companion.

Read more less

This timely book uses cutting-edge research to analyze the fundamental causes of economic and financial crises, and illustrates the macroeconomic foundations required for future economic policymaking in order to avoid these crises.The expert contributors take a critical approach to monetary analysis, providing elements for a new paradigm of economic policymaking at both national and international levels. Major issues are explored, including: inflation, capital accumulation and involuntary unemployment, sovereign debts and interest payment, and the euro-area crisis.Opening new lines of research in the economic and financial crises, this book will prove a fascinating read for academics, students and researchers in the field of monetary economics. Monetary policymakers, central bank officials and international financial organisations will also find the book to be an invaluable resource.Contributors include: J.-L. Bailly, X. Bradley, A. Cencini, M. Citraro, C. Gnos, P. Piégay, S. Rossi, B. Schmitt

Read more less

This book comprises contributions on recent developments in China from a law and economics perspective. For the first time Chinese and European scholars jointly discuss some important attributes of China's legal and economic system, and some recent problems, from this particular viewpoint.The authors apply an economic analysis of law not only to general characteristics of China's social order, such as the specific type of federal competition, the efficiency of taxation and regulation, and the importance of informal institutions (Guanxi), but also to distinct areas of Chinese law such as competition policy, professional regulation, corporate governance and capital markets, oil pollution, intellectual property rights and internet games. The contributors discuss to what extent the law and economic models that have so far been employed within the context of developed countries can be applied to a country like China as well. The European scholars use law and economics in order to determine what China could learn from the European experience. The Chinese scholars discuss whether law and economics can be of any use in analysing the particular features of the Chinese legal system today.Economic Analysis of Law in China will appeal to lawyers, economists and social scientists in China interested in developing legal institutions with an eye on economic efficiency. Scholars generally interested in the economic analysis of law, as well as in the comparison and transition of economic systems, will also find much in this book that will be of interest to them.

Read more less

This comprehensive book explains that while world politics has entered the post-Cold War era since the late 1980s, the Korean peninsula has not. Diplomatic relations have yet to be established between North Korea, the US and Japan, while conventional military confrontation has persisted. Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme has further increased tensions and the possibility of war has frequently been considered.In this rigorously theoretical work, the author analyses the tension on the peninsula through three very different perspectives: the security dilemma and misperceptions; domestic politics and ideology; and the influence of external actors. Recognizing that existing explanations do not take full account of the multi-dimensional character of Korean security problems, efforts are made in this book to understand how various interrelated factors are at work, and which of them matter most under different conditions. This book provides an invaluable and balanced understanding of the complex nature of post-Cold War security problems on the peninsula. Academics, researchers and post-graduate students interested in issues pertaining to security on the Korean peninsula, and on US policy towards North Korea will find much to engage them within this book, as will those interested in politics and international relations more generally. The in-depth analyses of current issues of interest and their policy implications will also appeal to policymakers.

Read more less

This important Handbook explores new and emerging directions in both brand management research and practice. It encompasses a diverse set of approaches including the latest academic research offering new frameworks for understanding brand management, the researcher's perspective on current tools in practice by brand managers, new research and conceptual frameworks for understanding and managing customer experiences and recent empirical research and scale development in both brand and experience management. The book focuses on practical, managerial, and organizational best practices.The contributors comprise top marketing scholars and practitioners. They examine key topics such as brand attachment, brand permission, and brand meaning; new contextual factors such as digital convergence, target group multiplicity, and the rise of experience economies; and new research domains such as empirical tests of consumer experiences, incidental brand exposure, and brand naming. Researchers in the areas of marketing, business, management, sociology and psychology will find this an engaging read. For brand practitioners and libraries this volume will be a critical addition to their collections.

