Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. Forward thinking and provocative, this Research Agenda demonstrates different approaches to the field from experts focusing on global and local, and historical and contemporary issues. It asserts that critical political economists differ from their mainstream counterparts through the variety of methods they use and the questions they pose. Eminent global scholars examine a diverse selection of interdisciplinary themes, raising questions surrounding future research in the area, offering examples and linking the theory to its implications for practice and policy. Chapters explore economic growth and the ideology of development, sweatshop economics, experimental economics, the land question in urban economics, money and finance, and thinking beyond capitalism with the solidarity economy. A Research Agenda for Critical Political Economy will be a fascinating read for students and scholars of political economy, political science and economics. With case studies and practical examples of the application of the topic, it will also be an invigorating read for economists and policy makers looking for alternative approaches to the field.

LEAN is the most widespread management philosophy of our time and is currently present in every industry, yet the concept is still vaguely defined and widely misunderstood.

This is Lean - Resolving the efficiency paradox has been translated from Swedish to English, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Polish, French and Chinese and has sold over 160.000 copies since its launch in 2012. By using clear, concise language and insightful examples, the book has brought greater clarification to the essence of lean and revolutionized top-executives and employees understanding of what lean actually is.

The book also introduces the idea of the efficiency paradox, which claims that organisations' understanding of "true efficiency" is incorrect. It suggests that when organisations focus too much on utilising resources efficiently - the traditional and most common form of efficiency - it tends to lead to an increase in the amount of work there is to do. Consequently, the more organisations try to be efficient (being busy), the more inefficient they will actually become (taking care of non-value adding but necessary work).

This is Lean addresses how to resolve this paradox.

This accessible guide to the rapidly growing and interdisciplinary field of modern economic sociology offers critical insights into its fundamental concepts and developments. International in scope, contributions from leading economic sociologists and sociologically-minded economists explore the intersections and implications for theory and empirical research in both disciplines. A Modern Guide to Economic Sociology positions contemporary studies in relation to earlier developments, highlighting the importance of understanding how stages of economic sociology have corresponded and converged with institutional, social, political and behavioural economics over time. Chapters offer a broad range of perspectives of topical and pressing themes including: wealth inequality, unsustainable development, ethical consumption, society and work, institutions and the economy, and society and entrepreneurship. Covering both empirical and theoretical aspects of the field, this book will benefit economic sociologists as well as economic sociology students. It will also be an important read for both economics and sociology students looking to better understand the interactions between the two fields and how they depend upon and advance one another.

Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. Leading researcher John F. Tomer presents an invigorating and concise introduction to behavioral economics that offers essential behavioral theories, perspectives, trends and developments within this ever-evolving discipline. This book covers the key areas of behavioral economics, including Herbert Simon's bounded rationality, Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky's psychological economics, behavioral finance, nudging and public policy, behavioral macroeconomics, law and behavioral economics, neuroeconomics and empirical methods of behavioral economics. John F. Tomer also explores how and why behavioral economics emerged and differs from neoclassical economics. This book will be particularly useful for advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, policy makers, and other professionals who participate in economic-related matters.

The twenty-first century has seen major challenges to freedom and democracy. Authoritarianism is on the rise and democracy is in retreat. Some promote individualism and markets as the solution to almost every problem. On the other side there are those who champion collectivism and full public ownership. Neither side is convincing. Unrestrained capitalism has exacerbated inequality. Socialism in practice has ended democracy. Effective defenders of liberty and human flourishing must find a different course. This book argues for a pragmatic, social democratic liberalism that avoids unrealistic extremes and tackles major problems such as inequality and climate change. This book is a topical and powerful statement of social democratic liberalism. It will be of interest to anyone concerned about modern politics, including those in universities and political parties

