The first book for a popular audience on the transformative, democratising technology of 'DeFi'.

After over a decade of Bitcoin, which has now moved beyond lore and hype into an increasingly robust star in the firmament of global assets, a new and more important question has arisen. What happens beyond Bitcoin? The answer is decentralised finance - 'DeFi'.

Tech and finance experts Steven Boykey Sidley and Simon Dingle argue that DeFi - which enables all manner of financial transactions to take place directly, person to person, without the involvement of financial institutions - will redesign the cogs and wheels in the engines of trust, and make the remarkable rise of Bitcoin look quaint by comparison. It will disrupt and displace fine and respectable companies, if not entire industries.

Sidley and Dingle explain how DeFi works, introduce the organisations and individuals that comprise the new industry, and identify the likely winners and losers in the coming revolution.

Although South Africa’s informal sector is small compared to other developing countries, it nevertheless provides livelihoods, employment and income for millions of workers and business owners. Almost half of informal-sector workers work in firms with employees. The annual entry of new enterprises is quite high, as is the number of informal enterprises that grow their employment. There is no shortage of entrepreneurship and desire to grow.

However, obstacles and constraints cause hardship and failure, pointing to the need for well-designed policies to enable and support the sector, rather than suppress it. The same goes for formalisation. Recognising the informal sector as an integral part of the economy, rather than ignoring it, is a crucial first step towards instituting a ‘smart’ policy approach.

The South African Informal Sector is strongly evidence- and data-driven, with substantial quantitative contributions combined with qualitative findings – suitable for an era of increased pressure for evidence-based policy-making – and utilises several disciplinary perspectives.

Economic theories can be expressed in words, numbers, graphs and symbols. The existing traditional economics textbooks cover all four methods, but the general focus is often more on writing about the theory and methods, with few practical examples. With an increasing number of universities having introduced mathematical economics at undergraduate level, Basic mathematics for economics students aims to fill this gap in the field. Basic mathematics for economics students begins with a comprehensive chapter on basic mathematical concepts and methods (suitable for self-study, revision or tutorial purposes) to ensure that students have the necessary foundation. The book is written in an accessible style and is extremely practical. Numerous mathematical economics examples and exercises are provided as well as fully worked solutions using numbers, graphs and symbols. Basic mathematics for economics students is aimed at all economics students. It focuses on quantitative aspects and especially complements the three highly popular theoretical economics textbooks, Understanding microeconomics, Understanding macroeconomics and Economics for South African students, all written by Philip Mohr and published by Van Schaik Publishers.

Gain a clear understanding of the fundamental concepts and applications behind operations and supply chain management with the reader-friendly approach in Collier/Evans' popular OPERATIONS AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, 2E. The authors present detailed, solved problems throughout this edition to illustrate key formulas and computations as you learn to complete both manual and digital calculations using Excel spreadsheet templates and other Excel models for optimization and simulation. Even more review questions, cases, experiential activities, problems and exercises as well as feature boxes teach you how to work with the latest operations management (OM) and supply chain management (SCM) concepts and tools. New content examines process analysis and resource utilization, analytics in OM, capacity measurement, applications of linear optimization and other critical OM and SCM topics. You can further your understanding with interactive digital resources and new algorithmic exercises within MindTap's complete learning applications.

Master the fundamental concepts and today's applications of operations (OM) and supply chain management (SCM) with OPERATIONS AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, 3rd Edition by award-winning authors Collier and Evans.

This edition provides balanced coverage of both manufacturing and service businesses with updates, recent developments and new concepts that highlight the latest changes in OM and SCM. This edition clearly explains concepts while using contemporary practical examples ideal for business students, updated boxed features and new and updated case studies. Discussions highlight new concepts and new Excel techniques and digital tools, while solved problems illustrate key formulas and computations.

MindTap online learning platform is also available to support both manual calculations and the use of Excel spreadsheet templates and models. MindTap's algorithmic homework and interactive learning tools encourage students to apply qualitative and quantitative reasoning to today's OM and SCM concepts.

