Quality has never been more important for the future of higher education and the economy than it is today. Unfortunately, the decline in student quality is accompanied by costs that are out of control, a governance system that will not permit any reallocation of resources, and a society that expects higher education to address problems that are well beyond its core competencies. In this timely volume, Robert E. Martin presents a thorough treatment of the social contract between those who fund higher education and those who benefit from it. In-depth discussions include: * the institution's role as steward of the higher education social contract * the role of transaction costs, risk bearing, production technology, and asset ownership in determining the internal structure of the institution * the market for academic charities * price, quality, and advertising competition in higher education. Formal models of production and cost, optimal fundraising, the maximization of academic reputation, agency behavior, and the student's enrollment decision are also presented and analyzed. Cost Control, College Access, and Competition in Higher Education will be of great interest to higher education researchers and administrators, economists, and public policymakers.

This book addresses two-person zero-sum finite games in which the payoffs in any situation are expressed with fuzzy numbers. The purpose of this book is to develop a suite of effective and efficient linear programming models and methods for solving matrix games with payoffs in fuzzy numbers. Divided into six chapters, it discusses the concepts of solutions of matrix games with payoffs of intervals, along with their linear programming models and methods. Furthermore, it is directly relevant to the research field of matrix games under uncertain economic management. The book offers a valuable resource for readers involved in theoretical research and practical applications from a range of different fields including game theory, operational research, management science, fuzzy mathematical programming, fuzzy mathematics, industrial engineering, business and social economics.

This book discusses both linear economic theory and its application to China's recent economy from, 1987-2000, with an emphasis on fixed capital. It starts with the development of Marx-Sraffa linear economic models with fixed capital. The author then addresses various topics, including formal explanations of Sraffa-Okishio-Nakatani's (SON) reduction of the whole economy to its subsystem of brand-new commodities, the renewal dynamics of fixed capital and the Marx-Engles-Ruchti-Lohmann effect as well as its extension to the accelerated depreciation case; and simulations of the economic durability of fixed capital. Further, in a general joint-production system, equilibria are computed as the spectra of the matrix pencil defining the equilibrium of the systems and the so-called Cambridge equation are extended to the case of SON's economy.By simulating the case of all final products being invested for capital goods, it estimates the fixed capital coefficients from investment data on China's economy 1995-2000. Based on this, the book describes the wage-profit curves of the open China economy. By applying the estimated fixed capital coefficients, the book presents the computation of the labour values of major commodities in China, and the turnpike of the stage 1995-2000, with fixed capital. It compares the value system with the production price system, and thus points out some structural issues of China's economy that are worth discussing.

Throughout this century, economics as a discipline has not always been distinguished by its insightful treatment of temporal and spatial considerations. The exponents of neoclassical synthesis have often been criticized for failing to incorporate the dimension of time into their machinations, and while the concept of space has fared somewhat better, it still suffers from semantic debate. Structural and/or sectoral considerations have also been lacking, either encumbered by polemics or confounded by the inherited simplicities of the stage theorists. This work, which applies the analytical system of Joseph Schumpeter to spatial and structural dimensions, attempts to explain the role played by change in profit-seeking economies.

Following an introductory chapter that offers a brief description of the Schumpeterian dialectic and its explanation of how change occurs over time under capitalism, the book is divided into three main secions. The first addresses spatial considerations, covering ways in which Schumpeter's analysis can be applied to local and regional contexts in advanced economies; the dialectic in international economic processes, particularly the effect of multinational businesses on individual economies; and development prospects for Third World nations. Section two focuses on the structural dimension, specifically the emergence of service industries and Schumpeter's fears for the survival of capitalism. A hybrid overview of pole theory is also included. The final section offers reflections and a summary, and includes an assessment of the role of government in aiding or impeding change and an illustration of what governments can and cannot do to change their economies in the face of automatic capitalistic processes. This work will be a valuable reference source for courses in economic theory, economic policy, and political science as well as a useful addition to college, university, and public libraries.

For an increasing number of international scholars and researchers, the work of Karl Polanyi -- for example, The Great Transformation (1944) -- has been a source of inspiration in assessing current conditions and building renewed perspectives and methodologies. In detailed analyses of current socio-economic trends from all over the globe, the writers of this collection of essays -- on a variety of themes, given at the Third International Karl Polanyi conference, in Milan -- propose new concepts for economic analysis in the wake of the collapse of "communism".

This monograph provides a detailed analysis on fair queueing rules from a normative, a strategic, and a non-cooperative viewpoint. The queueing problem is concerned with the following situation: There is a group of agents who must be served in a facility. The facility can handle only one agent at a time and agents incur waiting costs. The problem is to find the order in which to serve agents and monetary transfers they should receive. The queueing problem has been studied extensively in the recent literature.

Until his death in 1984, Lionel Robbins was one of the world's most influential economic theorists and the foremost British economist of his generation. Appointed to a professorship at the prestigious London School of Economics when only thirty years old, Robbins dominated British economic thought for decades and proved a powerful force in the formulation of post-World War II economic policy.