Read more less

The international community is increasingly confronted with global environmental problems, which lead to distributional conflicts, unresolved equity issues and asymmetric distribution of the costs and benefits of environmental policy. The complexity of such problems requires the development of an international institutional framework, capable of coping with the long-run international aspects of global environmental change.This book analyses some of the difficulties in the construction of such a framework and offers suggestions on how they might be overcome. The contributions in The Economics of Global Environmental Change address international trade, land-use change, biodiversity preservation, the management of water resources and the composition of water-related conflicts, global warming and strategic aspects of international environmental agreements.This book provides an in-depth insight to the current state-of-the-art for both economists and non-economists interested in global environmental change. It will also be of great interest to those wanting an introduction to the economic perspective of an increasingly relevant environmental core problem, as well as to students and researchers in political science.

Read more less

The first Handbook of original articles by leading scholars of global environmental politics, this landmark volume maps the latest theoretical and empirical research in this young and growing field. Captured here are the dynamic and energetic debates over concerns for the health of the planet and how they might best be addressed. The introductory chapters explore the intellectual trends and evolving parameters in the field of global environmental politics. They make a case for an expansive definition of the field, one that embraces an interdisciplinary literature on the connections between global politics and environmental change. The remaining chapters are divided into three broad themes - states, governance and security; capitalism, trade and corporations; and knowledge, civil societies and ethics - with each section providing a cohesive discussion of current issues. In-depth explorations are given to topics such as: global commons, renewable energy, the effectiveness of environmental cooperation, regulations and corporate standards, trade liberalization and global environmental governance, and science and environmental citizenship.A comprehensive survey of the latest research, the Handbook is a necessary reference for scholars, students and policymakers in the field of global environmental politics.

Read more less

What macroeconomic requirements must Turkey meet in its quest to accede to the European Union? This book, with its distinguished contributors - well-known economists and policymakers - examines and analyses these macroeconomic challenges confronting Turkey. Although the focus is on the specific situation of Turkey, the lessons are informative for other candidate countries and the findings directly relevant to the process of European integration.The book is divided into four parts: fiscal policies and sustainability of public finances monetary policy challenges preconditions for euro adoption sustainable regimes of capital movements. Each topic is studied in two consecutive papers, concentrating first on the challenges faced by the countries of the EU, and then by Turkey. Several papers review the experiences from the previous round of EU accession and the implications of these for Turkey.Macroeconomic Policies for EU Accession will appeal to policymakers, bureaucrats and academics interested in the macroeconomic problems of EU accession and European integration.

Read more less

This book offers a comparative analysis of organizations and networks involved in nature protection in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, the UK and the USA. It traces their development from their origins, more than a century ago, to the present day. Throughout this period, nature protection has remained an enduring concern to civil society and continues to be a major stream within environmentalism. However, strategies, public support, and political success vary greatly among the countries studied. Combining rich empirical evidence and theoretical analysis, the book sheds light on the important challenges nature protection faces today.Providing a detailed description of all the major nature protection organizations and networks, including overviews of their current membership, activities, and as far as available, budgets, Protecting Nature will be of great interest to lecturers and postgraduate students in social science fields, as well as researchers in the fields of environmental policy, environmental NGOs, social movements, civil society, nature management and policy. Members of nature protection, environmental and other civil society organizations who seek a better understanding of the historical development of nature protection organizations and networks, as well as the strategies employed by those organizations, will also find much to interest them in this book.

Read more less

This unique study investigates the path of innovation in the electrical, electronics and communications engineering industries. It presents a holistic, multi-disciplinary analysis of innovation based on case studies of paradigm-changing inventions - spanning two hundred years - which altered the course of the global economy.The stimuli and constraints which control the dynamics of these innovations are pin-pointed in this book and applied to emerging technologies. Roger Cullis tests the analysis using a recent technology which underpins the embryonic information-based economy. He demonstrates that it is possible to use the hierarchical and time dependent nature of the stimuli and constraints he has identified to predict the likely success of a new technological invention.Considering the impact of all factors which contribute to the success of innovations, this unique book will be of great interest to inventors, patent attorneys and intellectual property practitioners and academics. It will also interest licensing executives and venture capitalists, innovation economists and government policymakers.

