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.

Bringing together a diverse team of renowned accounting scholars, this incisive Research Handbook presents a comprehensive evaluation of current research on nonprofit accounting, noting its major accomplishments and outlining opportunities for future study. The Research Handbook provides a broad overview of key topics related to accounting and financial reporting, including donor use of financial information, methods of measuring nonprofit performance, solvency and volunteer efforts, and the misuse and misstatements of accounting information. Chapters further examine a variety of oversight mechanisms, such as the roles of auditors, nonprofit boards, regulators, monitoring groups, taxes, and accounting standard-setters. With a central focus on the strengths and contributions of empirical archival, behavioural, and descriptive research methodologies, the Research Handbook ultimately considers fruitful avenues for future research. Presenting extensive analysis of nonprofit accounting research, this Research Handbook will prove an invaluable aid to students and scholars of accounting, management, business, economics, and public administration. Its expert integration of critical accounting research on colleges, foundations, and the healthcare sector will also benefit nonprofit managers, board members, regulators, charity monitors, and standard-setters.

This book offers cutting-edge insights into the changing landscape of entrepreneurial finance, as digital technologies play an increasingly dynamic role in the world economy. Assessing the rapid development of innovative technologies in entrepreneurial ecosystems, it contributes to a wider discussion on the role that technology plays in facilitating and commercializing ideas in the context of global finance. Chapters offer a systemic, comparative analysis of the interplay between financial activities and digital technologies, reflecting on the acceleration of the development of innovative technologies and alternative financing. The book includes thoughtful discussions of women entrepreneurs, crowdfunding, business angels and big data, connecting these topics to wider discussions of technology-based entrepreneurship. Offering interdisciplinary insights from a variety of entrepreneurial contexts, including startups, universities, corporations, and the public sector, contributors demonstrate the role of digital technologies in facilitating entrepreneurial ecosystems. Bringing together state-of-the-art qualitative and quantitative research on entrepreneurial ecosystems, this book offers crucial insights for academics and researchers of entrepreneurial finance looking for a better understanding of the contemporary role of digital technologies in alternative financing. Policymakers and practitioners will also benefit from the managerial implications of real-world scenarios analyzed by contributors.

This timely book explores the measurement and consequences of financialisation, as well as its driving forces, to take a fresh look at reconciling the twin concepts of financialisation and financial development. Imad Moosa provides a critical review of these two separate strands – the individual measures of economic development and financialisation – on the grounds that they are inadequate to represent a multi-dimensional process. Introducing a new composite measure encompassing the means of payment and asset ownership as well as conventional indicators, Moosa expertly investigates the economic, political and social consequences of financialisation. Identifying the driving forces of financialisation, he concludes that there is a requirement to reverse the current trend using more than just legislation and regulation to secure a sound and stable economy. This innovative book will be a fascinating and informative read for academics and research students of financial economics, regulation and economic sociology. Policy makers and politicians engaged in financial regulation will find the suggested insights into achieving future financial stability thought-provoking.

A universal guide to understanding and managing life insurance companies in the new millennium. Containing a succinct analysis of those disciplines upon which the worldwide life insurance industry is built. The intention of this book is to introduce the student of life insurance to the range and complexity of issues that pertain to the management and development of a life insurance company and to equip insurance company managers with a ready reference to the fundamental aspects of those facets and disciplines of the business with which they may not be familiar. Much material on life insurance subjects is available to the specialised reader. The aim of this book is to reach those with limited knowledge of the industry and to provide a comprehensive picture of the operation, management and development of a life insurance company as a whole.

Presenting innovative modelling approaches to the analysis of fiscal policy and government debt, this book moves beyond previous models that have relied upon the assumption that various age-specific rates and policy variables remain unchanged when it comes to generating government expenditures and tax revenues. As a result of population ageing, current policy settings in many countries are projected to lead to unsustainable levels of public debt; Tax Policy and Uncertainty explores models that allow for feedbacks and uncertainty to combat this. Applicable to any country, the models in the book explore the optimal timing and extent of tax changes in the face of anticipated high future debt. Chapters produce stochastic debt projections, including probability distribution of debt ratios at each point in time. It also offers important analysis of fiscal policy trade-offs as well as providing advice on when and by how much tax rates should be increased. Economics scholars focusing on fiscal policy will appreciate the improved models in this book that allow both for uncertainty and feedback effects arising from responses to increased debt. It will also be helpful to economic policy advisors and economists in government departments.