Susan Howson here collects Robbins's most important work in one invaluable volume. "Economic Science and Political Economy" is a crucial addition to any library of economic history and theory.

This book examines new classical macroeconomics from a comparative and critical point of view that confronts the original texts and later comments as a first dimension of comparison. The second dimension appears in a historical context, since none of the new classical doctrines can be analyzed ignoring the parallelism and discrepancies with the theory of Keynes, Friedman or Phelps. Radicalism of new classical macroeconomics has brought fundamental changes in economic thought, but the doctrines got vulgarized and distorted thanks to the mass of followers. Nowadays, economic theory and policy, trying to find their ways, have a less clear relationship than ever. Therefore, this volume is aimed at mapping and reconsidering the policy instruments and transmission mechanisms offered by the new classicals. Its central question points to the real nature of new classical macroeconomics: what consequences are grounded by the assumptions new classicals used. Moreover, issues raised by automatic fiscal stabilizers and fiscal reforms are analyzed as well, even if they were out of the range of classical texts. The book draws a picture of new classical macroeconomics stressing the analogies with Keynesian countercyclical policies, instead of the discrepancies commonly held.

This book discusses the developments in trade theories, including new-new trade models that account for firm level trade flows, trade growth accounting using inverse gravity models (including distortions in gravity models), the impact of trade liberalization under the aegis of regional and multilateral liberalization efforts of economies using partial and general equilibrium analysis, methodologies of constructing ad valorem equivalents of non-tariff barriers, volatility spillover effects of financial and exchange rate markets. The main purpose of the book is to guide researchers working in the area of international trade, especially focused on empirical analysis of trade policy issues by updating their knowledge on issues related to trade theory, empirical methods, and their applications. The book would prove useful for policy makers, academicians, and researchers.

Financial markets play a huge role in society but theoretical reflections on what constitutes these markets are scarce. Drawing on sources in philosophy, finance, the history of modern mathematics, sociology and anthropology, Abstract Market Theory elaborates a new philosophy of the market in order to redress this gap between reality and theory.

The period of past four decades has been characterized as one of neo-liberalism, financialization, globalization, privatization and de-regulation. Inequality has risen in industrialised countries, labour's share in national income has been in decline and economic growth slowed. The evidence of the damage to the environment from human economic activity, and the dramatic consequences of failure to address climate change have become more apparent and urgent. The global financial crises shocked the complacency of the neo-liberal era, though a decade later it may be doubted how much has changed. The central purpose of this volume is to investigate a range of economic and social policies, which move in the direction of constructing a post-neoliberal world. These range over alternative forms of ownership (public, co-operative), policies to address and reverse economic and social inequalities, responses to the forces of globalization, re-constituting the financial system and its roles, and the nature of employment.

The world is too complex for anyone to ever hope to understand all of its interrelationships simultaneously. Yet small aspects of the world we live in can be represented by comprehensible models. This is why economists use models in their analysis and research. In Economic Models and Methodology, Holcombe examines the way in which models are used in economics, and makes specific methodological recommendations more restrictive than the methodological doctrine of pluralism. Holcombe's book is not an encyclopedia of methodology, but rather an analysis of mainstream methodology, and an examination of the use of models in economics. Holcombe examines the role of assumptions in models, the use of empirical models in economics, and specific applications of models in both macroeconomics and microeconomics.

This book offers a vision of economics in which there is no place for universal laws of nature, and even for laws of a more probabilistic character. The author avoids interpreting the practice of economics as something that leads to the formulation of universal laws or laws of nature. Instead, chapters in the book follow the method of contemporary philosophy of science: rather than formulating suggestions for practicing scientists of how they should do research, the text describes and interprets the very practice of scientific research. This approach demonstrates how economists can explain economic phenomena not by subsuming them under general laws, but rather by building models of these phenomena, by referring to causes, or even by investigating what is in the nature of given factors, events, or circumstances to produce.

Introduces those with relatively little mathematical training and only an intermediate economic theory course to the important economic issues of collective choice and public welfare. Two central topics are addressed: the ability of government to assess and reflect social concerns, and the effectiveness of government in achieving its stated objectives. An important book for anyone interested in economic policy making.

This collection addresses the path to a new prosperity after the Great Recession. The contributors ask that if the 2008 crisis proved the unsustainability of the neoliberal development model, what does well-being mean today in advanced western democracies? What kind of production and consumption will be a feature of the coming decades? What are the financial, economic, institutional and social innovations needed to reconcile economy and society after decades of disembedding? The Crisis Conundrum offers an interdisciplinary interpretation of the crisis as an opportunity to reform capitalism and consumption societies, structurally as well as culturally. Students and scholars across a range of disciplines, including sociology, economics, development studies and European studies, with find this book of interest.

Why do markets exist? How are they maintained? What are market systems and how are they formed? This book addresses these fundamental questions and challenges the traditional view that markets and market systems are 'natural', asserting instead that they are ideologically coloured and of dubious scientific value.

