Payment systems are the indispensable infrastructure for financial markets and business activities. Every commercial trade and financial transaction is finalized only when the final settlement is made through a payment system. If operational failures would occur in a payment system, preventing smooth transfers of funds, national economies and financial markets would be thrown into extreme confusion and seriously damaged. Therefore, the safety and efficiency of payment systems is incredibly important for national economies and financial systems to function effectively. Payment System Technologies and Functions: Innovations and Developments is valuable tool for those interested in learning about payment systems, including academics and researchers, graduate and undergraduate students, relevant parties of authority and central banks, and professionals in payment business who need a complete understanding of payment systems. This reference promotes a better understanding of payment systems and encourages progress on enhancing the safety and efficiency of payment systems.

Bloomberg says "sell," but CNBC says "buy." "Don't you dare tap your home equity " says one money expert. "Home equity line rates are at all time lows," the other expert says. Who are you supposed to believe? Does this sound familiar to you? If so, "The One Minute Financial Planner" is for you. Written to bridge the gap arising from a school system somewhat lacking in sound money management principles, The "One Minute Financial Planner" is filed with useful truths and actionable, easy-to-implement steps that will help make any reader more financially confident. Divided into six general segments, the articles inside the book will help you address misconceptions about dozens of situations that arise every day, whether it's using a stop-loss order for your biggest stock position or figuring out if your revocable living trust does everything you want it to. The "One Minute Financial Planner" is practice, not theory. Written by a practicing financial planner with over six years' experience at two major Wall Street firms, it breaks down the complex world of finance into sixty common misconceptions people have about investing, planning, and retirement. Best of all, each topic is short, clear, and ends with several real-world, right-now things you can do to improve your financial literacy. Got a minute? Spend it with the "One Minute Financial Planner." Your financial well-being may depend on it.

Financial analysis, based on ratio analysis, has been used as a tool for analyzing the financial strength of corporations. Although ratio analysis is generally used as a univariate strategy, the accounting and finance literature has evolved to include multivariate-based models in financial analysis, and these models can be used to explain important economic events and often predict them. Thus, in an exhaustive coverage of the economic events to which they can be applied, Riahi-Belkaoui discusses these models in a way that will have special value to corporate management, financial planners, and to their colleagues in the academic community who specialize in business and economic analysis.

This textbook provides a fundamental overview of the application of engineering economic principles to transportation infrastructure investments. Basic theory is presented and illustrated with examples specific to the transportation field. It also reviews the history of transportation finance, as well as current methods for funding transportation investments in the U.S. Future problems and potential solutions are also discussed and illustrated.

Offshore wind energy is one of the most promising and fastest growing alternative energy sources in the world. "Offshore Wind Energy Cost Modeling "provides a methodological framework to assess installation and decommissioning costs, and using examples from the European experience, provides a broad review of existing processes and systems used in the offshore wind industry.

"Offshore Wind Energy Cost Modeling" provides a step-by-step guide to modeling costs over four sections. These sections cover:

.Background and introductory material,

.Installation processes and vessel requirements,

.Installation cost estimation, and

.Decommissioning methods and cost estimation.

This self-contained and detailed treatment of the key principles in offshore wind development is supported throughout by visual aids and data tables. "Offshore Wind Energy Cost Modeling "is a key resource for anyone interested in the offshore wind industry, particularly those interested in the technical and economic aspects of installation and decommissioning. The book provides a reliable point of reference for industry practitioners and policy makers developing generalizable installation or decommissioning cost estimates.

.Background and introductory material,

.Installation processes and vessel requirements,

.Installation cost estimation, and

.Decommissioning methods and cost estimation.

This self-contained and detailed treatment of the key principles in offshore wind development is supported throughout by visual aids and data tables. "Offshore Wind Energy Cost Modeling "is a key resource for anyone interested in the offshore wind industry, particularly those interested in the technical and economic aspects of installation and decommissioning. The book provides a reliable point of reference for industry practitioners and policy makers developing generalizable installation or decommissioning cost estimates.