Read more less

Leaders are made, not born, Mark Wexler argues, and they cannot be understood in a vacuum. There is no simple answer as to why certain people select one leader over others. Those who look for a master story within capitalism to encapsulate the effective leader are, he asserts, caught and blinded within the headlights of a particular worldview. Rather, leaders can be understood and evaluated within the cognitive lens of four distinct and competing worldviews - entrepreneurial, regulatory, communitarian and network. Exploring the manner in which leaders make and remake themselves in the midst of a changing world, the author shows how they must put together a composite of the skills called for in the four faces of capitalism. He illustrates how and why local leaders develop skills within a worldview and how cosmopolitan leaders, by engaging in reflective practice, cross over into other worldviews and reinvent themselves. An accessible, interdisciplinary study of a fascinating subject, this volume will appeal to scholars and students of leadership, as well as to practising leaders, politicians and executives.

Read more less

In the current era of globalisation, national governments are increasingly exposed to international influences which can present many new constraints and opportunities for domestic environmental policies. This comprehensive Handbook pushes the frontiers of theoretical and empirical knowledge, and provides a state-of-the-art examination of the critical effects of globalisation on environmental governance. Following a comprehensive introduction by the editors, the expert contributors analyse key concepts and recent developments in themes such as national regimes, types of environmental goods, trade rules and environmental policies, eco-innovation policy, government-business cooperation, the role of citizen-consumers in environmental politics, and governance in developing countries. They also present various societal perspectives, including the role of businesses and non-governmental organisations. Eight original case studies address global influences on domestic environmental policies and government participation in international and supranational fora. The Handbook concludes with innovative and challenging views on the future role of national governments in global environmental governance. Including contributions from leading authorities in academia, government, and business, this comprehensive new Handbook provides an insightful overview of the powerful effect of globalisation on national environmental policy. The depth and scope of the work will ensure a broad and varied readership, including academics, students, and policymakers in the fields of governance, environmental politics and law, international relations, and political science.

Read more less

The endogenous nature of money is a fact that has been recognized rather late in monetary economics. Today, it is explained most comprehensively by post-Keynesian economic analysis. This book revisits the nature of money and its endogeneity, featuring a number of the protagonists who took part in the original debates in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as new voices and analyses. Expert contributors revisit long-standing discussions from the position of both horizontalism and structuralism, and prescribe new areas of research and debate for post-Keynesian scholars to explore.Louis-Philippe Rochon and Sergio Rossi eloquently situate the nature of money and its endogeneity in an historical context, before bringing together an engaging array of chapters written by contemporary leading scholars. These chapters put forth detailed analyses of money creation; central bank operations and the role of monetary authorities; a link between interest rates and income distribution; a stock-flow analysis of monetary economies of production; and finally, a reinterpretation of horizontalism and structuralism. Post-Keynesian and heterodox economists, institutionalist economists, scholars of money and finance, and graduate students studying economics will all find this an enlightening read. Contributors include: A. Cottrell, P. Dalziel, P. Docherty, G. Fontana, S.T. Fullwiler, E. Hein, J.E. King, J. Knodell, M. Lavoie, N. Levy-Orlik, C.J. Niggle, T.I. Palley, Y. Panagopoulos, L.-P. Rochon, C. Rogers, S. Rossi, M. Sawyer, M. Setterfield, J. Smithin, A. Spiliotis

Read more less

The core objective of this book is to better understand the role of foreign policy - the crossovers and interactions between domestic and international politics and policies - in efforts to preserve the environment and natural resources. Underlying this objective is the belief that it is not enough to analyze domestic or international political actors, institutions and processes by themselves. We need to understand the interactions among them, something that explicit thought about foreign policy can help us do.The eclectic group of contributors explore European and EU responses to global climate change, and provide insights into issues on environmental protection, sustainable development, international affairs and foreign policy.

Read more less

Recent corporate scandals, together with the effects of globalization, have led to an increasing interest in corporate governance issues. Little attention has been paid, however, to international laws and recommendations dealing with corporate governance in banking from a global perspective. This impressive international set of expert contributors - academics, practitioners and regulators - remedies the lack of attention by examining the various issues and concerns of this important topic. The regulation of corporate banking and accounting is increasingly promoted through various international bodies. Against this background, the contributors explore such aspects of corporate governance as: bank regulation and activity expansion in the US, board structure, community banks, the Enron and WorldCom corporate governance failures, a survey of characteristics of the top 100 world banks, as well as case studies of Australian, German and Hungarian banks. Scholars, regulators, and those on the boards of financial institutions will find the analysis of this understudied area of great interest.