An engaging and accessible examination of what ails insurance markets—and what to do about it—by three leading economists.

Why is dental insurance so crummy? Why is pet insurance so expensive? Why does your auto insurer ask for your credit score? The answer to these questions lies in understanding how insurance works. Unlike the market for other goods and services—for instance, a grocer who doesn’t care who buys the store’s broccoli or carrots—insurance providers are more careful in choosing their customers, because some are more expensive than others.

Unraveling the mysteries of insurance markets, Liran Einav, Amy Finkelstein, and Ray Fisman explore such issues as why insurers want to know so much about us and whether we should let them obtain this information; why insurance entrepreneurs often fail (and some tricks that may help them succeed); and whether we’d be better off with government-mandated health insurance instead of letting businesses, customers, and markets decide who gets coverage and at what price. With insurance at the center of divisive debates about privacy, equity, and the appropriate role of government, this book offers clear explanations for some of the critical business and policy issues you’ve often wondered about, as well as for others you haven’t yet considered.

This volume offers extensive coverage of current political, economic and social affairs of the region. It provides an impartial perspective on all the countries and territores of Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia. With easy-to-use data, it contains almost 600 pages of analysis by acknowledged experts, recent statistics and useful directory material.

Develop the analytical skills that are in high demand in businesses today with Camm/Cochran/Fry/Ohlmann's best-selling BUSINESS ANALYTICS, 4E. You master the full range of analytics as you strengthen descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytic skills. Real examples and memorable visuals illustrate data and results for each topic. Step-by-step instructions guide you through using Microsoft (R) Excel, Tableau, R, and JMP Pro software to perform even advanced analytics concepts. Practical, relevant problems at all levels of difficulty further help you apply what you've learned. This edition assists you in becoming proficient in topics beyond the traditional quantitative concepts, such as data visualization and data mining, which are increasingly important in today's analytical problem solving. MindTap digital learning resources with an interactive eBook, algorithmic practice problems with solutions and Exploring Analytics visualizations strengthen your understanding of key concepts.

How we pay is so fundamental that it underpins everything – from trade to taxation, stocks and savings to salaries, pensions and pocket money. Rich or poor, criminal, communist or capitalist, we all rely on the same payments system, day in, day out. It sits between us and not just economic meltdown, but a total breakdown in law and order. Why then do we know so little about how that system really works?

Leibbrandt and de Terán shine a light on the hidden workings of the humble payment – and reveal both how our payment habits are determined by history as well as where we might go next. From national customs to warring nation states, geopolitics will shape the future of payments every bit as much as technology.

Challenging our understanding about where financial power really lies, The Pay Off shows us that the most important thing about money is the way we move it.

Develop the analytical skills that are in high demand in businesses today with Camm/Cochran/Fry/Ohlmann's best-selling BUSINESS ANALYTICS, 5E. You master the full range of analytics as you strengthen descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytic skills. Real examples and memorable visuals clearly illustrate data and results. Step-by-step instructions guide you through using Excel, Tableau, R or the Python-based Orange data mining software to perform advanced analytics. Practical, relevant problems at all levels of difficulty let you apply what you've learned. Updates throughout this edition address topics beyond traditional quantitative concepts, such as data wrangling, data visualization and data mining, which are increasingly important in today's business environment. MindTap and WebAssign online learning platforms are also available with an interactive eBook, algorithmic practice problems and Exploring Analytics visualizations to strengthen your understanding of key concepts.

Economic theories can be expressed in words, numbers, graphs and symbols. The existing traditional economics textbooks cover all four methods, but the general focus is often more on writing about the theory and methods, with few practical examples. With an increasing number of universities having introduced mathematical economics at undergraduate level, Basic mathematics for economic students aims to fill this gap in the field. Basic mathematics for economic students begins with a comprehensive chapter on basic mathematical concepts and methods (suitable for self-study, revision or tutorial purposes) to ensure that students have the necessary foundation. The book is written in an accessible style and is extremely practical. Numerous mathematical economics examples and exercises are provided as well as fully worked solutions using numbers, graphs and symbols. Basic mathematics for economic students is aimed at all economics students. It focuses on quantitative aspects and especially complements the two highly popular theoretical economics textbooks Understanding microeconomics and Understanding macroeconomics, both written by Philip Mohr and published by Van Schaik.