This self-contained and detailed treatment of the key principles in offshore wind development is supported throughout by visual aids and data tables. "Offshore Wind Energy Cost Modeling "is a key resource for anyone interested in the offshore wind industry, particularly those interested in the technical and economic aspects of installation and decommissioning. The book provides a reliable point of reference for industry practitioners and policy makers developing generalizable installation or decommissioning cost estimates.

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In 1995, Republicans came to power in the United States with an ambitious program proposing to embrace a degree of laissez- faire economics unknown for generations anywhere in the industrialized world. Simultaneously, politicians, entrepreneurs, and economists championed the new bastions of unregulated capitalism that sprung up in such unfamiliar precincts as Beijing and Moscow. Yet to date many free-market economic policies, be it in Prague or here in America, have not lived up to their initial promises. In fact, it has become a common joke in Russia that capitalism has succeeded in making communism look good, a feat unaccomplished by the Kremlin in its 70 year reign.

In Making Capitalism Work, Leonard and Mark Silk analyze the failures and successes of capitalism as seen most recently in the former Soviet Bloc, Japan, China, the European Community and the United States. While recognizing that capitalism has been successful in a number of countries, the authors point out that overly simplistic policies advocating an unfettered capitalism ignore too large a range of issues central to the formation of any moral economic system. Viewing capitalism as simply one of a number of economic systems, Leonard and Mark Silk address such issues as the obligation of the rich to the poor, the responsibility of the state to insulate its citizens from market fluctuations, the responsibility of present generations to provide for future ones, and whether economic systems can set the proper extent and limits of individual rights and freedoms.

An important, concise, thought-provoking book this is the last book Leonard Silk wrote before his death late last year and has been completed here by his son, Mark.

Measure, manage and get the most out of your marketing. Key Marketing Metrics is the definitive guide to today's most valuable marketing metrics. In this thoroughly updated and significantly expanded book, you will understand the pros, the cons and the nuances of more than 50 of the most important metrics, and know exactly how to choose the right one for every challenge. With leading experts, discover how to build your reputation by: Using marketing dashboards to view market dynamics from multiple perspectives, maximize accuracy, and "triangulate" to optimal solutions Applying high-value metrics for virtually every facet of marketing to maximise the return on your investment and identify the best new opportunities for profit Building models to assist with planning to give you the best tools for decision-making In its third edition, this award-winning book now includes the latest web, online, social, and email metrics, plus new insights into measuring marketing ROI and brand equity.

"A Guide to SME Finance" is a brief guide to designing and implementing an SME finance program within a commercial bank or other financial institution, such as an NGO. This work covers the rationale behind SME finance - why it makes sense for a bank to enter this market sector, followed by a step-by-step approach to designing and implementing the program. Munro highlights the need to automate the lending process, and offers a lengthy description of how this can be accomplished. Examples of loan application, analysis, and approval forms and templates are included along with instructions for use. Additional formats are provided for loan officer goals and periodic reviews, portfolio and relationship profitability management, as well as a model credit score card to use as a 'sift' for loan applicants.

The successful evaluation of capital projects requires not only a thorough understanding of traditional techniques of capital budgeting but advanced techniques as well. Riahi-Belkaoui examines the multidimensionality of capital budgeting in its various facets and in ways that executives with no special facility in the subject can follow. He covers replacement decisions, capital rationing, capital budgeting under inflation uncertainty, capital budgeting in a multinational setting with attention to political risks, social project evaluation, and concepts of wealth measurement and distribution. The result is a wide ranging treatment for executive decision makers in finance, banking, investment, and general management, and for their colleagues with similar interests in the academic community.