Combining theoretical and practical aspects of policy analysis, this book evaluates actual and proposed policy reforms to income tax and transfer systems, using a behavioural tax microsimulation model. It highlights how these models allow for the full details of tax systems and the considerable population heterogeneity that is found in practice. John Creedy and Penny Mok look at how such models can be used to obtain summary measures that are relevant in tax debates. These include elasticities of labour supply and measures of the welfare effects of tax changes, in terms of excess burdens. Chapters further examine how models can be used to search systematically, across a range of policy changes, for revenue-neutral reforms which result in an improvement, in terms of an explicit evaluation function. This will be a timely read for students of public finance, welfare and labour economics. The careful attention paid to metrics used in policy evaluations will also make this a useful book for researchers and policy advisors concerned with income taxation, social transfers, inequality and poverty measurement.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

This book of selected essays presents constructive analyses of vital economic problems confronting the United States since the 1970s, giving special attention to challenges facing working families. The analyses, produced by Charles Whalen over three decades, address the causes and consequences of macroeconomic instability, job offshoring, community economic dislocation, financialization, and income inequality. They also explore the various dimensions of worker insecurity and underscore the dynamics of an ever-changing economy. The result is a compelling case for reforming capitalism by addressing workers' interests as an integral part of the common good, and for reconstructing economics in the direction of post-Keynesian institutionalism. Whalen's reformist approach builds not only on the institutional economics of John R. Commons, but also on the post-Keynesianism of Hyman Minsky, who stressed that society should be democratic and humane. To that end, the book gives attention to policy-making processes as well as policy details. Scholars and students of economics and labor studies will appreciate the incisive analyses and real-world focus. Historians and economic sociologists will be interested in the book's attention to the evolution of US capitalism; and policy analysts and concerned citizens will welcome its emphasis on economic reform and optimistic vision for our economic future.

Cultural economics deals with many aspects of the creative economy including the art market, heritage, live performing arts and cultural industries. Teaching Cultural Economics introduces the range and scope of these subjects through short chapters by experienced teachers who are expert in the topic of their chapters. The guide starts out with chapters on the experience of teaching cultural economics by leading exponents in the field. Chapters then follow grouped by general topic: financing cultural production, artists' labour markets, consumer behaviour in the cultural sector, digitisation and copyright and case studies of creative industries. The breadth of material provided within these pages is invaluable to teachers who wish to offer courses in cultural economics and are seeking guidance for developing a new course, as well as for teachers who are already teaching cultural economics and are seeking inspiration for new case studies. The material can also be used by teachers of other courses who wish to teach cultural economics as part of their curriculum. Contributors include: V. Ateca-Amestoy, H. Bakhshi, A. Baldin, F. Benhamou, T. Bille, E. Bjornsen, R. Buijze, S. Cameron, L. Champarnaud, D.C. Chisholm, M.J. del Barrio-Tellado, L. Delomeaux, J. Denis, P. Di Caro, L. Di Gaetano, J. Farchy, K. Goto, C. Handke, S.J.C. Hemels, L.C. Herrero- Prieto, P. Kaszynska, E. Lazzaro, I. Mazza, J. McKenzie, A. Mignosa, T. Navarrete, T. Orme, G. Pignataro, I. Rizzo, B. Seaman, R. Towse

Students in economics are ever more distressed by the disconnect between mainstream economics and the real world. This book shows how post-Keynesian economics constitutes a coherent heterodox alternative, based on realistic assumptions and the integration of the financial and real sides of the economy, with an emphasis on the many paradoxes that arise in a truly macroeconomic analysis. The book is a considerably revised and updated version of the widely used and frequently cited 2014 edition. It provides a comprehensive account of post-Keynesian theory and policy. Topics covered include its methodological foundations, consumer theory and choice under fundamental uncertainty, firms and pricing, money and credit, effective demand and employment, growth theory, open-economy issues, inflation theory. It also links with ecological economics. Scholars of economics, particularly post-Keynesian and heterodox economists, will find this comprehensive look at the field a necessary addition to their libraries, while students and instructors will find it a perfect text for any class on post-Keynesian economics.