The epic successor to one of the most important books of the century: at once a retelling of global history, a scathing critique of contemporary politics, and a bold proposal for a new and fairer economic system.

Thomas Piketty’s bestselling Capital in the Twenty-First Century galvanized global debate about inequality. In this audacious follow-up, Piketty challenges us to revolutionize how we think about politics, ideology, and history. He exposes the ideas that have sustained inequality for the past millennium, reveals why the shallow politics of right and left are failing us today, and outlines the structure of a fairer economic system.

Our economy, Piketty observes, is not a natural fact. Markets, profits, and capital are all historical constructs that depend on choices. Piketty explores the material and ideological interactions of conflicting social groups that have given us slavery, serfdom, colonialism, communism, and hypercapitalism, shaping the lives of billions. He concludes that the great driver of human progress over the centuries has been the struggle for equality and education and not, as often argued, the assertion of property rights or the pursuit of stability. The new era of extreme inequality that has derailed that progress since the 1980s, he shows, is partly a reaction against communism, but it is also the fruit of ignorance, intellectual specialization, and our drift toward the dead-end politics of identity.

Once we understand this, we can begin to envision a more balanced approach to economics and politics. Piketty argues for a new “participatory” socialism, a system founded on an ideology of equality, social property, education, and the sharing of knowledge and power. Capital and Ideology is destined to be one of the indispensable books of our time, a work that will not only help us understand the world, but that will change it.

Quantitative techniques form the backbone of all statistical, economic and management models according to which forecasts and management decisions are made. Quantitative statistical techniques aims to help readers not only master these techniques, but also understand the role of each technique. Quantitative principles are stated simply and are specifically directed at the first-year student who is contemplating a career in the business sector. The topics that are dealt with reflect the relevant quantitative background specifically demanded by business careers.

Kwantitatiewe tegnieke vorm die ruggraat van alle statistiese, ekonomiese en bestuursmodelle ingevolge waarvan vooruitskattings gemaak en bestuursbesluite geneem word. Die doel van Kwantitatiewe statistiese tegnieke is om die rol van hierdie tegnieke aan lesers te verduidelik en hulle in staat te stel om dit te bemeester. Die kwantitatiewe beginsels word eenvoudig uiteengesit en is veral gemik op eerstejaarstudente wat 'n loopbaan in die sakesektor beplan. Die onderwerpe wat behandel word, sluit direk aan by die kwantitatiewe agtergrond wat vir bepaalde beroepe in die sakewereld vereis word.

We are bombarded every day with numbers that tell us how we are doing, whether the economy is growing or shrinking, whether the future looks bright or dim. Gross national product, balance of trade, unemployment, inflation, and consumer confidence guide our actions, yet few of us know where these numbers come from, what they mean, or why they rule our world.
In "The Leading Indicators," Zachary Karabell tells the fascinating history of these indicators. They were invented in the mid-twentieth century to address the urgent challenges of the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War. They were rough measures-- designed to give clarity in a data-parched world that was made up of centralized, industrial nations--yet we still rely on them today.
We live in a world shaped by information technology and the borderless flow of capital and goods. When we follow a 1950s road map for a twenty-first-century world, we shouldn't be surprised if we get lost.
What is urgently needed, Karabell makes clear, is not that we invent a new set of numbers but that we tap into the thriving data revolution, which offers unparalleled access to the information we need. Companies should not base their business plans on GDP projections; individuals should not decide whether to buy a home or get a degree based on the national unemployment rate. If you want to buy a home, look for a job, start a company, or run a business, you should find your own indicators. National housing figures don't matter; local ones do. You can find them at the click of a button. Personal, made-to-order indicators will meet our needs today, and the revolution is well underway. We need only to join it.

