Search results for ""author ltd e"

This important book, written by some of the leading scholars in the field, provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in coalition theory and presents both the latest theoretical developments and novel applications in the field of economics. The authors demonstrate the many uses of coalition theory and its ability to address a whole host of complex economic problems, such as the provision of global public goods, the adoption of co-operative R&D strategies and the emergence of sovereign states. By highlighting important game-theoretic results they are able to compare and contrast the effectiveness of different approaches. Some of the specific topics addressed include: advances in the theory of large co-operative games non co-operative models of coalition formation a survey of the partition function in the formation of coalitions farsightedness in coalition formation coalition stability coalition formation in industrial economics, trade theory, environmental economics, public finance. This essential study of recent theories of coalition and group formation will arm the reader with a new set of tools with which to analyse a variety of problematic economic issues. It will prove invaluable to economists, ecologists, and political and social scientists.

Read more less

Banking Reforms in South-East Europe gives a critical and detailed overview of banking system restructuring in the transitional countries of South-Eastern Europe - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania and Yugoslavia - and offers suggestions for future reforms. The book opens with a comparison of the experiences of Central European advanced transitional economies with those of the Balkan countries. Proposals are put forward for ways in which positive aspects of the Central European experience can be applied to banking reform in the Balkans. The authors examine the importance of regional collaboration for the overall economic and social transition in the region, and consider whether it can facilitate the next stage of banking reform. They also analyse the results of currency board arrangements as a possible alternative to classical central banking, using the experiences of Bulgaria, Bosnia and the Yugoslav Republic of Montenegro. The book concludes with an analysis of the experience of individual economies and consists of a number of country-specific banking studies, covering all the transitional economies of South-East Europe.The book will be of great interest to both scholars of transition economies and policymakers in finance and financial institutions.

Read more less

In this book the authors tackle the concept of 'quality of government' (QoG) both conceptually and empirically and apply their focus to EU countries and regions. In a pioneering empirical effort, they map out regional QoG for the first time for 172 NUTS 1 and 2 regions throughout 18 countries in the EU, and provide a detailed methodology. They follow up the quantitative assessment with three case studies demonstrating the wide variation of QoG found within the countries of Italy, Belgium and Romania. The book concludes with important lessons and ideas for future research.Quality of Government and Corruption from a European Perspective will offer a unique insight to an important issue of development within the EU that speaks to students and academics in the field of comparative politics, EU politics, development, governance and corruption.With contributions from: Lewis Dijkstra, Jonas Håkansson and Oana Borcan

Read more less

What is the potential of the new information and communication technologies? This book assesses the relationship between technological change and employment in all its dimensions, focusing on contemporary economies in Europe.The authors discuss patterns of growth, and the type of employment that countries might expect to be created following the introduction of these new technologies. Also analysed is the extent to which firms should adjust to more favourable production and distribution patterns. Institutional change is another issue addressed in detail as this encompasses the organisation of working time, systems of education and innovation and the welfare state. The final section of the book addresses the future of European employment not only from the competitive position of Europe in a global economy but also the new societal and demographic contexts that will challenge European economies in the future.Technology and the Future of European Employment ends with an overview of the many policy priorities that European societies will have to address. As such, this book will be of interest to scholars of economics, sociology and politics as well as those involved in European studies, technology and innovation, and labour economics. Civil servants in relevant national departments and organisations will also find the book of interest and value.

Read more less

Economists need to understand some fundamental aspects of science in order to measure and analyse the process of technological change. This book explores the interrelationships between economics, science and technology in order to find ways of improving economists' approaches to technical change. Dr Payson begins by offering a scientific critique of economic discourse and presents a unique, unconstrained and critical view of the behavioral differences between economists and scientists. The economic literature on technological change is analysed in order to assess economists' approach to science. The author then offers concrete solutions for the useful economic study of technological change including alternative methods of classifying data based on scientific principles, a characteristics approach to measuring physical capital, and a futuristic exploration into how artificial intelligence may improve economics.

Read more less

Religious and secular communities ritualize some books in one, two, or three dimensions. They ritualize the dimension of semantic interpretation through teaching, preaching, and scholarly commentary. This dimension receives almost all the attention of academic scholars. Communities also ritualize a text’s expressive dimension through public reading, recitation, and song, and also by reproducing its contents in art, theatre and film. This dimension is receiving increasing scholarly attention, especially in religious studies and anthropology. A third textual dimension, the iconic dimension, gets ritualized by manipulating the physical text, decorating it, and displaying it. This dimension has received almost no academic attention, yet features prominently in the most common news stories about books, whether about e-books, academic libraries, rare manuscript discoveries, or scripture desecrations. By calling attention to the iconic dimension of books, James Watts argues that we can better understand how physical books mediate social value and power within and between religious communities, nations, academic disciplines, and societies both ancient and modern. How and Why Books Matter will appeal to a wide range of readers interested in books, reading, literacy, scriptures, e-books, publishing, and the future of the book. It also addresses scholarship in religion, cultural studies, literacy studies, biblical studies, book history, anthropology, literary studies, and intellectual history.

Read more less

The definitive guide to creating and using experiential exercises in the classroom. For anyone interested in continuously improving their teaching practice, this book provides an overview of the theory and empirical evidence for active learning and the use of experiential exercises.Using a prescriptive model and checklist for creating, adapting or adopting experiential exercises in the classroom, the authors demonstrate evidence-based best practices for each step in the development and use of experiential exercises, including tips, worksheets and checklists to facilitate use of these practices. In addition, the book provides rich examples which illustrate how educators have used this model and practices in their own classrooms, and resources to help find experiential exercises, learn more about effectively using them, and connect with organizations, journals, and people dedicated to the use of experiential exercises in the classroom.Higher education educators seeking to improve their teaching practice, to increase effectiveness and to learn how to develop and use experiential exercises as well as doctoral students learning how to develop and use experiential exercises will find direction and inspiration in Experiential Exercises in the Classroom.