Read more less

Over the last three decades, the use of mathematical methods and logic and the innovative application of game theoretic, economic and statistical methods have reshaped the way scholars of legal evidence and procedure think about core features of the current legal system and the construction of an ideal justice system. In this comprehensive collection, Professor Sanchirico has brought together the major breakthroughs in this exciting confluence of scholarly methods and concerns. Volume I corresponds in essence to the legal field of procedure. It includes papers which focus mainly on events which surround and are influenced by trial, rather than on trial itself: such events include the decision to sue, the settlement of disputes out of court and 'primary activity' behaviour, such as contractual performance, product design or precaution in hazardous activities. Volume II corresponds more to the field of evidence. It delves into the workings of the trial process itself and investigates the interaction between the actual mechanics of trial on the one hand and filing, settlement, and primary activity behaviour on the other.

Read more less

Health care is absorbing an increasing share of resources in all countries. It is the task of public policy to ensure that the nation secures good quality attention at an affordable price. This book, distinguishing clearly between health status and health care, examines the ways in which governments can keep down morbidity and mortality while also ensuring that treatments are medically justifiable, economically cost-effective and socially equitable. Ignorance, uncertainty, asymmetrical information, professional monopolies, insurance and poverty all mean that the market by itself is not enough. Pragmatic intervention is also required to ensure that well-being and social justice are delivered in combination with value for money.Health Care and Public Policy is a comprehensive and intelligible cross-disciplinary account of the objectives of health care policy (medical, social, economic) and of the policy-tools that government can employ (cost-benefit analysis, entry barriers, competition) in order to ensure that scarce resources are not wasted nor needy social groups deprived of basic and affordable care.Health policy is hotly debated in all countries. This cross-national book is timely and relevant. It will be of special interest to academics and students who want to deepen their understanding of health economics, social policy and administration, public policy and government, political economy and the logic of institutions.

Read more less

This book is the first to bring an economics perspective in a rigorous manner to complex decision-making in the management of supply chains. It provides the foundations for the modeling of the interrelationships among decision-makers in supply chains, ranging from manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, to the consumers, assuming individualized behavior. The models handle both competition and cooperation and provide the resulting product flows and prices in the chains. A unique network economics perspective is brought to the issue, setting the book apart from the numerous management and operations research volumes available. After an introduction of the theoretical foundations, the book extends and applies the theory to energy supply chains in the form of electric power generation and distribution networks. The relationships between electric power supply chains and transportation networks are vividly captured through theoretical results and the solution of practical examples. The book then explores environmental supply chain and financial networks with intermediation, which are interpreted as supply chains and also solved as such. Throughout, the underlying theme is that of transportation networks and how the relationships between supply chain networks and the more established theory of transportation network equilibria can be applied and exploited for logistic-type applications. Economists and transportation researchers will find the book's theory and applications of great interest. Operations researchers and management scientists as well as practitioners in business logistics will be interested in the book's methodological and practical tools.

Read more less

'China threat or China opportunity, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder. Western imaginations of China come under close scrutiny in this book, in a new, philosophical depth seldom attempted before. Dr Pan displays in full force his analytical skills and his mastery of knowledge, both East and West. Contrary to conventional approaches, he takes a step back to exercise a powerful reflective process to watch the China watchers, with illuminating results. Dr Pan's book deserves wide and careful reading.'- Professor Gerald Chan, University of Auckland, New Zealand'The rise of China is largely seen as either a threat or an opportunity. Chengxin Pan exposes both of these representations as expressions of Western fears and desires for certainty and predictability. His call for a more reflective and culturally sensitive understanding of China offers an important contribution to one of the big political debates of our time.'- Professor Roland Bleiker, University of Queensland, AustraliaHow is the rise of China perceived in the West? Why is it often labelled as 'threat' and/or 'opportunity'? What are the implications of these China imageries for global politics?Taking up these important questions, this groundbreaking book argues that the dominant Western perceptions of China's rise tell us less about China and more about Western self-imagination and its desire for certainty. Chengxin Pan expertly illustrates how this desire, masked as China 'knowledge', is bound up with the political economy of fears and fantasies, thereby both informing and complicating foreign policy practice in Sino-Western relations. Insofar as this vital relationship is shaped not only by China's rise, but also by the way we conceptualize its rise, this book makes a compelling case for critical reflection on China watching.Knowledge, Desire and Power in Global Politics is the first systematic and deconstructive analysis of contemporary Western representation of China's rise. Setting itself apart from the mainstream empiricist literature, its critical interpretative approach and unconventional and innovative perspective will not only strongly appeal to academics, students and the broader reading public, but also likely spark debate in the field of Chinese international relations.

