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Books > Business & Economics > Economics > Development economics
Economic and Social Development in Qatar analyses and discusses the economic and social development in Qatar since the country's emergence as a soveriegn State in 1971. Qatar is now a member of the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the Arab League, the Non-aligned Gropu, the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Organisation of the Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), and as such has a significant role to play in world affairs. The author provides a detailed and lucid introduction to the resources, policies and system of government which have brought about this rapid progress. Qatar has vast reserves of crude oil and natural gas which form the backbone of the economy, providing the main source of foreign exchange earnings which in turn is essential for teh continued importation of capital goods and services. Improvement in living conditions is a dominant feature of the development policy, which expenditure on education, public utilities, health care, improved housing, mass media and cultural facilities taking priority. Industrial development is directed at widening the productive base of the economy through the establishment of natural gase based and other manufacturing industries. This book documents the twin developments of economic and social advancement.
America's first Green president, Theodore Roosevelt's credentials as both naturalist and writer are as impressive as they are deep, emblematic of the twenty-sixth President's unprecedented breadth and energy. While Roosevelt authored policies that grew the public domain by a remarkable 230 million acres, he likewise penned over thirty-five books and an estimated 150,000 letters, many concerning the natural world. In between drafts both personal and political, scientific and sentimental, he quadrupled existing forest reserves while creating the nation's first fifty wildlife refuges and eighteen national monuments, among them the Grand Canyon, and five national parks, headlined by Yosemite. And Roosevelt was far more than a policy wonk and political do-gooder. John Muir, by his own admission, "fairly fell in love with him." John Burroughs wrote that Roosevelt "probably knew tenfold more natural history than all the presidents who preceded him." And the Smithsonian's Edmund Heller dubbed him the "foremost field naturalist of our time." In addition to creating more than 150,000 new acres of national forest, Roosevelt made a new vogue of sportsmanship, famously refusing to shoot a lame bear in Mississippi and inspiring, thereof, an American icon and ecological fetish all at once: the Teddy Bear. Indeed, Roosevelt's Green undertakings produced a truly living legacy-one whose everlasting qualities he took robust pleasure in. Naturalist William Finley once suggested to TR that the President's environmental prescience would serve as "one of the greatest memorials to his] farsightedness," to which Roosevelt replied, "Bully. I had rather have it than a hundred stone monuments." In fact, Roosevelt would have both-a lasting reputation for environmental protection and timeless stone monuments at Mount Rushmore and elsewhere built to honor his dramatic public policy initiatives. This book will be a critical resource for all those in American history (particularly presidential history), environmental history, environmental studies, nature studies, place studies, Agrarian studies, conservation studies, fish and wildlife biology/management, and ecology.
This book examines the international political economy of China's exchange rate policy making from theoretical and empirical perspectives. It identifies the limitations in the existing Economics studies on the RMB exchange rate and the research gap of the Comparative Political Economy (CPE) and International Political Economy (IPE) approaches to exchange rate politics. The author develops a three-level game framework for China's exchange rate policy making based on revision and synthesis of the existing CPE and IPE approaches, which provides a richer portrait of the dynamism and complexity of China's exchange rate policy making. The book has applied the three-level game framework to empirically analyzing China's exchange rate policy making under the Hu-Wen administration. The book also discusses some further exploration of China's exchange rate policy in the Xi era and comparative case study of exchange rate policy making. It is a timely and rigorous study on the role that international and domestic politics play in forging China's exchange rate policy making in the twenty-first century.
This book assesses Iran's role in contemporary geopolitics. In particular, it examines three main intertwining circles: Iran's development and political challenges, its relationships with neighbouring countries, as well as its relations with the major global powers - China, the European Union, Russia, and the United States. With contributions from over 20 authors, the book spans such critical aspects of contemporary geopolitics as modern history, natural resources, the economy, the social-political context, and strategic thinking. Particular focus is placed on Iran's relations with its neighbours - Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel, Pakistan, and the Persian Gulf States. Furthermore, the book offers both a bilateral and multilateral dimension on how nuclear sanctions imposed on Iran have impacted its strategic planning, from the economic and military perspectives.