Master the proven, traditional methods in project management as well as the latest agile practices with Kloppenborg/Anantatmula/Wells' CONTEMPORARY PROJECT MANAGEMENT, 5E. This edition presents project management techniques and expert examples drawn from successful practice and the latest research. All content reflects the knowledge areas and processes of the 6th edition of the PMBOK (R) Guide as well as the domains and principles of the 7th edition of the PMBOK (R) Guide. The book's focused approach helps you build a strong portfolio to showcase project management skills. New features, glossary and an integrated case highlight agile practices, mindset and techniques, while PMP (R)-style questions prepare you for the new 2021 PMP (R) certification exam. You also learn to use Microsoft (R) Project to automate processes. Gain the expertise you need to become a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM (R)) or Certified Project Management Professional (PMP (R)) with this edition and MindTap digital resources.

Basic Statistics in Business & Economics provides students majoring in management, marketing, finance, accounting, economics, and other fields of business administration with an introductory survey of descriptive and inferential statistics. Many examples and exercises that focus on business applications are used to illustrate the application of statistics, but also relate to the current world of the college student. A previous course in statistics is not necessary, and the mathematical requirement is first-year algebra. Students are given every step needed to be successful in a basic statistics course. This step-by-step approach enhances performance, accelerates preparedness, and significantly improves motivation. Understanding the concepts, seeing and doing plenty of examples and exercises, and comprehending the application of statistical methods in business and economics are the focus of this book. Today, the practice of data analytics is widely applied to big data. The practice of data analytics requires skills and knowledge in several areas. Computer skills are needed to process large volumes of information. Analytical skills are needed to evaluate, summarize, organize, and analyze the information. Critical thinking skills are needed to interpret and communicate the results of processing the information. This text supports the development of basic data analytical skills with the end of each chapter sections called Data Analytics providing the instructor and student with opportunities to apply statistical knowledge and statistical software to explore several business environments. Interpretation of the analytical results is an integral part of these exercises. A variety of statistical software is available to complement the 10th edition. Microsoft Excel includes an add-in with many statistical analyses. MegaStat is an add-in available for Microsoft Excel. Minitab and JMP are stand-alone statistical software packages available to download for either PC or Mac. In the text, Microsoft Excel, Minitab, and MegaStat are used to illustrate statistical software analyses. The text also includes references or links to Excel tutorials in Connect. These provide users with clear demonstrations using statistical software to create graphical and descriptive statistics and statistical analyses to test hypotheses. Digital resources within McGraw Hill Connect (R) help students apply what they've learned and achieve higher outcomes in the course. Connect is the only integrated learning system that empowers students by continuously adapting to deliver precisely what they need when they need it and how they need it so that class time is more engaging and effective.

World Statistics on Mining and Utilities 2020 provides a unique biennial overview of the role of mining and utility activities in the world economy. This extensive resource from UNIDO provides detailed time series data on the level, structure and growth of international mining and utility activities by country and sector. Country level data is clearly presented on the number of establishments, employment and output of activities such as coal, iron ore and crude petroleum mining as well as the production and supply of electricity, natural gas and water.This unique and comprehensive source of information meets the growing demand of data users who require detailed and reliable statistical information on the primary industry and energy producing sectors. The publication provides internationally comparable data for economic researchers, development strategists and business communities who influence the policy of industrial development and its environmental sustainability.

The Dynamics of Industrial Collaboration revisits and reformulates issues previously raised by inter-firm collaboration. The latest research in collaboration, processes and evaluation of cooperation, and industrial and research networks, is presented by way of both empirical and theoretical studies. The authors use several theoretical perspectives to explain inter-firm and inter-institutional collaboration: the theory of transaction costs and contracts, evolutionary theory, and the resource-based view. The book illustrates that none of these approaches are dominant. The issue of collaboration is raised in various contexts such as the new economics, biotechnology, and the motor industry. It will be of special interest to industrial economists and scholars of evolutionary economics.