Read more less

Entanglements attempts to argue against those who claim that scholarship on the category religion is only of secondary interest, in that it fails to do primary research on real religions. The volume collects eighteen responses, written across twenty years, that each exemplify the inevitably situated, give-and-take nature of all academic debate. These essays call into question the often used distinction between primary and secondary sources, between description and analysis. Published here in their original form, each contribution is accompanied by new, substantive introduction describing the context of each response and explaining how each shows something still at stake in the academic study of religion--whether its the rhetoric used to authorize competing scholarly claims or the difficulty involved in suspending our commonsense view of the world long enough to study the means by which we have come to see it that way. An ethnography of scholarly practice written mainly for earlier career readers--whether undergraduate or graduate students or even tenure-track faculty--Entanglements tackles the notion that some scholarship is more pristine, and thus more valuable, than others, thereby modeling for scholars earlier in their careers some of the obstacles and arguments that may face them should their research interests be judged unorthodox.

Read more less

Entanglements attempts to argue against those who claim that scholarship on the category religion is only of secondary interest, in that it fails to do primary research on real religions. The volume collects eighteen responses, written across twenty years, that each exemplify the inevitably situated, give-and-take nature of all academic debate. These essays call into question the often used distinction between primary and secondary sources, between description and analysis. Published here in their original form, each contribution is accompanied by new, substantive introduction describing the context of each response and explaining how each shows something still at stake in the academic study of religion--whether its the rhetoric used to authorize competing scholarly claims or the difficulty involved in suspending our commonsense view of the world long enough to study the means by which we have come to see it that way. An ethnography of scholarly practice written mainly for earlier career readers--whether undergraduate or graduate students or even tenure-track faculty--Entanglements tackles the notion that some scholarship is more pristine, and thus more valuable, than others, thereby modeling for scholars earlier in their careers some of the obstacles and arguments that may face them should their research interests be judged unorthodox.

Read more less

A decade after the implementation of the initial wave of economic reforms in India, the process of transforming the country into a fully developed market economy continues. A hallmark of the globalised economy is its ability to sustain competitive efficiency which, in turn, can lead to enhanced growth. This important new book gauges how far India has been successful in achieving this goal by implementing the correct economic reform measures. There is a severe lack of solid analytical evidence or rigorous scientific studies on the success of India's economic reforms. The expert authors attempt to redress this imbalance with a thorough analysis of key aspects of the state of the Indian economy since 1991. Keeping poverty reduction as the major objective, they comprehensively discuss and identify further reform measures which are vital in the monetary, fiscal and agriculture sectors in order to maintain and improve the momentum of growth. When compared with East Asian countries including China, India's lacklustre growth performance indicates that the task of reform is far from over. The authors argue that India needs to pursue its reform process much more vigorously at both the central and state levels in order to achieve its full growth potential.Providing a comprehensive assessment of the impact of economic reforms in India, this book will appeal to policymakers, researchers and students with an interest in developing economies. Political scientists as well as economists in the fields of liberalisation and international development will also find this an engaging and enlightening volume.

Read more less

Europe's and Latin America's social and economic stagnation is a direct result of the unresolved phenomena of the financialization crisis that broke in 2008 in developed countries. Editors Noemi Levy and Etelberto Ortiz analyze the limitations of economic growth and development under capitalist economic organizations where financial capital is dominant as well as explore alternate economic policies.This book argues that institutional settings based on the international monetary market, the global production organization, and the international commerce arraignments need to be redesigned to improve countries' economic growth, job opportunities, and salaries. In order for economic disequilibria to be reduced among regions, countries, and social classes, economic surplus appropriation must be regulated. Divided into four distinct thematic sections, the chapters discuss how income distribution must be re-evaluated in order to halt the economic crisis of developing countries in Europe and Latin America and to boost a new cycle of economic growth and development.This critical discussion will be of value to economic scholars and researchers, policy makers wishing to learn more about the limitations of economic growth, as well as journalists specializing in economic issues.Contributors include: A. Álvarez, E. Basilio, R. Bellofiore, H. Bougrine, A. Chapoy, A. Cibils, C. Domínguez, F. Garibaldo, M. Guadalupe Huerta, L. Kato, N. Levy, T. López, J. Marroquín, S. Martínez, M. Mortagua, E. Ortiz, L.Á. Ortiz, G. Pinazo, L.-P. Rochon, C.A. Rozo, D. Tropeano. A. Vercelli,

Read more less

Now fully revised and updated for the second edition, this unique and authoritative account of the party systems in Eastern Europe examines their development from the revolutions of the late 1980s to the present day. The New Democracies in Eastern Europe presents a genuinely comparative perspective on the old and new party systems. Featuring detailed assessment and analysis of the situation in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, the volume draws upon research and opinion from a distinguished group of European scholars. Recognising that many of the social and political problems of the inter-war period continue to make themselves felt, the authors contend that the breakdown of the old authoritarian system was a by-product of a built-in and progressively worsening legitimacy crisis. Despite the great progress made by some East European countries, recent events confirm the view that authoritarianism has not lost its appeal.As an up-to-date and comprehensive survey of political change and development in Eastern Europe - rapidly produced to present the most recent information - this book will be welcomed by researchers, teachers and students.

Read more less

Education Matters presents in one volume many of Alan B. Krueger's contributions to the economics of education. This invaluable collection of papers, based on his groundbreaking research from the 1990s, has been published in a wide range of professional outlets and has influenced public policy and research in the US and throughout the world.The book opens with an introductory essay explaining the importance of the study of the economics of education as well as providing an overview of the book. The author then goes on to discuss and analyse the important topics in the economics of education, including the economic pay off from attending school for longer, the return to investments in school resources, causes of the increased pay off to education, the contribution of education to economic growth, and racial differences in school quality and their consequences. The final chapter provides a framework for evaluating schools.This fascinating collection of work, from a writer at the forefront of economics and educational research, will be warmly welcomed by academics in the areas of human capital, economics and public policy, as well as by educational policymakers.

Read more less

The Automotive Industry in an Era of Eco-Austerity analyses the future prospects of the largest manufacturing sector in the world, the automotive industry, at a time of unprecedented global financial crisis and unrelenting environmental pressure. This unique book seeks to combine economic analysis with the environmental research to arrive at a comprehensive understanding of the forces that shape change in the automotive industry. It eschews the usual focus on technologies, and gives more attention to the impact of change on the business models and strategies adopted by the vehicle manufacturers, the scope for new entrants, and the implications for policy-makers. This richly textured book concludes that the achievement of a sustainable automotive industry will not be possible with `one best way', but that myriad technologies and business concepts, grounded in the distinct needs of different places and consumers, will be the basis of the future of mobility. Drawing on a wealth of industry data by virtue of the authors' record of many years researching the industry, this book will be invaluable to both students and researchers working within transport, industrial ecology, automobility, industrial policy, economics, regional development, sustainability, technology, and business models.