A Modern Guide to the Economics of Crime discusses the evolution of a field, whose growing relevance among scholars and policymakers is partly related to the persistence of crime and violence around the world and partly to the remarkable progress made in recent years in the economic analysis of individual and organised crime. Such progress is related to the so-called "credibility revolution" as well as to the cross-fertilization of economics and other social sciences such as criminology, sociology and political science. With contributions from some of the leading scholars in the economics of crime, the volume highlights a variety of topics, conceptual frameworks and empirical approaches, thus providing a comprehensive overview of the most recent developments of the field. Emphasising the importance of designing crime-reducing policies that are guided by rigorous empirical analyses, the contributions leverage the availability of novel and administrative micro-data, the use of research designs that unveil causal relationships, and the interdisciplinarity of approaches and theoretical frameworks. The Modern Guide moves through four parts: first investigating the role of the police and their effectiveness, then moving on to look at the distinct socio-economic factors that may induce individuals to commit crimes, followed by issues related to crime in specific groups including migrants, women and racial minorities, and finally turning from individual to organized crime. This Modern Guide will be an invigorating read for economics and criminology students and scholars looking at the relationship between the two fields. Policy makers will also benefit from the application of interdisciplinary theory to empirical research in the chapters.

Offering a critical analysis of the UK political system, Tragedy of Riches argues that politicians over the past twenty years have changed our economic destiny for the worse. The corresponding demise of ideology means that there can be no great improvement in the British economy without fundamental political change. Stephen Barber introduces the concept of the `mixed economic settlement'; the argument that the policy mix in which Europe and the United States operates is forged in three contrasting forms of liberalism to have emerged in the post-war West: economic, welfare and social liberalism. He describes how our single-minded pursuit of prosperity has constrained politics from being a force for good. The book argues that the present economic policies of the UK government are unsustainable and, if they are to tackle the difficult issues of modern society, politicians and communities alike need to face up to this truth.

Do institutions matter in economic theory? Or is the economic analysis of institutions a distraction from the most important action? Indeed, does Vernon Smith's notion of the "institution-free core" of formal economic theory encompass that most important action? Would that render an "economics of organization" almost devoid of economic content? The author takes up an approach that is more agnostic, inter-disciplinary and even a little irreverent. What can theory do and not do? Theory can stimulate questions about how parties manage competing demands for commitment and flexibility in their relationships but what blind spots persist? The book opens with an informal tour of the economics of system design out of which an economics of adaptation ultimately emerged. It then offers explorations, via the application of the economics of adaptation in both law and economics' relating to how parties manage relationships within the firm, within the context of long-term contracts and, most vividly, within the context of antitrust conspiracy. Advanced undergraduates, graduate students and teaching faculty in economics, public policy, management and law will find the book relevant, as it maps out connections between literatures that are not often made explicit. For historians of economic thought the book lays out a much richer understanding of what the economics of organization is (and is not), and situates it next to design economics.

Marx's Theories of Surplus Value is the fourth volume of his monumental Das Kapital (Capital). Divided into three parts, this lengthy work reviews classic economic analyses of labour and value (Smith, Ricardo, Malthus, and others), focusing on the concept of "surplus value" - the difference between the full value of a worker's labour and the wages received for this labour. This is a key concept for Marx since in his view the capitalist maintains power through controlling surplus value.

Challenges the mainstream understanding of BRICS and US dominance to situate the new global rivalries engulfing capitalism.

BRICS is a grouping of the five major emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Volume five in the Democratic Marxism series, BRICS and the New American Imperialism challenges the mainstream understanding of BRICS and US dominance to situate the new global rivalries engulfing capitalism. It offers novel analyses of BRICS in the context of increasing US induced imperial chaos, deepening environmental crisis tendencies (such as climate change and water scarcity), contradictory dynamics inside BRICS countries and growing subaltern resistance.

The authors revisit contemporary thinking on imperialism and anti-imperialism, drawing on the work of Rosa Luxemburg, one of the leading theorists after Marx, who attempted to understand the expansionary nature of capitalism from the heartlands to the peripheries. The richness of Luxemburg’s pioneering work inspires most of the volume’s contributors in their analyses of the dangerous contradictions of the contemporary world as well as forms of democratic agency advancing resistance.

