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. In recent years, an explosive rise in computing power and the digitization of data has allowed researchers in new institutional economics (NIE) to investigate questions that could never before be systematically analysed. This book explores key issues for future research in the field, analysing both traditional areas of focus in NIE and more recent areas of interest. Consisting of 30 concise chapters written by top NIE scholars, this Research Agenda probes issues at the forefront of NIE, including government, contracts, property rights, norms, culture, and beliefs. Analysing rapid changes in technology and the environment, such as the rise of social media and the effects of climate change in agriculture, this book offers unique insights into key contemporary issues. Written in non-technical terms, this book will inform and inspire students and those starting their careers in economics, law and political science. NIE scholars will also find the book invaluable in updating their understanding of crucial research questions and seeking new areas to explore. Contributors: J.S. Ahlquist, J.E. Aldy, D.W. Allen, J. Bednar, J.C. Cardenas, P. Castaneda Dower, R. Fernandez, S. Gehlbach, R. Gil, M.A. Golden, C. Guerriero, S. Iyer, P. Keefer, K. Kosec, R. Kunneke, C. Long, R. Macchiavello, K.J. Mayer, C. Menard, T. Mogues, M.W. Moszoro, B. Mueller, S. Oh, D. Parker, J. Prufer, P. Prufer, M. Servatka, M.M. Shirley, E. Simison, F. Sobbrio, J. Teorell, T. Terpstra, M. Vatiero, S. Voigt, S. Wallsten, G. Zanarone, D. Ziblatt

Appointed by George W. Bush as the chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in 2006, Sheila Bair witnessed the origins of the financial crisis and in 2008 became--along with Hank Paulson, Ben Bernanke, and Timothy Geithner--one of the key public servants trying to repair the damage to the global economy. "Bull by the Horns" is her remarkable and refreshingly honest account of that contentious time and the struggle for reform that followed and continues to this day.

Social sciences have always been an important tool that enables human beings to examine and understand society. Through social sciences, researchers gain understandings of social phenomena and changes by providing commentaries, producing explanations, and attempting to synthesize a diversity of information sets to formulate theories. Since the concept of change has been the hallmark of the new millennium, researchers have witnessed a transformation in every aspect of the modern world at an ever-increasing speed, particularly in the social facet of human life. Ways of thinking that had previously been upheld and taught may, therefore, no longer be appropriate or effective as tools to understand contemporary phenomena and changes. The Handbook of Research on Current Trends in Asian Economics, Business, and Administration is a critical reference source that examines different aspects of social sciences, management, sociology, and education to better understand today's society and social life in the Asian context. The book identifies trends, impacts, and implications of disruptive technologies for business and socio-economic development as well as strategic advantage on different levels of business and administration. Covering topics that include e-commerce, green management, information technology, economic growth, and distance learning, this book is essential for economists, academicians, government officials, policymakers, social scientists, managers, leaders, behavioral scientists, academicians, researchers, and students.

Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, there has been an unprecedented move towards 'rethinking economics' due to the damages generated by the global financial crisis that burst in 2007-2008. Almost a decade after this crisis, policy is still unable to provide all citizens greater wellbeing or at least an encouraging economic future. This book addresses the urgent need to rethink economics by providing readers at all levels with thoughtful chapters on a range of relevant economic topics. Editors Louis-Philippe Rochon and Sergio Rossi provide a first-class compilation of contemporary economic problems as well as a criticism of mainstream economics and economic policy, thereby offering a thorough investigation of these issues and policy solutions along alternative lines of thought. The book includes chapters on rethinking fiscal and monetary policies, international trade, the role of the State, money, banks, economic growth, the environment, development policies, energy, healthcare, and more. Special attention is paid to the importance of institutions and power relationships within the economic system. Written by top experts in their respective fields, this book will be useful to students and faculty who want to not only rethink economics, but also to offer an alternative and coherent economic analysis to the orthodoxy. Economists and policy-makers will also find this book to be of much interest. Contributors include: A. Asensio, J.-L. Bailly, H. Bougrine, L. Chester, C. Gnos, S. Greppi, O.F. Hamouda, M. Llorca, R. McMaster, V. Monvoisin, R. O'Donnell, S. Parsons, E. Perez Caldentey, J.-F. Ponsot, S. Pressman, L.-P. Rochon, S. Rossi, R.H. Scott, F. UElgen, G. Vallet, R. von Arnim

Coronavirus caused a significant tourism crisis in Portugal in 2020. This book aims to analyze the situation and proposes practical local solidarity and business models for information and knowledge dissemination about/against the pandemic causes/impact. It includes suggestions and rules to be used by social actors to better cope with Covid-19. These suggestions may augment their social solidarity, inclusive practices, citizenship education, and lifelong learning opportunities, within a safe, resilient, and sustainable city. Such recommendations may also inspire other socioeconomic stakeholders, medium/small corporations, ONGs, associations, and local communities to develop and diffuse such instruments. The book aims to revitalize cultural tourism industries and services during and after the Covid-19 pandemic by helping create jobs in the areas of restoration, leisure, and culture via enhancement of knowledge transfer among universities, innovating industries, tourism agencies, museums, etc. This book is ideal for researchers, teachers, students, and other social agents within scientific communities, in connection with the above-mentioned scientific purposes, applied to technological and social needs.

This timely book sets out how ordinary citizens can reform our broken economy.

Politicians curry favour with interest groups such as trade unions, public service workers, teachers and the unemployed, instead of serving the general public. Trade unions exploit labour laws to get benefits for their members without increasing productivity. Teachers enjoy sheltered employment without producing properly qualified learners. Formal employees abuse the bargaining-council system to push up labour costs imposed on employers and employees outside the system. Notoriously unproductive “public servants” enjoy above-market salaries in a growing sector that creates little to no economic value. Unemployed people, of whom there are 11 million, form the bedrock of our community of 18 million recipients of welfare grants. They produce nothing in return. The glue holding together all these forms of rent-seeking, is centralised government power, undergirded by laws and government spending.

The author highlights that the system of rent-seeking has damaged moral fabric in this country, eating at it like a virus. It does not let go, because it contains the seed of destruction of any argument deployed towards dismantling it. Rent-seeking is embarked upon – invariably almost – in the name of some noble cause or other. And noble causes demand that we be on the right side of them, or risk being tainted as unfair, oppressive, right-wing or simply bad.

Who in their right mind doesn’t want to protect workers against unemployment or exploitation, advance previously disadvantaged black citizens, improve the matric pass rate, help the poor with housing and money, build a strong public service?