The medieval Republic of Ragusa (now Dubrovnik) was a prosperous small open economy, rivalling bigger competitors. This study collects together evidence on how Ragusa compared to other economies of the region, and addresses the difficult question of why it outperformed its Dalmatian rivals (Kotor, Split and Zadar).

Classical Political Economy addresses the question of what determines the social division of labour, the division of society into independent firms and industries and develops the theoretical implications of primitive accumulation. It also offers a significantly different interpretation of classical political economy, demonstrating that this school of thought supported the process of primitive accumulation. Classical political economy presents an imposing facade. For more than two centuries, the accepted doctrine dictates that a market generates forces that provide the most efficient method for organising production. This laissez faire approach is an ideology that gives capital absolute freedom of action, and yet called for intervention to coerce people to do things that they would not otherwise do. Classical political economy therefore encouraged policies that would hinder people's ability to produce for their own needs. Michael Perelman, however, in this innovative take on the subject, seeks to challenge the ideologies that would allow things to continue in this line unchecked.

This book presents original research articles addressing various aspects of artificial intelligence as applied to economics, law, management and optimization. The topics discussed include economics, policies, finance, law, resource allocation strategies and information technology. Combining the input of contributing professors and researchers from Italian and international universities, the book will be of interest to students, researchers and practitioners, as well as members of the general public interested in the economic and policy implications of artificial intelligence.

This book discusses the economics of transport infrastructure and the economic theorizing around transport infrastructure from 1850 to today. Transport infrastructure systems are continuously evolving over time. Since the mid-1800s these systems have grown in complexity and outreach. They have been important drivers of economic development but have also been important as economic agents in themselves. Over time transport infrastructure systems have taken on different functions as providers of simpler transport services or more developed value chain components. Transport infrastructure has also been a source for different arguments about economic theory and practice. Transport infrastructure systems are analysed from an institutional perspective where the long-term development of the ownership and financing of the systems, as well as the connection to different policy areas are elaborated. A longitudinal study of Sweden's transport infrastructure policy is used to exemplify driving factors causing change and transformation of the systems over time with different scale and scope.

An examination of the relationship between philosophical and economic thought in the nineteenth century, Economy and Self explores how the free enterprise theory of Classical Economy influenced and was in turn influenced by the philosophical notion of alienation common in the writings of the age.

""Economics and social conflict"" eventually brings to life the classic thought experiment of a natural state. Examining the behavior of almost 400.000 people living in the virtual anarchy of the online computer game "EVE Online," it highlights the economic aspects of these people's 'evil" behavior. The social conflict the players are engaging in is characterized by non-instrumental violence, a phenomenon that has not been in the focus of economic research yet.
The book shows that evil actions seemingly motivated by a "taste for harming" are of high relevance for the performance of the online economy and that the commonly held belief that social rules that foster conflict will be overcome eventually might be too optimistic.
By drawing on the server data, the book conducts highly controllable field work. In an environment that feels natural for the players, one can directly observe all of their actions and does not have to rely on the biased stories perpetrators and victims tell.

In this book the theory of social production is systematically formulated in terms and concepts of classical political economy and neo-classical economics. In this way the subject becomes accessible not only to professional researchers in areas of the theory of production and economic growth, but also to the educated reader who is curious about the principles behind the functioning of a national economy. The book can be considered as an introduction for students with a background in physics, chemistry and engineering, who wish to specialize in economics. It is explained how the growth of production is connected with achievements in technological consumption of labour and energy. The theory allows one to analyse the past and the present of the social production system and to build scripts of the future progress. The book could be interesting for energy specialists who are engaged in planning and analysing production and consumption of energy carriers and determining energy policy, and for economists who want to know how energy and technology are affecting economic growth.

Czarniawska-Joerges here presents the first systematic study of how organizational control processes and economic decline are related. As the author notes in her introduction, the typical organizational response to economic stress is a tightening of control--efforts to cut expenses, lay off employees, prescribe budgetary constraints, and more. But, she argues, such a reaction may not be the most beneficial in returning the organization to economic health. In developing a model for the behavior of organizations in economic decline, the author presents several detailed explanatory case studies representing different types of organizations and different reactions to their respective problems. Students of organizational behavior will find here important new insights into the dynamics of organizational control in the face of economic decline.

The author begins by proposing a model for control cycle responses to decline. The bulk of the volume is devoted to a sustained evaluation of the model through the use of the four case studies. The first examines the Polish economy between 1971-81 as a centrally planned and rigidly structured economic organization reacting in an authoritative way to economic threats. Subsequent chapters analyze a multinational chemical corporation attempting an extreme degree of corporate control, the Swedish National Board of Education's attempt to restructure dramatically, and an American electronics firm which effectively loosened control at a critical juncture. The final chapter offers a synthesis of the preceding material and draws conclusions regarding the most effective ways in which organizations can respond to externally induced or internally generated economic stress.