Read more less

The Automotive Industry in an Era of Eco-Austerity analyses the future prospects of the largest manufacturing sector in the world, the automotive industry, at a time of unprecedented global financial crisis and unrelenting environmental pressure. This unique book seeks to combine economic analysis with the environmental research to arrive at a comprehensive understanding of the forces that shape change in the automotive industry. It eschews the usual focus on technologies, and gives more attention to the impact of change on the business models and strategies adopted by the vehicle manufacturers, the scope for new entrants, and the implications for policy-makers. This richly textured book concludes that the achievement of a sustainable automotive industry will not be possible with `one best way', but that myriad technologies and business concepts, grounded in the distinct needs of different places and consumers, will be the basis of the future of mobility. Drawing on a wealth of industry data by virtue of the authors' record of many years researching the industry, this book will be invaluable to both students and researchers working within transport, industrial ecology, automobility, industrial policy, economics, regional development, sustainability, technology, and business models.

Read more less

This important and original book critically evaluates case study practices and calls for a more pluralistic future for case research in international business (IB) and international management (IM). IB and IM researchers typically rely on a case study approach that could be characterized as 'qualitative positivism'. The editors and contributors look beyond this disciplinary convention and encourage pluralism in IB and IM case research. Their key argument is that increased awareness of the prevailing disciplinary convention and its limitations increases the potential for theoretical insight and methodological versatility in case research. The contributions provide critical, novel and innovative perspectives on the case study. The book offers inspiration to case authors, and is an authoritative methodological reference for reviewers of case research. Contributors include: P. Ahonen, P. Almond, P.H. Andersen, S. Blazejewski, M.Y. Brannen, T. Buck, E. Clark, T. Colling, P. d Iribarne, T. Edwards, J. Erland Lervik, M. Fletcher, L. Hurmerinta, R.J. Jensen, M. Johanson, H. Kragh, A.J. Mills, J.H. Mills, R. Mir, F. Moore, R. Morais, M. Nojonen, N. Nummela, R. Piekkari, E. Plakoyiannaki, A. Saka-Helmhout, A. Salmi, A. Soulsby, G. Szulanski, H. Tan, J. Tienari, E. Vaara, C. Welch, A. Wright

Read more less

This sequel to Marx and Non-Equilibrium Economics introduces the key advances in modern value theory. Leading authors with contrasting theoretical viewpoints debate equilibrium and non-equilibrium approaches, abstract labour and money, and provide an invaluable introduction to the rapidly growing body of new work in these fields.The authors cover cutting-edge topics in value theory including gender and money, crisis theory, the impact of technology, skilled and complex labour, and the effect of international transfers of value.All of the papers in The New Value Controversy and the Foundations of Economics concentrate on new research. The mathematical content is minimal, allowing both active researchers and new students to introduce themselves to the burgeoning critical reappraisal of the foundations of Twentieth Century economic thinking.

Read more less

This comprehensive book provides an extensive overview of the major topics of antitrust law from an economic perspective. Its in-depth treatment and analysis of both the law and economics of antitrust is presented via a collection of interconnected original essays. The contributing authors are among the most influential scholars in antitrust, with a rich diversity of backgrounds. Their entries cover, amongst other issues, predatory pricing, essential facilities, tying, vertical restraints, enforcement, mergers, market power, monopolization standards, and facilitating practices.This well-organized and substantial work will be invaluable to professors of American antitrust law and European competition law, as well as students specializing in competition law. It will also be an important reference for professors and graduate students of economics and business.

Read more less

Why do organisations 'leave money on the floor' by neglecting highly cost effective measures to improve energy efficiency? This question lies at the heart of policy debates over climate change and is a focus of continuing dispute within energy economics. This book explores the nature, operation and relative importance of different barriers to energy efficiency through a comprehensive examination of energy management practices within a wide range of public and private sector organisations. The authors use concepts from new institutional economics to explain individual and organisational behaviour in relation to energy efficiency, and identify the mechanisms through which such barriers may be overcome. In doing so, they are able to shed new light on the 'barriers debate' and provide a valuable input to the future development of climate policy.Combining a critical evaluation of different theoretical perspectives with detailed case study research, this significant new book analyses how and why organisations waste energy and suggests practical policy measures to help prevent these losses. It will be required reading for professional economists, academics and students with an interest in energy use, environmental policy and organisational economics. It will also be highly relevant for policymakers and consultants working on the important policy issues surrounding energy efficiency and climate change.

Read more less

The extensive destruction of wetlands across Europe represents a significant loss of biodiversity along with its related economic, cultural, ethical and scientific benefits. This volume addresses the critical issues surrounding this environmental change process, employing a range of analytical methods drawn from a variety of disciplines which bridge the social and natural science divide. The authors begin by exploring the various methodological approaches to the analysis of the causes and consequences of wetland loss in Europe. The findings reveal that a formal decision-support process can be defined which can assist in the search for a more sustainable approach to wetland management. The methods and tools advocated are interdisciplinary and require co-ordinated action by experts from a variety of different fields. The authors move on to present a series of case studies from which a number of general conclusions can be drawn. In particular, they identify conflicts concerning use, value and interest groups to be the most common in the context of wetland management versus development. Consequently, they argue that scientific analysis requires support from the social sciences in order to better understand and implement more participatory approaches to environmental management.Given the ongoing depletion of wetland ecosystems throughout the world, this novel interdisciplinary approach to their sustainable management is a timely and valuable exercise. Students, researchers and scholars of environmental economics, environmental science, ecology, geography and environmental politics will find this book to be a useful addition to the literature. It will also help policymakers, international agencies and NGOs to preserve these valuable environmental resources.