Riahi-Belkaoui begins by examining the principles underlying the time value of money. In Chapter Two he introduces capital budgeting and in Chapter Three moves to advanced capital budgeting. There he discusses such advanced topics as replacement decisions, capital rationing, and capital budgeting under uncertainty and inflation. In Chapter Four he takes up the same issues associated with capital budgeting but in a global context, and in Chapter Five, the determination of political risk and its use in capital budgeting internationally. Chapter Six compares the techniques of leasing versus purchasing and their reliance on capital budgeting techniques. In Chapter Seven he turns to the techniques of capital budgeting applied to social projects, and ends the book with an examination of the behavior and cognitive implications of wealth measurement and distribution. This is a useful survey and examination of the traditional and advanced techniques of capital budgeting and their applications in domestic and international contexts.

Chaos and Compromise: The Evolution of the Mississippi Budgeting Process takes the topic of budgeting and makes it exciting, and not just for political junkies. Instead of focusing on numbers, this book looks at the policymakers responsible for the budget. Brian A. Pugh provides a historical perspective on the decisions and actions of legislators and governors going back more than a century. Pugh reviews how Mississippi's budget making evolved and sifts legislation and litigation as well as those legislators and governors responsible for developing this process. Pugh explains in detail the significant actions taken by the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government that affected Mississippi's procedures. Significant legislation covered includes the passage of Senate Bill 356, which gave the governor the authority to prepare and submit a budget recommendation in 1918; the passage of the Administrative Reorganization Act of 1984; the passage of the Budget Reform Act of 1992; and the passage of the Financial and Operational Responses That Invigorate Future Years Act (FORTIFY) during the First Extraordinary Session of 2017. The first two chapters provide a historical perspective and give the reader an understanding of how legislation and litigation contributed. The book also covers interventions by the courts, which led to the unprecedented separation of powers case Alexander v. State of Mississippi by and Through Allain (1983). In addition to discussing important laws and legislators, Pugh takes a detailed look at six of Mississippi's recent governors - Bill Allain, Ray Mabus, Kirk Fordice, Ronnie Musgrove, Haley Barbour, and Phil Bryant - to examine their methods for getting the legislature to include their ideas in the often anguished process of making a budget.

This text covers such topics as: pay and the changing business context; strategic pay issues; team pay; pay in the new business environments; merit pay; competency pay; and pay system evaluation.

Discount Schedule Analysis (DSA), a technique illustrated and explained in this management book, provides analytical tools for increasing profits by linking prices and discounts to management decision making. According to the authors, the most direct way for many manufacturers to affect the bottom line is to reduce the prices paid for goods and services. It is possible to achieve this profit leverage effect without switching suppliers or even requiring suppliers to reduce prices. The authors show how to analyze published quantity discount schedules to find out how the seller sets prices and how to break schedules down into fixed and variable (cost) components. With this information, corporate buyers can exploit vendors' price and quantity discount schedules to maximum advantage. Conversely, corporate vendors can forestall revenue losses and undesirable side effects of discount schedules by constructing schedules according to examples in the book.

Using actual price schedules, the authors analyze the ideas, theory, hazards, and advantages inherent in the schedules. They examine how quantity discounts are set, whether the price-setting practices are consistent, and whether the discounts meet their stated objectives. The book explains the gray market phenomenon and how to profit from it. It shows how to evaluate the true costs of such common sweeteners as free delivery, installation, and delayed payment. The authors also analyze purchasing requirements for Just in Time (JIT) inventory systems. The book offers valuable methodologies for both the buyer and the seller. Purchasing managers as well as managers responsible for cost accounting, marketing, sales, finance, and legal areas will benefit.

The Financing of Foreign Direct Investment examines the communication gap between business leaders and international economists when it comes to financing the overseas operations of domestic firms. Gilman argues that economists and business people have been speaking 'two different languages' when it comes to these issues, and he explores the different positions adopted by economists and business people to provide a plausible explanation of the determinants of capital flows financing foreign direct investment that incorporates the main elements of both approaches.

A practical introduction to understanding the Financial Management of companies in today's rapidly changing business world.