While various forms of resistance are highlighted, among them water protests, mass worker strikes, anti-corporate campaigning and forms of cultural critique, this volume grapples with the challenge of renewing anti-imperialism beyond the NGO-driven World Social Forum and considers the prospects of a new horizontal political vessel to build global convergence. It also explores the prospects of a Fifth International of Peoples and Workers.

Casting a wide net in this, their second edition, Froyen and Guender provide coverage of the model-based literature on optimal monetary policy in the presence of uncertainty, with both open- and closed-economy frameworks considered. The authors have grounded New Keynesian research of the 1990s and 2000s in the literature of the 1970s, which viewed optimal policy as primarily a question of the optimal use of information, and studies in the 1980s that gave primacy to time inconsistency problems. The Global Financial Crisis of 2007-09 led to the recognition that financial markets and institutions required greater attention in policy modeling. Herein, the authors provide a thorough survey of the post-crisis literature that resulted from this recognition. Researchers in academia and at central banks, students and policy makers will value the wide scope of coverage provided in this examination, leading them to a better understanding of issues such as discretion versus commitment, target versus instrument rules, policy in closed versus open economies and the proper mandate for central banks, including the relationship between interest rate policy and macro-prudential instruments. Praise for the first edition: 'In this book the authors provide a comprehensive review of optimal monetary policy in the context of small, log-linear, macroeconomic models that are subject to stochastic shocks. . . I think the book provides a very good introduction to the literature on optimal monetary policy (in short-run models) for non-specialists and students. Some of the content of the book could be used in upper-year undergraduate courses in either macroeconomics or in a specialised monetary economics course. The models are clearly set-out and discussed and there is frequent use of diagrams. The authors spend a lot of time and effort to provide the economic intuition for the models that are presented.' - Glenn Otto, Economic Record 'Froyen and Guender have provided a thorough and careful analysis of optimal monetary policy over most of the range of theoretical models that have been used in modern macroeconomics. By providing a comprehensive and clear comparative framework they will help the student of monetary policy understand why there have been conflicting views of what policy makers should do.' - Central Banking 'In Optimal Monetary Policy Under Uncertainty, academicians and economists Richard T. Froyen and Alfred V. Guender have collaborated on presenting an informed and informative survey of optimal monetary policy literature arising during the 1970s and 1980s as a ground work for understanding current market and other economic influences on such germane issues as discretion versus commitment, target versus instrument rules, and the delegation of policy making authority within the private and public sectors. With meticulous attention to scholarship and objectivity. . . Optimal Monetary Policy Under Uncertainty is a thoughtful and thought-provoking body of work that is very strongly recommended for professional, academic, corporate and governmental economic reference collections and supplemental reading lists.' - Midwest Book Review

Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business and law, expertly written by the world'AEos leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. New institutional economics (NIE) is a powerful tool for understanding real world phenomena. This Advanced Introduction explores NIE'AEos answers to fundamental questions about the organization, growth and development of economies, such as why are some countries rich and others poor? Why are activities organized as firms or markets or through alternative organizational solutions? When are shared resources overexploited? Key Features: Elucidates the essence of NIE'AEos main branches, focusing on the governance of transactions and organizations (identified with Oliver Williamson), the fundamental institutional environment (Douglass North), and the role of communal institutions and collective action (Elinor Ostrom) Explores how NIE has transformed perspectives on collective action, state and legal institutions, public policy and regulation, and economic growth Extensive references to allow interested readers to dive deeper into specific topics Authored by scholars associated early on with leading figures in NIE and the development of NIE'AEos research agenda. This Advanced Introduction is an ideal read for advanced students of economics, political science, management, law and sociology interested in learning about new institutional economics. Policy makers, especially those responsible for business and utility regulation and development policy and assistance, will also benefit from this concise yet detailed book.