Read more less

The extensive destruction of wetlands across Europe represents a significant loss of biodiversity along with its related economic, cultural, ethical and scientific benefits. This volume addresses the critical issues surrounding this environmental change process, employing a range of analytical methods drawn from a variety of disciplines which bridge the social and natural science divide. The authors begin by exploring the various methodological approaches to the analysis of the causes and consequences of wetland loss in Europe. The findings reveal that a formal decision-support process can be defined which can assist in the search for a more sustainable approach to wetland management. The methods and tools advocated are interdisciplinary and require co-ordinated action by experts from a variety of different fields. The authors move on to present a series of case studies from which a number of general conclusions can be drawn. In particular, they identify conflicts concerning use, value and interest groups to be the most common in the context of wetland management versus development. Consequently, they argue that scientific analysis requires support from the social sciences in order to better understand and implement more participatory approaches to environmental management.Given the ongoing depletion of wetland ecosystems throughout the world, this novel interdisciplinary approach to their sustainable management is a timely and valuable exercise. Students, researchers and scholars of environmental economics, environmental science, ecology, geography and environmental politics will find this book to be a useful addition to the literature. It will also help policymakers, international agencies and NGOs to preserve these valuable environmental resources.

Read more less

It is often suggested in policy debates that the employment of highly educated workers in jobs traditionally held by lower skilled workers leads to skill wastage and a worsening labour market position for the less educated. This process is generally referred to as 'bumping down' or 'crowding out'.This argument challenges the policy of many developed countries to attach ever greater importance to knowledge as a means to increase international competitiveness. The authors in this book provide insights into the role of education in society by investigating the extent to which these arguments of overeducation and upgrading are valid. They bring together different approaches to obtain a complete picture of the debate in economics about under-utilization of skills and bumping down.

Read more less

Employing historical analysis and building on growth theory and modern political economy, Dillon and Wykoff explain Soviet disintegration and analyze efforts to create capitalism in newly independent states. They show how five fundamental economic reforms generate growth, and use an original model to test the connections between reforms, elections and economic performance.The authors examine the progress of six countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Russia and Slovakia) in terms of each country's history and its successful application of the five reforms. Anyone interested in how capitalism works and why pro-market reforms encounter resistance in spite of their potential for generating higher living standards will find this book essential reading.

Read more less

This book identifies Friederike Welter's key contribution to entrepreneurship research over recent decades, and shows how her work is contextualised in time and place. The book gives a differentiated understanding of entrepreneurship and contexts, celebrating diversity as well as complexity. The author discusses temporal and spatial contexts and the role of gender for contextualising entrepreneurship, drawing attention to the interplay between history, place, gender alongside the context of researchers and entrepreneurs. Diversity is also highlighted through this contextual approach. This book offers a valuable collection of articles that provide entrepreneurship scholars with a sound basis for further research on entrepreneurship and context. Essential for those interested in exploring the foundations of the entrepreneurship and context theme, Friederike Welter's set of articles highlight the development of this debate. This will be an ideal read for all entrepreneurship scholars and students looking for an accessible review of the topic.

Read more less

Richard Musgrave is one of the most eminent public finance economists of our time. In this third volume of essays, Professor Musgrave once more takes a broad view of fiscal institutions, their nature and functions. Traditions of fiscal theory and their impact on the author's work are discussed and their linkage to theories of the state and of distributive justice are examined. Selected topics include: the foundations of public finance, equity in taxation, tax reform, federalism and budget growth.Public Finance in a Democratic Society will be of interest to scholars and students of public finance, political economy and public policy.

Read more less

The recent economic crisis has had severe and negative impacts on the EU over the last decade. This book focuses on a neglected dimension by examining European political entrepreneurship in times of economic crisis with particular emphasis on EU member-states, institutions and policies. Governance and Political Entrepreneurship in Europe examines the role that the political entrepreneur can play in promoting entrepreneurship and growth. The book includes an actor and a structure perspective by focussing on politicians and institutions within the public sector that use innovative approaches to encourage businesses with a goal of growth and employment. This exemplary book is a useful tool for entrepreneurship and political science scholars wishing to gain a better understanding of the ways in which political bodies can impact economic development. EU politicians and public servants would also benefit from reading this timely book as it offers key information on how they can help to promote growth. Contributors include: M. Alebaki, C. Berggren, M.-L. von Bergmann-Winberg, S. Gretzinger, C. Karlsson, B. Leick, A. Olausson, A. Parkhouse, E. Petridou, B. Pircher, C. Silander, D. Silander, P. Strömblad, S. Tavassoli, E. Wihlborg

Read more less

The Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Governance and Politics surveys the broad range of environmental and sustainability challenges in the emerging Anthropocene and scrutinizes available concepts, methodological tools, theories and approaches, as well as overlaps with adjunct fields of study.This comprehensive reference work, written by some of the most eminent academics in the field, contains 68 entries on numerous aspects across 7 thematic areas, including concepts and definitions; theories and methods; actors; institutions; issue-areas; cross-cutting questions; and overlaps with non-environmental fields. With this broad approach, the volume seeks to provide a pluralistic knowledge base of the research and practice of global environmental governance and politics in times of increased complexity and contestation.Providing its readers with a unique point of reference, as well as stimulus for further research, this Encyclopedia is an indispensable tool for anyone interested in the politics of the environment, particularly students, teachers and researchers.Contributors: K.W. Abbott, C. Adelle, L. Andonova, S. Andresen, W.F. Baber, K. Bäckstrand, R.V. Bartlett, I. Baud, S. Bauer, S. Beck, M. Beisheim, D. Benson, S. Bernstein, K. Biedenkopf, F. Biermann, K. Booth, U. Brand, P.-O. Busch, S. Chan, K. Chelminski, J. Clapp, D. Compagnon, D. Cordell, V. Cornelissen, E. Dellas, S. Dietz, R. Eckersley, R. Floyd, D.J. Frank, V. Galaz, K. Genskow, S. Godin-Beekman, A. Gupta, J. Gupta, R. Haluza-DeLay, A. Hironaka, M. Isailovic, M. Ivanova, A. Jerneck, K. Jönsson, A. Jordan, S. Karlsson-Vinkhuyzen, M. Kok, A. Kronsell, M. Lang, S. Lim, J. Lister, K. Magyera, A. Mert, D. Moran, G. Nagtzaam, T. Nielsen, M. Nilsson, C. Okereke, T. Oliver, L. Olsson, P.H. Pattberg, J. Pinkse, A. Prakash, O. Renn, K. Rosendal, M.A.F. Ros-Tonen, D. Rothe, E. Schofer, B. Siebenhüner, N. Simon, J. Stel, H. Stevenson, O.S. Stokke, K. Szulecki, M.W.Tvedt, A. Underdal, T. Van de Graaf, D. Van Vuuren, P. Vellinga, P. Wapner, E. Weinthal, J. Wettestad, S. White, O. Widerberg, F. Zelli