Read more less

The process of founding new enterprises and making them grow and prosper is a far more convoluted undertaking than it was just a few decades ago. This book explores the complexity faced by today's entrepreneurs. Institutional boundaries, evolutionary perspectives and the intricacies of management are the central themes in this study of entrepreneurs and SMEs in a world marked by major transitions.While mainstream research enhances our understanding of the dynamics of the entrepreneurial process, this book progresses the research yet further. It examines another fundamental role of research in entrepreneurship: our understanding of future organizational and managerial forms evolving from the globalization process. Issues addressed include: growth patterns among enterprises initiated by science-and-technology-based entrepreneurs the actions and motives driving radical entrepreneurs the role of experience versus formal education in entrepreneurship the role of endogenous growth processes managerial complexity in new knowledge-based enterprises the role of collaboration for innovation in new business ventures.The contributors aim to further encourage dialogue and reflections triggered by the growing emphasis on entrepreneurship in policy agendas and business communities all over Europe. As such, this book will prove stimulating reading for researchers, students, academics, consultants and advisers involved in entrepreneurship, business and management.

Read more less

Hossein Askari argues here that economic and social failure in the oil-exporting countries of the Middle East is a result of much more than simply shortcomings in economic policies. He analyzes religion, corruption, instability, wars and foreign interference as factors affecting the region and offers solutions that incorporate Islamic teachings, regional peace efforts, market-oriented economic policies, sound institutions and unselfish policy support from the West.Middle East Oil Exporters presents a detailed picture of the economic structure and a critical survey of the recent economic performance of the Middle East. The focus is especially on the large oil-exporting nations, although the smaller producers are represented as well. The author illustrates how oil has become a crutch to avoid reforms, destroying the work ethic of the region, fuelling corruption and poisoning the social and cultural fabric of society to keep unpopular governments in power. In addition, he provides a view of the social, economic, and political implications of Islamic doctrine. In this context he examines the institutions of governance and determines that they have performed poorly, often in blatant violation of Islamic principles. This in-depth analysis is accompanied by a comprehensive prescription for a turnaround in the Middle East.Hossein Askari's unique and insightful critique is essential reading for students and scholars of the Middle East, as well as policymakers involved in the region. Executives of financial institutions and private corporations will also want to understand the region for their energy needs and as a market for their products and services.

