Economy & Finance

This volume investigates the history of the parliamentary assemblies of Sweden, Poland and Hungary in the final period of the ancien régime, offering an analysis of these three representative assemblies in a systematic comparative framework for the first time.

The extreme protectionism that contributed to a collapse of world trade in the 1930s is examined in light of the recent economic crisis. The recent economic crisis--with the plunge in the stock market, numerous bank failures and widespread financial distress, declining output and rising unemployment--has been reminiscent of the Great Depression. The Depression of the 1930s was marked by the spread of protectionist trade policies, which contributed to a collapse in world trade. Although policymakers today claim that they will resist the protectionist temptation, recessions are breeding grounds for economic nationalism, and countries may yet consider imposing higher trade barriers. In Trade Policy Disaster, Douglas Irwin examines what we know about trade policy during the traumatic decade of the 1930s and considers what we can learn from the policy missteps of the time. Irwin argues that the extreme protectionism of the 1930s emerged as a consequence of policymakers' reluctance to abandon the gold standard and allow their currencies to depreciate. By ruling out exchange rate changes as an adjustment mechanism, policymakers turned instead to higher tariffs and other means of restricting imports. He offers a clear and concise exposition of such topics as the effect of higher trade barriers on the implosion of world trade; the impact of the Smoot-Hawley tariff of 1930; the reasons some countries adopted draconian trade restrictions (including exchange controls and import quotas) but others did not; the effect of preferential trade arrangements and bilateral clearing agreements on the multilateral system of world trade; and lessons for avoiding future trade wars.

A new approach for introducing unemployment into the New Keynesian framework. The past fifteen years have witnessed the rise of the New Keynesian model as a framework of reference for the analysis of fluctuations and stabilization policies. That framework, which combines the rigor and internal consistency of dynamic general equilibrium models with such typically Keynesian assumptions as monopolistic competition and nominal rigidities, makes possible a meaningful, welfare-based analysis of the effects of monetary policy rules. But the conspicuous absence of unemployment from the standard New Keynesian model has given rise to both criticism and attempts to rectify this anomaly. In this book, Jordi Galí, one of the major contributors to the New Keynesian literature, offers a new approach to introducing unemployment into that framework. Galí's approach involves a reinterpretation of the labor market in the standard New Keynesian model with staggered wage setting (rather than a modification or extension of the model, as has been proposed by others). The resulting framework preserves the convenience of the representative household paradigm and allows one to determine the equilibrium levels of employment, the labor force, and hence the unemployment rate conditional on the monetary policy in place. Galí develops the basic model, embedding it in a standard New Keynesian framework with staggered price and wage setting; revisits the relationship between economic fluctuations and efficiency through the lens of the new model, developing a measure of the output gap; and analyzes the relation between unemployment and the design of monetary policy.

This is a practical guide to improved medium-term decision-making for business leaders. The Possibility Wheel gathers the latest global evidence - so you can explore more opportunities, develop resilient choices leading to more robust decisions and enjoy better outcomes.

Imagining After Capitalism is the culmination of professional futurist Andy Hines's 10-year exploration of what comes next after capitalism. Arguing that the absence of compelling positive alternatives keeps us stuck in a combination of fear, denial, and false hope, he offers three " guiding images" for the long-term future: an environmentally-driven Circular Commons, a socially-and politically-driven Non-Workers' Paradise and a technology-driven Tech-Led Abundance.

How do we manage to transition to a more sustainable world without the collapse of the economy?Capitalism has brought about many positive things. At the same time, however, it is ruining the climate and the environment, so that humanity's very existence is now at risk. 'Green growth' is supposed to be the saviour, but economics expert and bestselling author Ulrike Herrmann disagrees. In this book, she explains in a clear and razor-sharp manner why we need 'green shrinkage' instead. Greenhouse gases are increasing dramatically and unchecked. This failure is no coincidence, because the climate crisis goes to the heart of capitalism. Prosperity and growth are only possible if technology is used and energy is utilised. Unfortunately, however, green energy from the sun and wind will never be enough to fuel global growth. The industrialised countries must therefore bid farewell to capitalism and strive for a circular economy in which only what can be recycled is consumed. Herrmann makes a convincing argument that we won't get anywhere without personal restrictions and government planning. Her example for a solution is the British war economy of the 1940s. This is not a utopian scenario, but a comprehensive example of the restrictions and government-led plans needed now and in the future.

Intelligent Machinery Fault Diagnostics and Prognostics: The Future of Smart Manufacturing uses an interdisciplinary approach to provide a well-rounded understanding of smart manufacturing.

How can your organization adapt its governance model to become a competitive advantage and add real, measurable value to your mission?We are living in an environment that is experiencing an accelerated rate of change. The world in which we operate is increasingly uncertain, complex, and competitive. The governance model you are currently using may not be best suited for the future. The time has come for your leadership team to collectively work together to implement an evolving, adaptive model of governance that is tailored to the current situation of your unique organization. This intentional focus will add value to your mission and bottom line as you adapt your organization to a myriad of changes, both external and internal.In The CEO and the Board, follow Dr. Kurt Senske through different facets of how your nonprofit can make effective changes and work through questions to craft an intentional relationship between the board and the CEO for organizational success.

The remarkable story of Sekem, a sustainable community which thrives in the Egyptian desert. Explores their pioneering vision for the future in ecology, economics, culture and social change. Important and inspiring.

This book examines how Singaporean leaders embrace change to stay in power, by meticulously balancing control and freedom, and prosperity and dominance.