Read more less

Innovation as an activity is not new - what has changed is the pace at which firms have to innovate. This book analyses innovation success at the company, rather than the project, level and contributes to the development of a new theory on innovation management in small and medium-sized enterprises. The author uses studies from 63 companies from 35 different industry and service sectors in order to obtain non-sector specific findings. He concludes that innovative success is based on a combination of technological, marketing and organizational competencies and that successfully innovating companies can be said to have a strong internal locus of control.

Read more less

'A startling heroine' SARAH MOSS, Summerwater'A vividly female perspective on the Wars of the Roses' IMOGEN HERMES GOWER, The Mermaid and Mr Hancock'Wolf Hall for the 2020s' MANDA SCOTT, Boudica'Absorbing' TIMES__________1431 is a dangerous time for a woman to be defiant.England has been fighting France for 100 years. At home, power-hungry men within a corrupt government manipulate a weak king - and name Cecily's husband, York's loyal duke, an enemy. As the king's grasp on sanity weakens, plots to destroy York take root...It will take all of Cecily's courage and cunning to save her family. But when the will to survive becomes ambition for a crown, will she risk treason to secure it?Inside closed bedchambers and upon bloody battlefields, CECILY portrays war as women fight it.__________ACCLAIM FOR CECILY - AN EPIC FEMINIST RETELLING OF THE WAR OF THE ROSES'Has the new Hilary Mantel arrived?' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH'Masterful and majestic; England's unspoken history told by one brilliant woman through the life of another. This important novel blazes on every page from its brutal first scene to its glittering final act' CHRIS CLEAVE, author of Everyone Brave is Forgiven'Entirely absorbing and utterly compelling. Fifteenth century England leaps from the page, with all its political turmoil and bloodshed. I loved it' CAROLINE LEA, author of The Glass Women'Cecily stalks the corridors of power like a female Thomas Cromwell. A vividly female perspective on the Wars of the Roses - what a feat' IMOGEN HERMES GOWER, author of The Mermaid and Mr Hancock'Masterfully written and wholly immersive, with characters that live and breathe. Cecily is a tour de force. I loved every sentence' JOANNE BURN, author of The Hemlock Cure'Annie Garthwaite writes about the past with the sort of intimacy, immediacy and empathy that can only come from graft and craft' TOBY CLEMENTS, author of Kingmaker'BLOODY GREAT. So modern, so political, it could almost be set in Downing Street' KATE SAWYER, author of The Stranding'Shines a light into a dark corner of our history and reclaims the voice and story of a powerful and forgotten woman' LIZ HYDER, author of The Gifts'An extraordinary achievement . . .I could touch and breathe Cecily's world as if I was walking in her shadow' CAROL MCGRATH, author of The Silken Rose'Impeccably researched, written with style and shot through with energy, heart and power. A perfectly paced tale of intrigue, influence and victory wrenched from defeat. Cecily has been overlooked for centuries. Not anymore' A J WEST, author of The Spirit Engineer

Read more less

This book advances a social-theoretic treatment of public finance, which contrasts with the typical treatment of government as an agent of intervention into a market economy. To start, Richard Wagner construes government not as an agent but as a polycentric process of interaction, just as is a market economy. The theory of markets and the theory of public finance are thus construed as complementary components of a broader endeavor of social theorizing, with both seeking to provide insight into the emergence of generally coordinated relationships within society. The author places analytical focus on emergent processes of development rather than on states of equilibrium, and with much of that development set in motion by conflict among people and their plans. Some of the book's defining characteristics include: Budgets emerge through organizationally constituted political entrepreneurship Government is construed as a process of interaction and participation and not as a unitary entity of intervention Government and markets are incorporated into a unified theory of property which is traced to human nature and its requirements for both autonomy and solidarity. Richard Wagner's book will be of interest to researchers in public finance, public choice, Austrian economics, political science and public policy.

Read more less

'Profoundly moving. An astonishing book, a true work of art' Max Porter, author of Grief is the Thing with Feathers From the critically acclaimed author of The Vagrants, a devastating and utterly original novel on grief and motherhood'Days: the easiest possession. The days he had refused would come, one at a time. They would wait, every daybreak, with their boundless patience and indifference, seeing if they could turn me into an ally or an enemy to myself.'A woman's teenage son takes his own life. It is incomprehensible. The woman is a writer, and so she attempts to comprehend her grief in the space she knows best: on the page, as an imagined conversation with the child she has lost. He is as sharp and funny and serious in death as he was in life itself, and he will speak back to her, unable to offer explanation or solace, but not yet, not quite, gone.Where Reasons End is an extraordinary portrait of parenthood, in all its painful contradictions of joy, humour and sorrow, and of what it is to lose a child.'A masterpiece. This book haunts me more than any other novel I've read in recent years' Garth Greenwell, author of What Belongs to You'Heart-wrenching, fearless, and unlike anything you've ever read' Esquire'I sit here shaken and, I think, changed by this work' Katherine Boo, author of Behind the Beautiful Forevers'A devastating read, but also a tender one, filled with love, complexity, and a desire for understanding' Nylon'The most intelligent, insightful, heart-wrenching book of our time' Sean Andrew Greer, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Less'Captures the affections and complexity of parenthood in a way that has never been portrayed before' The Millions'Ethereal and electric, radiating unthinkable pain and profound love' Buzzfeed

Read more less

This valuable book examines the interaction between economic ideas and the policy-making process in Europe, centred around the creation of European Monetary Union. The essays cover three broad areas: early debates on European monetary integration, economic thought at the European Community institutions, and the establishment of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in Europe. Core elements of the book are analyses of Europe's quest for exchange rate stability and of the debates on the nature of EMU and the path towards it. With the aid of crucial case studies, Ivo Maes goes on to chart the growing awareness among policymakers of the increasing interdependence between Europe's economies and the rise of a new medium-term, stability-oriented policy conception - both vital and necessary factors in the genesis of EMU.Drawing on the extensive experience of the author, both as an academic and a senior official involved in European economic policy-making, this book undoubtedly contributes towards a better understanding of the role of economic ideas in the process of European monetary integration. It will be an important addition to the literature on EMU and will be required reading for scholars and policymakers in the fields of economics, European studies and the history of economic thought.