Read more less

`In this book, Tamm Hallström and Boström provide us with useful tools to make sense of the proliferation of new rules and standards established by multi-stakeholder initiatives. Focusing on cases of the International Organization for Standardization, the Forest Stewardship Council and the Marine Stewardship Council, they examine struggles in the development of legitimate authority for these standards. Their critical analysis highlights the obstacles and problems these initiatives face and seeks to correct what they see as overly optimistic assessments of these developments in the current literature.' - Jennifer Clapp, University of Waterloo, Canada `This book contributes to the lively contemporary exploration of transnational governance in the making. It brings a welcome focus on practices, strategies and conflicts in complex multi-stakeholder processes of standardization. As such, it answers current calls, in the literature, to take the question of power seriously - power struggles in the process of governance making but also power and authority as a result of that process. The question of power and authority in the context of transnational governance in the making is, undoubtedly, our collective new frontier. The type of well-crafted and theoretically informed comparative study proposed by Kristina Tamm Hallström and Magnus Boström is just what we need today to move forward on this frontier.' - Marie Laure Djelic, ESSEC Business School, France This enriching book provides a novel analysis of the organizational processes behind the establishment, maintenance, and challenges of non-state authority. In doing so, it compares three transnational, multi-stakeholder standard-setting processes: those of the Forest Stewardship Council, the Marine Stewardship Council, and the International Organization for Standardization on the subject of social responsibility (ISO 26000). The authors theorize the fragility of authority defined as legitimate power. They examine the problematic nature of the long-term transnational multi-stakeholder work upon which this authority is based, including the risks of being ruled out by competing rule setters or being split apart by the centrifugal forces inherent in the multi-stakeholder logics. Scholars of organization studies, sociology, political science, and related disciplines will find this eloquent book of great importance to their field. Practitioners, including standardization experts, managers, management consultants, movement intellectuals, as well as policymakers, should not be without this important book.

Read more less

Numerous countries have attempted to improve the performance of their railways by introducing more competition, but there is fierce debate and no consensus on how this is best achieved. This book reveals how railways were an obvious target for reform because they were often losing traffic and money, and because the government was typically deeply involved as either owner or regulator.This book summarizes and assesses the evidence from the experiences of rail reform in Europe, Latin America, and the United States. In short, the book reveals that no one approach has proven to be best across a wide variety of circumstances. It highlights how unbundling (separating infrastructure from train operations so that independent train operators could compete over common tracks) although attractive in theory, has so far proved complex to implement and delivered only some of the promised benefits. Privatization and deregulation have had more demonstrated success in the freight systems of North and South America, but are still largely untested in the more complex railway networks of Europe. The evidence is arguably slightly stronger for privatization and deregulation than for unbundling, but the jury is still out.Competition in the Railway Industry is invaluable in that it compares the strategies and experiences of different countries in introducing competition in railways, rather than simply focusing on one country and its approach. As such, it will appeal greatly to those in industry and government interested in railway policy and performance, and privatization and deregulation of utilities more generally. It will also appeal to academics and researchers of public sector, transport and industrial organization.

Read more less

As technological progress marches on, so anxiety over the shape of the public domain is likely to continue if not increase. This collection helps to define the boundaries within which the debate over the shape of law and policy should take place.From historical analysis to discussion of contemporary developments, the importance of the public domain in its cultural and scientific contexts is explored by lawyers, scientists, economists, librarians, journalists and entrepreneurs. The contributions will both deepen and enliven the reader's understanding of the public domain in its many guises, and will also serve to highlight the public domain's key role in innovation.This book will appeal not only to students and researchers coming from a variety of fields, but also to policymakers in the IP field and those more generally interested in the public domain, as well as those more directly involved in the current movements towards open access, open science and open source.

Read more less

Capitalism has outperformed all other systems and maintained a positive growth rate since it began. Svetozar Pejovich makes the case within this book that a major reason for the success of capitalism lies in the efficiency-friendly incentives of its basic institutions, which continuously adjust the rules of the game to the requirements of economic progress. The analysis throughout is consistent and is supported by evidence. Key components of the proposed theory are the rule of law, the market for institutions, the interaction thesis, the carriers of change, and the process of changing formal and informal institutions.This book will be of great interest to academics and students of law and economics, new institutional economics, comparative systems and public choice throughout the world and especially in East Asia and South America where institutional issues are being debated.

Read more less

Deregulation and its Discontents examines the different ways in which the issues related to deregulation and reregulation have been addressed in Asia.The role of government in business has gone through distinct, if overlapping, cycles: regulation, deregulation and reregulation. However, little is known about deregulation and even less about reregulation, particularly in relation to Asia. The contributors to this book examine the links between the cycles through detvailed analyses of the electricity market, pensions and stock markets in the Asia Pacific. They also offer an explanation of regulatory cycles. This unique and inter-disciplinary book is thoroughly accessible and will be suitable for specialist as well as non-specialist readers. It will appeal to academics and researchers of public sector economics, Asian studies - and the political economy of Asia in particular - as well as public officials dealing with regulatory issues.