This book aims to inform better energy policy in hydropower dependent countries which are vulnerable to climate shocks. It focuses on the impact of increasing energy insecurity as global warming affects a fifth of the world population living in hydropower dependent countries facing drought. It uses Zambia as a case study. The book offers supply-side and demand-side recommendations at the national, continental, and global level and contains original data collected to highlight the impact of power outages on manufacturing firms.
Emerging economies arguably have different socio-fiscal dynamics compared to developed economies. On one side they have the need for corporate interventions in national development, on the other hand, they do not have enough research to support the agenda. In recent times there has been a conscious effort to legislate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in some of these countries in order to bring about sustainable development. Yet, it is this legislation, which is debated among many others. This book provides its readers with a comprehensive interpretation of the various CSR perspectives in emerging economies through academic research and case studies from practice. It not only points out the challenges, the debates, but also the dynamics of implementation and the impact of such CSR spent. This book therefore is targeted both towards academics as well as practitioners in an attempt to bring about an active academic-industry interface as CSR as a management function is part of dynamic social science.
This book surveys the current state of industry in sub-Saharan Africa and examines claims that Africa is de-industrialising. It focuses on the challenge for economic policy to find ways to reverse this trend. The contributors begin by analysing general issues relating to industrialisation in Africa, including the question of Africa's comparative advantage in industry, the role of small-scale enterprises and the scope for infant industry promotion. They then focus on issues such as: * evidence of de-industrialisation within Africa * comparative industrial performance between African countries and economies outside Africa * the role of regional trade integration * lessons to be learnt from industrialisation in East Asia * policies of major lending institutions towards industrial loans The authors then consider evidence from country studies including export performance in Nigeria, protection and transport costs in Uganda, public enterprises in Tanzania, enterprise reform in South Africa and the impact of free trade policies in Southern Africa. They find that the diversity of experience in the region and the complexity of the issues caution against accepting simple generalisations on African industrialisation. Industrial Development and Policy in Africa will be required reading for scholars of economic development and industrial economics.
It is widely recognized that sustainable development can only be achieved if environmental, economic and social issues are combined in development plans, policies and programmes. This book examines the integrated approach to the development process, and analyses the theory and practice of integrating assessment techniques and decision-making. The editors begin by presenting a comprehensive introduction to integrated appraisal in development strategies as well as outlining issues which are important to the future understanding and practical application of integrated appraisal. A group of authors from a range of disciplinary and country backgrounds then present alternative perspectives and methods of an integrated approach to sustainable development, and apply integrated appraisal to a variety of case studies from developing and transitional countries. This book will be warmly welcomed by development policymakers and consultants in government and non-government organizations as well as academics and postgraduates working in the fields of economics, development and environmental studies.
The second volume of this series, Integrating Ecology into Global Poverty Reduction Efforts: Opportunities and solutions, builds upon the first volume, Integrating Ecology into Global Poverty Reduction Efforts: The ecological dimensions to poverty, by exploring the way in which ecological science and tools can be applied to address major development challenges associated with rural poverty. In volume 2, we explore how ecological principles and practices can be integrated, conceptually and practically, into social, economic, and political norms and processes to positively influence poverty and the environment upon which humans depend. Specifically, these chapters explore how ecological science, approaches and considerations can be leveraged to enhance the positive impacts of education, gender relations, demographics, markets and governance on poverty reduction. As the final chapter on "The future and evolving role of ecological science" points out, sustainable development must be build upon an ecological foundation if it is to be realized. The chapters in this volume illustrate how traditional paradigms and forces guiding development can be steered along more sustainable trajectories by utilizing ecological science to inform project planning, policy development, market development and decision making.