Read more less

In recent years a wide range of non-state certification programs have emerged to address environmental and social problems associated with the extraction of natural resources. This book provides a general analytical framework for assessing the emergence and effectiveness of voluntary certification programs. It focuses on certification in the forest and fisheries sectors, as initiatives in these sectors are among the most advanced cases of non-state standard setting and governance in the environmental realm. Paying particular attention to the Forest Stewardship Council and the Marine Stewardship Council, the author examines how certification initiatives emerged, the politics that underlie their development, their ability to influence producer and consumer behavior, and the broader consequences of their formation and spread. The analysis of the certification of forests and fisheries offers a wealth of insights from which to better understand the capacity of non-state governance programs to ameliorate global environmental problems.Containing a detailed review of the direct effects and broader consequences of forest and fisheries certification, this book will be warmly welcomed by scholars of environmental politics and corporate social responsibility, as well as practitioners involved in non-state certification programs throughout the world.

Read more less

This book provides a detailed analysis of how and why firms from economies in transition internationalize and examines the effects of domestic politico-economic factors on this process.Transition economies undergo economic liberalization, which enables market forces to set prices. The economic transition process is usually characterized by significant changes in the role of the state and the creation and promotion of privately owned enterprises, markets and independent financial institutions. With the opening of the domestic economy, and integration into the international economy, domestic firms have an opportunity to explore international markets, which was impossible under previous regimes. This book provides insights into these phenomena and investigates the impact that these changes have had on firm internationalization.This book is an essential resource for academics and students of strategic management, international business and business studies. It also has significant value for practitioners and policy-makers in that it will highlight important factors in a firm's politico-economic environment that either stimulate or impede firm internationalization from emerging markets and will discuss important managerial and policy implications.Contributors: P.D. Aligica, A.R. Anderson, V. Andonova, M. Bahl, P. Berdyshev, M. Brahem, M. Crone, A. Gevorkyan, V. Golikova, M. Gorynia, S. El Harbi, P. Karhunen, R. Kosonen, O. Linchevskaya, D. Makhmadshoev, A.I. Mockaitis, J. Nowak, A. Pobol, D. Pollard, A. Sauka, Y. Shaleva, I. Simberova, M. Slonimska, A. Slonimski, D. Smallbone, V. Tarko, M.T.T. Thai, P. Trapczynski, E. Turkina, A. W sowska, F. Welter, R. Wolniak, E. Zankina, P. Zettinig

Read more less

This book considers the possibility of adjusting traditional economic measures of income and welfare to account for natural resource extraction and environmental degradation.It presents and reviews the limitations of an operational method for measuring income from resource extraction in both open and closed economies. In addressing closed economies, the discussion centres on the relationship between income and global sustainability. The book also considers the measurement of social welfare in relation to environmental issues and resource extraction, especially changes over time and comparison between countries. Theoretical material is complemented by case studies on petroleum extraction in Norway and soil degradation in Tanzania, to which the pragmatic methods are applied. The author challenges the view that environmental degradation is best included in welfare measurement and argues that many of the proposals for adjusted welfare measurements are better interpreted as adjustments of national income.Economic Growth and the Environment will be indispensable to environmental accountants, environmental organizations interested in green accounting and students studying sustainability issues.

Read more less

This significant book investigates the political economy of environmental policy in Europe with a careful analysis of how EU directives are realised in the member states. The authors explore this issue through a comparative evaluation of the implementation of three pieces of EU environmental legislation in France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. Areas covered by the legislation include air emission standards for waste incinerators, the electricity supply industry, and the certification of environmental management systems. The results vary across cases even though overcompliance is observed in certain cases. The regularity arising from the different case studies is related to the determinants of the environmental outcomes that are observed. When environmental directives are implemented they are likely to interact with parallel policy processes and these interactions can exert a strong positive or negative influence on the success of the policy in question. The central policy problem is the fact that these interactions are very difficult to anticipate at the policy formulation stage. It leads the authors to propose that effective environmental policy should therefore be adaptable in order to cope with these unanticipated effects.This book covers a very important and topical issue by studying the genuine impact of environmental directives and increasing the readers' understanding of the way in which environmental federalism works in Europe. It will be welcomed by scholars of environmental law and political science, environmental economists, and environmental policymakers, advisors and consultants.

Read more less

A study of the prophetic tradition in medieval England brings out its influence on contemporary politics and the contemporary elite. The period from the twelfth century to the Wars of the Roses witnessed a dominant tradition of secular prophecy engaged with high political affairs, which this book charts, discussing the production of prophetic texts forecastingthe rule of the whole of Britain by the kings of England. It draws on the prophetic works of familiar authors and names, such as Geoffrey of Monmouth and Thomas of Erceldoune, alongside previously unpublished manuscript material,to study identity formation among medieval political elites. Alongside English prophetic texts, the author explores competing visions of the British future produced in Wales and Scotland, with which English prophetic authors entered into an overt dialogue; this was a cross-border exchange which in many ways shaped the development of this deeply influential discourse. Prophecy is revealed to be a dynamic arena for literary exchange, where alternative imaginings of the future sovereignty of Britain vied for acceptance, and compelled decision making at the highest political levels. Dr Victoria Flood is Lecturer in Medieval and Early Modern Literature at the University of Birmingham.

Read more less

This book provides the first comprehensive comparative analysis of the emerging civil service systems in 9 Central and East European states. Its comparative nature provides a fascinating insight into the emerging patterns of administrative development in the region since the beginning of the transition period. The authors apply the same methodological framework developed by the Civil Service Research Consortium to all the country case studies, which gives the book a high level of coherence and enhances the comparability of the country case studies. This methodological framework provides a solid background for the in-depth analysis of the history of the civil service system, internal labour market, public opinion, relations between politicians and administrators and civil service reform and development. Special attention is given to topical issues such as the influence of the European Union on the emerging civil service systems and possibility of European Union candidature.Civil Service Systems in Central and Eastern Europe will be warmly welcomed by academics and advanced level students in public administration, law, political science and transition studies as well as policymakers and international organizations helping to develop civil services in former communist countries.