This book is particularly well-suited to introductory courses in financial management, for a professional qualification and as a reference for practitioners.

If you are starting or selling your own business, or wanting to expand your company, business plans are essential. Get expert guidance on how to make an impact with your business plan and successfully communicate your strategic vision. Whether it is to raise finance, sell a business or develop a specific project, this is your one-stop guide to producing the most professional and convincing business plan for a new venture. This 7th edition now features even more practical exercises, useful templates and top tips to help you write a comprehensive and compelling plan, as well as content on digital developments such as crowdfunding, online retailing and digital marketing. The Creating Success series of books... Unlock vital skills, power up your performance and get ahead with the bestselling Creating Success series. Written by experts for new and aspiring managers and leaders, this million-selling collection of accessible and empowering guides will get you up to speed in no time. Packed with clever thinking, smart advice and the kind of winning techniques that really get results, you'll make fast progress, quickly reach your goals and create lasting success in your career.

This book focuses on two central aspects of the risk managing process, namely 1. how managers (can and do) assess developments in the external risk environment and deal with them, and 2. analysing the effects of risk management and different managerial approaches. The articles represent state of the art academic analyses and research contributions.

This work offers a concise explanation of the fundamentals of financial forecasting intended for managers in accounting, marketing, sales, and strategic planning. As the authors point out, financial forecasting is more than the annual genertion of sales forecasts and budgets. It is a comprehensive process that looks at every aspect of a company's operations in order to determine the likely aspect on profits of a number of internal and external forces. Each of the steps in this complex process is fully described in this books so that the reader gains an understanding of how to produce effective financial forecasts for his or her own firm. Throughout, numerous tables and figures illustrate points made in the test. "Credit Executive"

In an era of deregulation, tax revisions, cost cutting, and unpredictable markets, sound financial planning is a critical variable in any company's continued profitability. This book offers a clear, concise explanation of the fundamentals of financial forecasting intended for managers in accounting, marketing, sales, and strategic planning. As the authors point out, financial forecasting is more than the annual generation of sales forecasts and budgets--it is a comprehensive process that looks at every aspect of a company's operations in order to determine the likely impact on profits of a number of internal and external forces. Each of the steps in this complex process is fully described here so that the reader gains a complete understanding of how to produce effective financial forecasts for his or her own firm.

Kasper's book is the first to explain the why, not just the how, in the valuation of privately held businesses, and as such makes a unique contribution to its field. Among its many points, the book makes clear that there is no small stock premium, current valuation practice produces business valuations that are too subjective, and tax precedents and laws do not govern business valuations for other purposes. A truly multidisciplinary approach to the advanced study of valuation theory and practice, the book critically examines the many common practices and assumptions accepted by certain appraisers and finds them wanting. It is thus an in-depth exploration of the foundation of current valuation practice, and the evidence that supposedly supports or refutes traditional wisdom. With easily grasped numerical examples and case studies from Kasper's wide professional experience, this work is an important source of information, knowledge, and applications for professional and academics alike, not only in accounting and related fields, but also in management, investment, and law.

Kasper begins with a discussion of the most quoted authority in business valuation, Revenue Ruling 59-60. For attorneys, this is probably the single richest source of cross examination material available (and the ruling appears in its entirety in the Appendix). Although Kasper concentrates on developing the conceptual foundations of valuation, he also explores more practical matters and their meanings, such as fair market values, valuations for tax purposes, and trial strategy. Kasper points out that some of the conclusions he offers are controversial, but if the logic underlying them is understood, their truth will soon be apparent. He also argues convincingly that theory is not just for academics, but can be a useful tool to understand how the real world works--and why it often fails.

Social and environmental issues can be very complex and overwhelming for managers. A partnership seems like an obvious solution. But what type of partnership is appropriate, what are the pitfalls and how can they be overcome? The authors use the experiences of a number of experts in companies, NGOs and governmental bodies to find the answers.

