Why is religion so widespread? Why do individuals donate large amounts of time, money, and effort to religious groups? What forms does the religious competition take? Why are individuals more religious in some countries than others? What is the future of religion?This book provides a non-technical introduction to how the economic approach answers these and other questions about religion. It defines the economic approach to religion and demonstrates how it is used to study a variety of religious decisions. It explains how religious groups confront credibility, free-rider, and coordination problems that challenge the collective production of religious goods and services. It also examines competition and regulation in religious markets around the world, how religious beliefs and preferences are transmitted and sustained, how religion likely emerged in humankind's distant past, and what the future of religion may hold. The book thus demonstrates how the tools and methods of economics provide fresh insight into a variety of religious behaviors.This book is intended for a wide audience in and out of economics. Though not a textbook per se, its discussion questions and suggested readings at the end of each chapter allow for easy incorporation into the classroom. The mathematics and statistics used by researchers are generally avoided. Both theory and evidence are presented, but the focus is on the ideas that provide a coherent conceptual framework that grounds a deeper exploration of the theoretical and empirical research in the economics of religion.

In the current scope of economics, the management of client portfolios has become a considerable problem within financial institutions due to the amount of risk that goes into assigning assets. Various algorithmic models exist for solving these portfolio challenges; however, considerable research is lacking that further explains these design problems and provides applicable solutions to these imperative issues. Algorithms for Solving Financial Portfolio Design Problems: Emerging Research and Opportunities is a pivotal reference source that provides vital research on the application of various programming models within the financial engineering field. While highlighting topics such as landscape analysis, breaking symmetries, and linear programming, this publication analyzes the quadratic constraints of current portfolios and provides algorithmic solutions to maximizing the full value of these financial sets. This book is ideally designed for financial strategists, engineers, programmers, mathematicians, banking professionals, researchers, academicians, and students seeking current research on recent mathematical advances within financial engineering.

Digital transformation is among the most important opportunities provided by technological development. It is important to scientifically reveal the effects of digital transformation in the fields of economics, finance, banking and trade. For this purpose, research that theoretically and empirically analyzes the effects of digital transformation on the economics and finance-related fields is needed. This book aims to present these studies by operating a scientific process. Valuable studies of researchers, scientists, academicians and bureaucrats who are interested in this subject, are essential. These studies will result in a guide for managers and policymakers by revealing the effects of digital transformation and technological developments in the fields of economy and will create a scientific resource for researchers and students who are interested in the subject.

This incisive review analyses the most influential academic research in a burgeoning subject - the economics of music. The literature stems from both mainstream economics journals as well as pertinent works from accountancy, sociology and management sources. Topics discussed include live music, music production, labour markets and ownership and music competitions. This review provides a valuable resource for students and economists involved in this fascinating field, as well as those seeking to enter it.

Interculturality has been considered as a transversal pillar to deal with the cultural diversity around the world. However, the way in which NGO-led development interventions practice interculturality has received little attention from researchers focused on Peru. This research expands the conversation about how interculturality is practiced within NGO-led development projects using a case in the Andes as a fictional ethnography. The book touches on how silent racism is reproduced within development practice and calls for the re-politicization of interculturality. It targets three different groups. First, for academics and students focused on exploring the encounter between the Andean communities and the industry of development, and more broadly for those focused on how divergent ways of knowing interact in the context of a development intervention, the author highlights the usefulness of the methodological tool used in this research to explore the overlapping realities converged in such types of interventions. Second, for development practitioners promoting better ways to facilitate the political process of intercultural practice this book opens up a reflexive exploration of the barriers to unlock the potential of intercultural practices. Specifically, the author draws attention to built-in limits of a structure of development which may be unfitted to facilitate processes with the capacity to attend to the complicated ways target populations see their future. Third, for policymakers aiming to promote intercultural practices, this research provides insights about the hurdles of such an enterprise. It provides fresh empirical findings to look at how power structures shape intercultural practice.

In the increasingly turbulent political climate, there has been growing interest in economic and international relations with Asia. Understanding the business practices in countries of this region, particularly uncertainties, risks, and opportunities associated with doing business in Asia, will be key for competing in a global economy. Dynamic Perspectives on Globalization and Sustainable Business in Asia provides perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of business growth in Asia with strategic insights on knowledge production, innovation, and disruptive technologies. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as consumer behavior, financial literacy, and value perception, this book is ideally designed for academicians, researchers, government officials, policymakers, and practitioners seeking current research on the development of networks to support competitive advantage in the global economy and viable enterprises.

`Peter van Bergeijk has written a fascinating book on the recent trade collapse, that in size can only be compared to the (trade) crises of the 1930s. There are at least two reasons to read the book. The first is to get a better understanding why the world has witnessed a dramatic decline of international trade. Peter van Bergeijk systematically analyzes the standard explanations that are given for this collapse, for example those put forward by the WTO, and concludes that most are wrong or unconvincing, and provides his own thought provoking explanation: risk and uncertainty. The second reason to read the book is that it provides all those interested in international trade with a clear and interesting introduction to understand the world of international trade and learn a great deal along the way, and not only about the recent trade collapse.' - Steven Brakman, University of Groningen, The Netherlands On the Brink of Deglobalization addresses the breakdown of international trade and capital flows in 2008/09 and challenges the mainstream narrative for the world trade collapse. Detailed chapters on international finance, fragmentation of production, protectionism and earlier episodes of collapsing trade reveal data that contradicts conventional explanations and demonstrates that the trade collapse was driven by the shock of (perceived) trade uncertainty. Peter van Bergeijk discusses why trade barriers and import substitution are seen as solutions during depressions while presenting empirical evidence demonstrating the risks of such policies. This book provides a broad, historical and statistical analysis relevant to understanding the recent world trade collapse. Being the first comprehensive analysis of the risks and drivers of deglobalization, this unique and challenging book will appeal to trade economists, trade policymakers and analysts as well as those involved in international business.