Read more less

Collaborated by Chinese and American scholars, Understanding China's Urbanization opens up a new channel to disseminate Chinese studies to the world. Highly readable, the book provides fine-grained materials and detailed information on Chinese urbanization. Li Zhang, Richard LeGates and Min Zhao effectively convey an indigenous perspective on Chinese urban futures and present a picture with sufficient complexity and wide coverage.'- Fulong Wu, University College London, UK'A most comprehensive book about urbanization in China, with in-depth insights from a talented scholarly team. This book is far more than a snapshot of the Chinese story, it reveals the important developments that have occured as China has transitioned into a dynamic urban country.'- Shi Nan, Secretary General, Urban Planning Society of China'Zhang, LeGates, and Zhao's book builds on the voluminous literature on China's urbanization by adding new data, findings, insights, perspectives, and recommendations. Both academically sophisticated and reader-friendly, the book surveys and critiques research in and outside China and highlights new phenomena in urbanization, governance, migration, foreign direct investment, and city clusters. Richly decorated with illustrations as well as the authors' original statistical and field analyses, the book is a much welcome multidisciplinary contribution to understanding a burning question in China.'- C. Cindy Fan, University of California, Los AngelesChina's urbanization is one of the great earth-changing phenomena of recent times. The way in which China continues to urbanize will have a critical impact on the world economy, global climate change, international relations and a host of other critical issues. Understanding and responding to China's urbanization is of paramount importance to everyone. This book represents a unique exploration of the demographic, spatial, economic and social aspects of China's urban transformation.Based on years of fieldwork and data analysis from different types of cities and towns in every region of China, the authors present a detailed description of how China has urbanized since 1978 and an original theory about the way in which top-down and bottom-up policies have impacted urbanization. They describe China's on-going urbanization process as a 'double-dual' transformation from a planned economy to a more market-oriented one and from a concern with the quantity to the quality of urbanization. In doing so, the authors provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date book on Chinese urbanization to date.This scholarly study will appeal to academics and practitioners, including professors and postgraduate students of urban studies, planning, geography, Asian studies, and other social science disciplines and professional fields concerned with cities and urban development. Professionals involved in international development, particularly in China and elsewhere in Asia, will be particularly interested in the book.

Read more less

The economic principles that underpin commercial transactions via electronic networks, and the many associated economic issues and controversies that e-commerce generates, are dizzying in their complexity. Now, to help advanced students and researchers make sense of an explosion of scholarship, Routledge announces e-Commerce Economics, a new title in its acclaimed Critical Concepts in Economics series. Edited by David VanHoose, a leading scholar in the field, e-Commerce Economics is a mini library' that brings together in four volumes the foundational and the very best cutting-edge research.With a comprehensive introduction, newly written by the editor, which places the collected material in its historical and intellectual context, e-Commerce Economics is an essential collection destined to be valued as a vital one-stop resource.

Read more less

Through original and incisive contributions from leading scholars, this book applies economics and other rational choice methods to understanding public international law, providing a birds-eye view on some of its most fundamental elements from the perspective of economics.The chapters cover a range of topics, beginning with the building blocks of the nation state, and continuing with the sources and the enforcement of international law and its various applications and extensions. The application of economic analysis to public international law is still in its formative stages, and Economic Analysis of International Law provides a useful overview, as well as setting directions for new research.This volume provides a path through recent literature while identifying new areas and issues for research, making it an invaluable resource for scholars of public international law.Contributors include: A. Bell, T. Broude, B.L. Coggins, T. Ginsburg, A. Guzman, I. Kala, E. Kontorovich, J.D. Morrow, F. Parisi, D. Pi, E. Spolaore, P.B. Stephan, A. van Aaken

Read more less

Rural-urban migration is an important aspect in the development of countries. Until the late 1980s China was one of the few countries that controlled population movement both directly and indirectly through policies of economic and social control. The gradual relaxation of these policies has resulted in greater freedom of movement for the population, the effects of which are discussed in this significant volume.The book concentrates on the migration of minorities from a social, economic and ethnic perspective and attempts to quantify the overall level of movement. In particular, the authors examine the relationships between education, ethnicity and migration and identify the policies and conditions conducive to achieving positive outcomes for minority migrant households. The book aims to increase our understanding of the effects of movement, on the social, economic and ethnic status of migrant families. Taking existing census data as a starting point, the book makes a new contribution by drawing on a unique survey in four different regions, the data from which is used as the basis for detailed case study analysis. The study of internal migration is vital, the authors argue, in order to understand the change process from a centrally planned economic system to a market orientated society in China. The internal mobility of minorities can be regarded equally, as both a product of, and a contributing factor to, this social transformation. This notable and very readable book will be of significant interest to policymakers, international and development economists and researchers and students of Asian economics and demographics.

Read more less

In the only known programme of prescriptive entrepreneurship, James Fiet provides a marked contrast to the standard descriptive focus of entrepreneurship studies. Instead of the anecdotally based pedagogies that have dominated the teaching of entrepreneurship (and which do not control for luck-based success), the author lays out a programme of research to develop and test theoretically derived guidelines for how to improve the success rate and performance of aspiring entrepreneurs. Rather than describing what entrepreneurs do, he prescribes and tests what they ought to do.The author finds that the use of systematic search at the launch relates positively to both the discovery of wealth-generating ideas and the founding of ventures. The book also uncovers the characteristics of forgiving business models and discusses their teachability. Training elements of the book include a prescriptive model of how to search for and discover wealth-generating ideas, a detailed protocol for how to train aspiring entrepreneurs in the use of systematic search, and an instrument that allows aspiring entrepreneurs to test the potential of their ideas before launching a venture.The book will be of interest to business and entrepreneurship scholars and teachers, students and aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking for prescriptive tools to help them launch a successful business.