"Southeast Asian Affairs, first published in 1974, continues today to be required reading for not only scholars but the general public interested in in-depth analysis of critical cultural, economic and political issues in Southeast Asia. In this annual review of the region, renowned academics provide comprehensive and stimulating commentary that furthers understanding of not only the region's dynamism but also of its tensions and conflicts. It is a must read."-Suchit Bunbongkarn, Emeritus Professor, Chulalongkorn University. "Now in its forty- third edition, Southeast Asian Affairs offers an indispensable guide to this fascinating region. Lively, analytical, authoritative, and accessible, there is nothing comparable in quality or range to this series. It is a must read for academics, government officials, the business community, the media, and anybody with an interest in contemporary Southeast Asia. Drawing on its unparalleled network of researchers and commentators, ISEAS is to be congratulated for producing this major contribution to our understanding of this diverse and fast-changing region, to a consistently high standard and in a timely manner."-Hal Hill, H.W. Arndt Professor of Southeast Asian Economies, Australian National University.
This book investigates the impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on development and well-being (beyond economic benefits) and highlights some emerging issues relating to the realities, constraints and digital divides with particular reference to India. It collects a series of novel contributions, studying the Indian experience in an international cross-country perspective. The book also discusses economic, social, and behavioural aspects of well-being as well as access to ICTs across regions, states and individuals to account for the digital divide. The book establishes an aggregate relationship between ICT exposure and well-being at the country level and addresses a number of fundamental issues, such as whether ICT raises the level of transparency and governance. Based on case studies and anecdotal evidence, it then further assesses the effective implementation of service delivery through ICT innovations. The book is divided into four parts: The introductory part surveys the literature and presents background information on the Indian case; introduces the main themes on the relationships between ICT, socio-economic development and digital divides; and provides a summary and roadmap to the chapters of the book. Part II focuses on the impact of ICT on economic performance, including economic growth, productivity and trade. Part III examines the extent of the digital divides in India, including international, regional as well as inter-personal inequality. Finally, Part IV investigates the impact of ICT on governance, users' well-being and social outcomes. Combining insights from analyses of a variety of socio-economic dimensions related to digitalisation, this book is relevant for a wide range of scholars and researchers across disciplines, as well as practitioners and policy-makers. While the book has a main focus on India, various contributions take an international cross-country comparative perspective, and the results have general relevance for digitalisation and development. On the whole, the main message of this book is that the impact of ICTs is contingent upon other assets, capabilities and institutional conditions. National policies should, therefore, not only promote digitalization as such but also ensure its co-evolution and complementarity with a variety of other country-specific factors. Chapter 'Digitalisation and Development: Issues for India and Beyond' of this book is available open access under a CC BY 4.0 license at link.springer.com
This book provides exclusive information on how agribusinesses could act as the springboard for inclusive economic growth critical for socioeconomic transformation of Africa. It is a must read for academics, practitioners, policymakers, students, and all those interested in the application of practical models capable of tackling the endemic poverty situation in Africa using agribusiness as the launchpad. The book emphasizes the urgent need for robust and inward-looking enabling policy frameworks to help remove existing constraints on agro-industrialization and encourage investments. Thus, the book sets the agenda for the right combination of agricultural, industrial, and trade policies critical in promoting sustainable agricultural commodity value chains and food systems for inclusive growth and poverty reduction. Written in a simple, plain, and accessible language devoid of technical jargons, the book makes an interesting read for even the non-expert and is a valuable reference material for academic and practical training of students and practitioners.
Economic growth and increasing population impose long-term risks to the environment and society. Approaches to address the impact of consumption and production on bio-diversity loss, resource availability, climate change, and mounting waste problems on land and in seas have yet not proven to be successful. This calls for innovative approaches to address the complex environmental, social, and economic interrelationships that have to be addressed in transforming to sustainable development. Sustainable Consumption and Production, Volume I: Challenges and Development aims to explore critical global challenges and addresses how consumers, producers, the private sector, international organizations, and governments can play an active role in innovating businesses to support a transitioning towards sustainable consumption and production. The book explores different approaches and innovations to address sustainable consumption and production. It details multiple social and economic contexts to the challenges and developments towards a sustainable consumption and production. The book is of interest to economists, students, businesses, and policymakers. Chapter 14 and chapter 15 are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.