Read more less

Dino Falaschetti and Michael Orlando unify the treatment of the many deeply related topics in money and banking in this wide-ranging book. By continually building on the assumption that economic actors are maximizers, they explain how monetary and financial services, as well as related governance mechanisms, influence economic performance. In this manner, Money, Financial Intermediation and Governance not only lets readers make sense of today's monetary authorities and financial markets, it lets them see through superficial complexities to the fundamental influences that will shape those organizations for years to come. Mastering this analytical process is important for scholars and professionals, as well as individuals who are interested in their own financial security. Successful readers will enjoy an enduring ability to productively anticipate, respond to, and even shape macroeconomic and related political developments. This book's greatest contribution may thus be to help readers enjoy the lasting advantages of becoming careful thinkers. This book is an ideal text for undergraduate, graduate and MBA students in courses on banking and financial markets as well as in macroeconomics. It is also a useful resource for researchers and professionals in the financial, legal and policy sectors.

Read more less

In this book, Jayne Godfrey and Keryn Chalmers explore the intricacies of the globalisation of accounting standards - arguably one of the most significant business developments of the wider globalisation process during the past two decades. They examine the key issues and implications of this harmonisation of accounting standards from the perspectives of a diverse range of worldwide stakeholders.Globalisation of Accounting Standards shows that globalisation approaches differ significantly because countries seek to maintain varying degrees of sovereignty over their regulations. International differences in economic, political, legal, religious and social characteristics also affect globalisation approaches and, in turn, influence national accounting standard-setting agendas. The book explores why countries relinquish their existing national accounting standard-setting regimes to join the global movement. It also seeks to resolve questions such as: To what extent are national incentives altruistic, economic, political or social? Who are the winners and losers in the process?This authoritative book is thoroughly researched and expertly informed. Written by both academics and regulators, it tackles a critical and controversial issue in the globalisation movement. As such, it will be of great interest to a wide-ranging audience including: international, national, private and public sector standard-setters, economic regulators, accounting academics and political economists and strategists.

Read more less

Market Development in China presents the analysis of leading specialists on the causes, benefits and problems resulting from China's transition to a market economy. As the authors illustrate, it is generally recognized that in the last 25 years China has achieved a rate of economic growth unmatched in any of the world's major countries. However, this growth has been unequally shared, so that by the year 2000, China also exhibited what to many observers was an alarming degree of income inequality at individual, sectoral, and regional levels.This books deals with several facets of China's spectacular economic growth and its rising income inequality. It is shown that geographical and sectoral distribution of social services has increased the degree of inequality among Chinese households. On the positive side though, there is evidence that regionalization of commodity markets has decreased, promoting pricing equality, which is surely a cornerstone of income equality. Analysis is also presented on regional technology spillovers, rural-urban labor migration, and the relationship between FDI and the ability of state-owned enterprises to cope with the pressures of hard budget constraints. The book provides updated evidence on China's social and economic inequalities and their causes.The contributions make up a cohesive and valuable study that will appeal to scholars and researchers at many levels of academe in the fields of economics, Asian studies - and Chinese studies in particular - as well as development economists.

Read more less

Although a large and steadily growing research literature attests to an interest in management and entrepreneurship, little research has focused on comparative assessment of the career choices and trajectories of managers and entrepreneurs. This timely book fills the gap by presenting an assessment of early influences on the career choice of managers and entrepreneurs, their attitudes at the start of their careers as students, and in their later employment experiences. The distinguished group of contributors also examine the influence of an MBA education on the later work and life experiences of managers and entrepreneurs. The extent to which this sought after degree aids achievement of intended careers is investigated, as is the debate on linkages between career choices, cross cultural issues, and international and interdisciplinary perspectives. This book extends the focus on a significant human experience - the world of work - beyond that offered by traditional vocational choices, highlighting the plurality of perspectives now offered by different cultures globally. As such, it will be of great interest to students, academics and practitioners with an interest in career trajectories within the realms of management and entrepreneurship.