Taxes on the wealthy are a topic sure to incite venomous rants from both right-wing and left-wing ideologues. The topic attracts conflicting interpretations and policy recommendations, and generates proposals for tax reform that consume political debate. All this activity takes place against an opaque backdrop of empirical evidence dealing with the distribution of wealth and income, and tax avoidance and tax evasion by corporations and wealthy individuals. Rethinking Wealth and Taxes explores these problems and considers the possibilities for increasing taxes on wealth to address the increasingly unequal distribution of wealth, and income. Concerned with exploring the implications of globalization for government revenue policy and increasing inequality in wealth and income, it identifies the connection between ongoing inequality and the ability of the wealthy to avoid income taxes by exploiting differential treatment of capital income and wage income. The author explores the various ways in which the emergence of globalization has impacted the traditional national model of raising income tax revenue. He then offers policy recommendations that shift government revenue sources to taxes that are difficult for the wealthy to avoid and that better capture the goals of vertical and horizontal tax equity. This book will appeal to those directly involved in industry and public policy and may be used in university courses at all levels in public finance, financial economics, actuarial science and management. It will also be of interest to research libraries, individuals working in government and readers in the general public curious about topics such as 'the one percent'.

In this fascinating book, Imad A. Moosa challenges existing preconceptions surrounding normative economics, arguing that what some economists see as undisputed facts of life may be myths caused by dogmatic thinking. With this in mind, Moosa argues that the alleged puzzles found in the economics and finance literature are not puzzles at all, because they can be explained intuitively, without the need for complex models or the extravaganza of econometrics. Plausible explanations are suggested for puzzles in various areas of economics and finance, such as the home bias puzzle, the PPP puzzle and the presidential puzzle. The author explains why some common beliefs are, in fact, myths, including those of the power of the market, inefficiency of the public sector and the use of low-interest policy to combat the depression caused by the Covid-19 outbreak. Controversies in Economics and Finance is a thought-provoking and stimulating read that exposes common flaws in economic analysis. It will be of great benefit to academics, graduate students and policy-makers looking to understand the limits of economic analysis.

The important yet contradictory role of innovation in society calls for a philosophy of innovation. Critically exploring innovation in relation to values, the economy and social change, Rafael Ziegler proposes a collaborative theory and practice of innovation that aims to liberate possibilities for our common futures. Following cues from the arts and drawing on the innovation literature across the social sciences, this book exposes pro-innovation bias and the gospel of disruptive change. Not only entrepreneurs but also civic networks and tinkerers are discussed as sources of innovation, and social change as a balancing act of innovation, exnovation and restoration. The discussion of capabilitarian, communitarian, liberal, republican and socialist ideas of justice and innovation leads Ziegler to a transformative proposal: 'enough innovation' based on enough for all and with respect for all. This is a thought-provoking read for scholars working on sustainability-transformation, democratic, responsible and social innovation, and philosophy of economics.

Economic activity is embedded in specific surroundings, and ultimately, these conditions determine productivity and efficiency. However, the use of space in the formal models has been troublesome, but in practical activity, the territory is a crucial determinant when the agents make economic decisions. The interaction between economic activity, territory, and space has become a definitive bedrock in theories throughout the history of thought, such as location theory, urban economics, and new economic geography. Considerations of Territorial Planning, Space, and Economic Activity in the Global Economy analyzes the interaction between territory, economic activity, and human development, sharing interesting histories and deploying an extensive set of methodologies, places, and points of view. Covering key topics such as territorial planning, urban economics, and natural resources, this premier reference source is ideal for economists, policymakers, government officials, industry professionals, researchers, academicians, practitioners, scholars, instructors, and students.

A practical guide, from the basic techniques, through to advanced applications, showing you what risk management is, and how you can develop a successful strategy for your company.

Mastering Risk Management provides a step-by-step guide from the basic to advanced elements of risk management. Following the 3-part framework, it covers:

1. What do we mean by risk management?
2. Risk management tools
3. What keeps management awake at night

Focusing on practical applications, it gives you the knowledge needed to understand what risk management is and puts in place a workable way of managing it.