WINNER OF THE WOLFSON HISTORY PRIZE Paul Kennedy's international bestseller is a sweeping account of five hundred years of fluctuating economic muscle and military might. Kennedy's masterwork begins in the year 1500, at a time of various great centres of power including Minh China, the Ottomans, the rising Mughal state, the nations of Europe. But it was the latter which, through competition, economic growth and better military organisation, came to dominate the globe - until challenged later by Japan, the Soviet Union, and the United States. Now China, boosted by its own economic prowess, rises to the fore. Throughout this brilliant work, Kennedy persuasively demonstrates the interdependence of economic and military power, showing how an imbalance between the two has historically led to spectacular political disaster. Erudite and brilliantly original, The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the politics of power.
This book provides an overview of factors fostering well-being in Latin America and discusses many threats to well-being in the region. The book assesses the current well-being situation in Latin American countries and offers an explanation based on its many drivers, such as family arrangements, kindness and affection of interpersonal relations, economic situation, education regimes, political institutions, poverty, income inequality, crime and violence, and the weakness of political institutions. The book provides a framework to fully understand the drivers behind high well-being, including the challenges and opportunities that public policy faces in the procurement of people's well-being. The book provides relevant material for policymakers and social scientist interested in the procurement of well-being.
Privatization investment funds are the key feature of mass privatization programmes in transitional economies. This book offers a thorough survey of mass privatization programmes in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia, supported with extensive empirical analysis. The study of 'top-down' privatization funds in Poland and 'bottom-up' funds in the Czech Republic and Slovenia offers different solutions to the problem of how to improve the governance of privatization funds. The authors argue that the institutional structure of closed-end investment companies and open-end mutual funds has not provided the right incentives to maximize the value for the shareholders. In addition too many regulations are in place in underdeveloped markets to protect new shareholders unaccustomed to exercising their ownership rights. Instead, the authors argue that they need to promote adjustment in fund portfolios and ownership structures in order to spur the development of capital markets and effective mechanisms of corporate governance.
This book examines the past, present and prospects of regional economic integration in Africa. The empirical analysis ranges from unions formed during the years following independence, to the proposed African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to remove trade barriers between all 55 African states. In addition, the book explores to what extent Africa's Regional Economic Communities (RECs) have advanced in accordance with a linear integration model of goods, labor and capital markets. The book subsequently evaluates the suitability of the European model of deep integration with costly institutions for the conditions specific to Africa, considering, for example, the role of informal and non-recorded trade. Stylized cases of regional division of labour with increasing returns and imperfect competition are introduced to support the economic integration logic. Past and current economic policies in Africa are scrutinized to answer the question: how can African regions best foster new manufacturing industries and value chains across the continent? In conclusion, the book outlines content and processes of Common Industrial Policy in the African regions. The book also addresses the controversial issue of international trade agreements between developing countries and the European Union or the USA and investigates whether these agreements impede or promote economic development in Africa. The book includes a detailed roadmap describing how to improve key clauses of agreements for economic partnership in the interest of African countries. In closing, it outlines a new vision of joint sustainable development for Africa and Europe.
Although it remains one of the most significant challenges in recent years, companies are beginning to integrate the ideas of sustainability into organized projects such as marketing, corporate communications, and annual reports. In this case, sustainability remains an important influence on the initiation of project management. Sustainability Integration for Effective Project Management provides a comprehensive understanding of the most important issues, concepts, trends, methodologies, and good practices in sustainability to project management. The research and concepts developed in this publication are developed by professionals and academics aiming to provide the latest knowledge related to sustainability principles for prospective professionals, academics, and researchers in this area of expertise.