Read more less

Andres Hatum explores determinants of organizational flexibility in this examination of four family-owned companies, two flexible and two less flexible, from the edible oil and pharmaceutical industries. By means of an innovative analysis - including longitudinal analysis, coding analysis, statistical analysis and the use of original display charts - he illustrates the determinants of flexibility and sheds light on the process of transformation and adaptation of family firms, an area that has not yet been the subject of extensive empirical inquiry.The management literature has claimed that the complexity of business contexts has forced firms to confront hypercompetitive or high-velocity environments. Behind such claims lies a new interest in the dynamics of adaptation, and in particular a firm's flexibility as a way of adjusting under conditions of uncertainty. The businesses studied here have had to contend with the environmental volatility that characterized Argentina for some years. The author identifies five determinants of flexibility as a set of organizational and managerial capabilities that enabled some firms to adapt quickly in a highly competitive environment: heterogeneity of the dominant coalition, centralization and formalization of decision-making, low macroculture embeddedness, environmental scanning, and a strong organizational identity. These findings were analyzed and interpreted by developing theoretical ideas from three areas between which historically there has been no interface: organizational flexibility, organizational innovativeness and institutional embeddedness.This insightful examination into what enables some family-owned businesses to survive and thrive and causes others to fail will be of interest to academics concerned with business flexibility and adaptation, as well as to managers and owners of family businesses.

Read more less

Evaluating sustainable development is becoming increasingly important in policy making, evaluation practice and the scientific world in general. However, at present, there is neither a generally accepted set of measures and evaluation methods, nor specific standards to be met. Sustainable Development in Europe addresses these issues and presents an important and concise analysis of state-of-the-art sustainable development evaluation policies, programmes and projects currently at work in Europe. The aim of this book is not to offer an all-encompassing overview of these efforts, but to raise the most significant issues involved in the planning and implementation of an evaluation project at international, national, regional and local levels. These include understanding sustainable development, the aims of the evaluation, the appropriate spatial or administrative level, and the limits of the particular system analysed. The principal topic areas for evaluators focused upon in this volume are concepts, evaluation methods and their applications. Each topic is accompanied by an illustrative example of a cutting-edge evaluation study indicating how best to apply the theoretically derived approaches in a practical way. In offering a common basis for the further development of research and applications regarding sustainability evaluations, this study will be of great interest to researchers and scholars at many levels of environmental, European, public sector and public policy studies. Evaluators will find methodological approaches and applied tools for their work. Policy makers will find the analysis of the most effective evaluation methodologies vitally useful, and NGOs and NPOs will also find that this book assists them in establishing evaluation as a learning tool.

Read more less

This important book brings together a set of original key contributions to knowledge management in developing economies. It encompasses a wide range of countries throughout Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America as well as the transition economies of the former socialist countries in Eastern Europe. These carefully selected country case studies represent a broad range of issues in managing knowledge. They consider the way in which knowledge management processes and practices are influenced by local culture and institutions as well as by interaction with the broader international community. The need for an aggregated analytical approach in untangling the increasingly complex process through which knowledge processes are created, transferred and deployed is also highlighted. The book provides a strong nexus between theory and practice by offering solutions to problems such as: minimising knowledge leakage, creating knowledge-sharing cultures and promoting management learning.Presenting the latest research on intercultural knowledge management, this book will be warmly welcomed by researchers, students and lecturers with an interest in international management and knowledge management. Its strong focus on practitioner implications will provide international managers with invaluable suggestions on how to maximise knowledge sharing in international joint ventures and subsidiary operations.

Read more less

The volume presents the seminal articles in the economic analysis of the criminal law. The articles include the path-breaking theoretical economic analyses of criminal behavior and the leading empirical tests of these theories. The volume also contains the most prominent economic analyses of the substantive doctrines of criminal law and criminal procedure. Other articles present influential applications of economic concepts and evidence to perennial issues in criminal law and criminal justice, such as gun control, drug prohibition, and sentencing policy. An introduction by the volume editors provides a comprehensive overview of the works included. Economics of Criminal Law will be an essential source of reference for scholars, graduate students in both law and in economics, and practitioners.

Read more less