The goal of investment management is to achieve the investor's required rate of return by putting assets to their most productive use. The return should compensate the investor for the time during which the funds are committed, the expected rate of inflation and the uncertainty of the anticipated future financial benefits from the investment. Investment management is a concise yet comprehensive introduction to investment analysis and portfolio management, specifically in the South African context. Investment management provides a broad framework and a thorough network of guidelines for the investment management student. It focuses on investment in financial assets such as shares and bonds, and explains both fundamental and technical analysis. It investigates portfolio management and how derivative instruments such as futures, options and swaps may be used for this purpose. A chapter is devoted to the foreign exchange market and its management, and a chapter dealing with the governance of investment management is included. By means of self-assessment questions at the end of each chapter, it prepares undergraduates for postgraduate study and is written with the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA (R)) Level I learning outcomes in mind. Investment management is aimed at undergraduate investment management students.

Especially in times of an economic boom following a crisis, companies have to deal with the phenomenon of the "working capital trap," which signifies a company's increasing need for financial liquidity in times of hindered access to debt capital, caused by the increasingly restrictive credit approval processes of financial institutions. As a consequence of cost savings, this situation is often reinforced by a low level of inventory.

This book takes up the problem and shows ways of escaping the "trap" by identifying and strengthening in-house financing potential. First, different operating ratios will be introduced. These refer to the amount of capital committed to the flow of goods and to the amount of in-house financing possible. Subsequently, methods for consolidating in-house financing that are affected by procurement processes will be presented from the company's and the supply chain's perspective.

From a company's perspective, the methods for consolidating the amount of in-house financing over the following topics: The Management of Payment Terms, Inventory Management and Product Group and Supplier Management

From the supply chain's perspective, the following methods for extending the possible amount of in-house financing will be discussed: Finance-Oriented Supply Chain Sourcing, Supply Chain-Oriented Supplier Financing, Collaborative Cash-to-Cash Management, Collaborative Cash Pooling and Netting, Supply Chain Financing Platforms.

The conceptual models will be clarified using a practical example from the automobile industry. Finally, the "Procurement Value Added" (PVA(c)) approach will be presented, a concept that measures the contribution of procurement to the company's success.

Cutback management is a way of life for most public and private sector organizations today, and the factors leading to its presence are expected to be felt well into the 1990's and beyond. At the same time, organizations are being faced with a changed internal culture where employees want and need to be involved in decisions that affect them. The author, who has been at the forefront of assisting organizations in effectively managing both external and internal change, explores the trends impacting state and local governments in the next decade and beyond, describes the cutback management environment that policy and decision makers face, and lays out effective approaches to deal with this environment from the bottom of the organization upward. In this manner, organizations that identify techniques to improve revenues and reduce costs can find lasting solutions that are accepted at all organizational levels.

After reviewing the 15 major trends expected to impact state and local governments during the 1990's and beyond, the author describes the cutback management environment being faced by most state and local governments. He then describes in detail how to set a direction to address the cutback management environment through the application of strategic planning and goes on to describe how to organize around critical success factors in order to focus resources on achievement of the organizational mission in light of external and internal environmental factors. He explores various techniques for improving employee productivity, ranging from the use of new technology to better management systems to various types of employee involvement. He then discusses the importance of values in the achievement of a shared organizational vision and describes various employee involvement processes that can be used to secure buy-in by employees at all levels where organizational changes are underway. Among other issues explored in depth are the use of matrix management to improve productivity in a project-oriented environment and contingency planning to deal with unforeseen events. The book culminates with a description of how to use strategic management as a day-to-day tool for effective bottom-up cutback management, and provides real-life case situations of how state and local governments are effectively dealing with the cutback and involvement processes. This book is aimed at state and local government policy and decision makers.

Emilia Mendes discusses stepwise regression modelling, care-based reasoning, and classification and regression trees. It will help small web development companies improve their cost estimation process.