This edited volume systematically analyzes the connection between xenophobia, nativism, and Pan-Africanism. It situates attacks on black Africans by fellow black Africans within the context of ideals such as Pan-Africanism and Ubuntu, which emphasize unity. The book straddles a range of social science perspectives to explain why attacks on foreign nationals in Africa usually entail attacks on black foreign nationals. Written by an international and interdisciplinary team of scholars, the book is divided into four sections that each explain a different facet of this complicated relationship. Section One discusses the history of colonialism and apartheid and their relationship to xenophobia. Section Two critically evaluates Pan-Africanism as a concept and as a practice in 21st century Africa. Section Three presents case studies on xenophobia in contemporary Africa. Section Four similarly discusses cases of nativism. Addressing a complex issue in contemporary African politics, this volume will be of use to students and scholars interested in African studies, African politics, human rights, migration, history, law, and development economics.
This is a conversational book with chapters directly followed by responses from experts. The main authors propose that the failure in development is not due to capitalism but rather rentism, which is earnings based on political rather market returns. Rent prevents development and ingrains social and economic inequalities. Using the case study of Brazil's economic development, it is shown how development fails because policies Brazil and other low to middle-income countries promote do not overcome the main obstacle to development - rent. The overcoming of rent would occur within a model of globalisation whereby the advanced economics still prosper concurrently as the poorest countries grow, all underpinned by international organisations defending a rule-based globalisation. Not Paying the Rent: Imagining a Fairer Capitalism presents a new application of the theory of rent, both historically in the case of Brazil, and in practical terms in tackling it through modern international organisations. It will be relevant to students, researchers, and general readers interested in inequality and development economics.
"True development, justice and the fulfillment of the maximumeconomic and social potential of Zimbabwe can take place only whendevelopment experts give serious and adequate consideration to the keyroles women play in their economies and societies. While social policyhas improved women's lives in some important ways, it has failed toimprove w omen's poorer economic situation compared to men."
Hunger and malnutrition stalk the countries of the South. Over the last twenty years, as the populations of these countries have increased, so too has mass poverty on a grotesque scale. In this fiercely critical study of Western aid giving, Walden Bello offers a persuasive argument that recolonisation of the Third World has been carried out through the agencies of the International Banks. Bello argues that neoliberalism or doctrinal free-market ideology came to power in the United States with an agenda to 'discipline the Third World' and the consequences of such a policy has resulted in lower barriers to imports, the removal of restrictions on foreign investments, privatisation of state owned activities, a reduction in social welfare spending, wage cuts and devaluation of local currencies. Recipients of 'structural adjustment' loans from the West, have been forced to accept these polices, with disastrous consequences. Hailed as a classic study of global poverty, Dark Victory is now reissued with a substantial new epilogue by the author.
This book observes that an in-depth study exclusively focusing on health service trade not only strengthens the overall services trade capacity of the South Asian region, but also promotes global as well as regional trade. There is a dearth of analytical research on estimating barriers to trade in health services, particularly in the context of South Asia, and as such, this book assesses the potential benefits and economic costs of barriers to trade in health services in select South Asian economies. It also analyzes the impact of liberalization and regulatory reforms on economic welfare. It broadly addresses issues relating to trade in health services, the GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services), such as: Why are the current levels of trade in health services low? How will the GATS legally affect a country's health policy? What effect might liberalization have on national health systems? And what are the likely benefits of greater trade in health services? It also provides specific answers to the following questions: Does the substantial role of the government in health - as health service provider, financial supporter, regulator and promoter - have implications for the treatment of the sector under the GATS? What is the impact of liberalization of international trade in health services on the quality and availability of health services in developing SAARC countries? Given the importance of consumption abroad for trade in health services, and the gradual opening of health markets through Modes 1 and 3 (cross-border supply and commercial presence), how can problems associated with trade in these Modes be prevented? And are these problems sufficiently addressed by GATS disciplines? Answers to these questions will be of great use to researchers, policy makers as well as practitioners and NGOs of South Asia.
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