Read more less

There are many factors involved in becoming an effective entrepreneur. The process of recognizing opportunities and nurturing new ventures must take into account both internal decision-making practice and external environmental influence. Developing, Shaping and Growing Entrepreneurship considers the role played by education, research, context and strategy in helping to grow entrepreneurial projects from the initial seed of an idea through to the fruition of success. This book is a wide-ranging examination of the influences on entrepreneurial activity that also asks new questions of entrepreneurship and opens new avenues of research. As such, it will become essential reading for academic researchers and entrepreneurial practitioners alike.Contributors: M.O. Barroso-González, A. Caetano, A. Fayolle, S.Fernandes Costa, L. Foss, A. Garofano, J. Grande, T. Gruber-Muecke, C. Guzmán-Alfonso, J. Guzmán-Cuevas, T. Iakovleva, I. Jaén, N. Kailer, P. Kyrö, F. Liñán, J.A. Moriano, M.-R. Napolitano, E. Oftedal, T. Pihkala, T. Rinne, A. Riviezzo, I. Roaldsen, T. Römer-Paakkanen, S. Rueda, E. Ruskovaara, T. Rytkölä, S.C. Santos, J. Seikkula-Leino, N.D. Taura, I. Vestrum

Read more less

This influential volume, which has been revised and updated for the twenty-first century, includes both new material and more detailed expositions of existing arguments.Although so-called 'real' theories of business cycles and growth are prevalent in contemporary mainstream economics, Controversies in Monetary Economics suggests that those economists who have instinctively focused on monetary factors in explaining macroeconomic behaviour are more genuinely 'realistic'. The author combines an explanation of past and present monetary controversy with practical proposals for the conduct of monetary policy in the contemporary global economy. Several alternative approaches are discussed, ranging from the traditional quantity theory to post Keynesian theories of endogenous money.This insightful book will be of interest to all those concerned with monetary economics and macroeconomics, including academic researchers, graduate and senior undergraduate students - particularly those looking for an alternative to current economic orthodoxy - and historians of economic thought. Practitioners in central banks, international financial institutions, the financial markets and finance ministries will also find this work invaluable.

Read more less

Public social services are a key component of the welfare state in most of Europe, although their development trajectories, coverage and legal status still vary considerably among countries. How such services are provided, and for whom, impacts significantly on social and territorial cohesion, gender balance and, ultimately, on the development of any society. However, while much is discussed and written about social policy and welfare systems, social services remain somewhat neglected. Although they have gained a stronger foothold in national legislations and social policy agendas, their status remains weaker compared to education or health. Moreover, because of the austerity measures following the 2008 financial crisis, they have been subject to cuts and reorganisation, which have brought about significant disruption. This book revives the discussion on public social services and their redesign, with a focus on services relating to care and the social inclusion of vulnerable groups. Conveying the main findings of the EU-funded COST Action IS1102 Social Services, Welfare States and Places, the book provides rich information on the changes that occurred in the organisation and supply of public social services over the last thirty years in different European places and service fields. Despite the persisting variety in social service models, three shared trends emerge: public sector disengagement, 'vertical re-scaling' of authority and 'horizontal re-mix' in the supply system. The consequences of such changes are evaluated from different perspectives - governance, social and territorial cohesion, labour market, gender - and are eventually deemed 'disruptive' in both economic and social terms. The policy implications of the restructuring are also explored. The book will appeal to a broad audience: researchers and students, policy-makers, civil servants, service providers, social workers and users' organisations.Contributors include: S. Adam, A. Anttonen, A. Bagnato, S. Barillà, A. Bernát, I. Bode, P. Brokking, B. Deusdad, D. Dierckx, R. Fluder, L. Fraisse, M. García, J.L. Gómez-Barroso, E. Gubrium, L. Häikiö, I. Harsløf, J. Havlíková, J. Javornik, O. Jolanki, O. Karsio, M. Knutagård, T. Kröger, K. Kubalciková, B. Leibetseder, S. Lev, R. Marbán-Flores, R. Mas Giralt, F. Martinelli, M. Mätzke, A. Novy, E. Øverbye, C. Pace, P. Raeymaeckers, S. Sabatinelli, A. Sarlo, M. Semprebon, G. Szüdi, J. Szüdi, S.I. Vabo, D. Vaiou, S. Vella, Z. Vercseg, S. Vicari Haddock, C. Weinzierl, F. Wukovitsch

Read more less

The idea of legal competition as a decentralized market process of law provision in which legal clubs compete, has earned an indisputable legitimacy among economists. This book presents a debate concerning the merits of and conditions for a competitive provision of law, with a special focus on institutions in Europe. The authors analyse three major aspects of the competitive provision of legal rules. First, the conditions under which citizens and firms arbitrate between the different legal orders are investigated. The book then goes on to analyse the supply aspect of the legal market and the consequences of the competitive pressures on the behaviour of the lawmakers. Finally, the conditions under which the State may efficiently control the process of law provision are discussed and justifications to its intervention are presented.A comprehensive study encompassing both private and public law, and applied and theoretical issues, this book will provide lively discussion and up-to-date research for students of law and economics, and an authoritative source of information for practitioners in the field of legal competition - in particular those specializing in European issues.

Read more less

Despite the disruption of the multilateral trade talks at Seattle in December 1999, the work of the World Trade Organization (WTO) continues. The trade and investment issues that have been outstanding since the Seattle events are explored in this far reaching book. The distinguished contributors combine several analytical approaches for a comprehensive assessment of the trends, problems and opportunities demanding attention in international trade negotiations.The authors discuss the principle items on the agenda for a renewed round of WTO talks, and also examine issues concerning the treatment of foreign direct investment, urging trade policymakers to adopt measures that will enhance flows of such investment, as these contribute to trade expansion. US, European and Japanese interests and perspectives are considered. The authors believe that cooperative management of international trade and investment issues could introduce greater harmony in the world trading system and overcome fears about the disruptive consequences of increased market openness. The self appointed roles of Non Government Organizations (NGOs) are examined, with emphasis on the primary responsibilities of governments as representatives of their nations.By bringing together the extensive results of research by economists, international management experts and political scientists, this book will be of immense worth to trade policymakers, policy research institutes, consulting firms, and academic communities. Of particular value will be the volume's discussions of international competition policy problems.

Read more less