This is the first textbook designed to teach statistics to students in aviation courses. All examples and exercises are grounded in an aviation context, including flight instruction, air traffic control, airport management, and human factors. Structured in six parts, theiscovers the key foundational topics relative to descriptive and inferential statistics, including hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, z and t tests, correlation, regression, ANOVA, and chi-square. In addition, this book promotes both procedural knowledge and conceptual understanding. Detailed, guided examples are presented from the perspective of conducting a research study. Each analysis technique is clearly explained, enabling readers to understand, carry out, and report results correctly. Students are further supported by a range of pedagogical features in each chapter, including objectives, a summary, and a vocabulary check. Digital supplements comprise downloadable data sets and short video lectures explaining key concepts. Instructors also have access to PPT slides and an instructor’s manual that consists of a test bank with multiple choice exams, exercises with data sets, and solutions. This is the ideal statistics textbook for aviation courses globally, especially in aviation statistics, research methods in aviation, human factors, and related areas.

Provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to general insurance pricing, based on the author’s many years of experience as both a teacher and practitioner. Suitable for students taking a course in general insurance pricing, notably if they are studying to become an actuary through the UK Institute of Actuaries exams. No other title quite like this on the market that is perfect for teaching/study, and is also an excellent guide for practitioners.

Master key spreadsheet and business analytics skills with SPREADSHEET MODELING AND DECISION ANALYSIS: A PRACTICAL INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS ANALYTICS, 9E, written by respected business analytics innovator Cliff Ragsdale. This edition's clear presentation, realistic examples, fascinating topics and valuable software provide everything you need to become proficient in today's most widely used business analytics techniques using the latest version of Excel (R) in Microsoft (R) Office 365 or Office 2019. Become skilled in the newest Excel functions as well as Analytic Solver (R) and Data Mining add-ins. This edition helps you develop both algebraic and spreadsheet modeling skills. Step-by-step instructions and annotated, full-color screen images make examples easy to follow and show you how to apply what you learn about descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics to real business situations. WebAssign online tools and author-created videos further strengthen understanding.

Leverage the full power of Bayesian analysis for competitive advantage Bayesian methods can solve problems you can't reliably handle any other way. Building on your existing Excel analytics skills and experience, Microsoft Excel MVP Conrad Carlberg helps you make the most of Excel's Bayesian capabilities and move toward R to do even more. Step by step, with real-world examples, Carlberg shows you how to use Bayesian analytics to solve a wide array of real problems. Carlberg clarifies terminology that often bewilders analysts, and offers sample R code to take advantage of the rethinking package in R and its gateway to Stan. As you incorporate these Bayesian approaches into your analytical toolbox, you'll build a powerful competitive advantage for your organization-and yourself. Explore key ideas and strategies that underlie Bayesian analysis Distinguish prior, likelihood, and posterior distributions, and compare algorithms for driving sampling inputs Use grid approximation to solve simple univariate problems, and understand its limits as parameters increase Perform complex simulations and regressions with quadratic approximation and Richard McElreath's quap function Manage text values as if they were numeric Learn today's gold-standard Bayesian sampling technique: Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) Use MCMC to optimize execution speed in high-complexity problems Discover when frequentist methods fail and Bayesian methods are essential-and when to use both in tandem

Features Accessible to readers with a basic background in probability and statistics Covers fundamental concepts of experimental design and cause-effect relationships Introduces classical ANOVA models, including contrasts and multiple testing Provides an example-based introduction to mixed models Features basic concepts of split-plot and incomplete block designs R code available for all steps Supplementary website with additional resources and updates

How could Finance benefit from AI? How can AI techniques provide an edge? Moving well beyond simply speeding up computation, this book tackles AI for Finance from a range of perspectives including business, technology, research, and students. Covering aspects like algorithms, big data, and machine learning, this book answers these and many other questions.