A good Shareholder Agreement is like a fence at the top of a cliff, which stops company owners from falling over the edge and into the hands of lawyers who wait in the ambulance parked beside the rocks below. This book explains in easy to understand language what a Shareholder Agreement does, the common clauses it contains and when it is best to put one in place. I have found that most client meetings I attend to discuss Shareholder Agreements follow a familiar script. Company owners ask similar questions, have common worries, want to achieve matching outcomes and, in response, I give them the same answers. The result is `Shareholder Agreements: the 30 minute guide', which explains the typical issues that arise when company owners want to put in place a Shareholder Agreement and how to overcome them. Part One explains what a Shareholder Agreement is, who needs one and when it is best to think about getting one. Part Two explores the most common clauses that 99% of company owners ask for in their Shareholder Agreement. Finally, Part Three highlights some thorny legal issues to watch out for when finalising your Shareholder Agreement. My aim is to demystify Shareholder Agreements for business advisers and accountants who often become the first contact for company owners with a question about making a Shareholder Agreement. This book will also be helpful for company owners who feel comfortable building their own Shareholder Agreement from a template they have purchased. By the time you have read this book you will understand how a Shareholder Agreement will protect company owners against unexpected life events, why a Shareholder Agreement is sometimes called a `Business Will' and what to ask your lawyer when you are ready to put in place your own Shareholder Agreement.

Fifty years on from the introduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) across the European Union and its Member States, this comprehensive book provides a practical commentary on, and analysis of, the harmonised system of VAT in the EU. This meticulously researched reference work not only analyses legislation and case law, but also examines them in the broader context of the operation of EU law. Written by a team of expert practitioners led by KPE Lasok QC, an authority on European law with extensive practical experience of VAT and Customs cases, this book includes a detailed discussion of the relevant case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union, considering cases critically with a view to identifying underlying trends and principles. Key features include: consideration of the broader context in which EU law operates comprehensive, simultaneous analysis of legislation and case law critical examination of principles underpinning relevant case law a definitive exposition of the present state of the harmonised EU VAT system. EU Value Added Tax Law will prove to be an indispensable source of practical knowledge and background information for tax practitioners advising clients and in-house tax advisers assisting their employers in relation to VAT in the EU, as well as officials of tax authorities in EU Member States. Academics researching or teaching VAT will also find this book's detailed and critical coverage invaluable. Contributors include: S. Black, E. Hellier, T. Lall, KPE Lasok, H.L. McCarthy

Using a range of calculative devices, (Mis)managing Macroprudential Expectations explores the methods used by central banks to predict and govern the tail risks that could impact financial stability. Through an in-depth case study, the book utilises empirically-informed theoretical analysis to capture these low-probability and high-impact events, and offers a novel conceptualisation of the role of risk modelling within the macroprudential policy agenda. The book asserts that central banks’ efforts to capture tail risks go beyond macroprudential policy objectives of identifying and monitoring systemic risks to financial stability. It illustrates how the calculation of tail risk contributes to managing the expectations that regulated institutions have around the Bank of England’s macroprudential approach, its willingness to support struggling institutions, and its use of novel macroprudential policy tools. Situating tail risk within the broader realm of climate finance, chapters contend that the identification of future climate tail risks simultaneously reveals opportunities for private profit and non-bank lending within the financial system, in ways that are potentially destabilizing. The book concludes by highlighting the social and political limitations of central banks’ new macroprudential approach. Transdisciplinary in approach, this book will be invaluable to students and scholars interested in the intersections between climate studies, political science and public policy, environmental economics, banking and finance, and political economy. Its practical applications will also be a useful resource to climate and finance policymakers working in central banking.

A heartfelt, humorous personal memoir and relatable guide to overcoming obstacles, wising up about romance, and getting ahead in your career from the star of Netflix's hit reality show Selling Sunset. In this engaging, witty, and inspirational memoir, Chrishell Stause shares her story of living an unconventional childhood in small-town Kentucky marked by periods of homelessness, family addiction struggles and dreams of one day being on a daytime soap, all while managing the local Dairy Queen. Through resilience and grit, she overcame obstacles and pushed past every barrier in her path to become one of the most envied luxury realtors in Los Angeles and buzzworthy cast members in reality TV. She takes us behind the scenes of Selling Sunset, reveals never-before-told stories from her life in soaps, and even pulls back the curtain on her highly publicised love life, offering insight not before shared. With her signature honesty and charm, Stause also gives tangible advice based on the lessons she's learned over the years and offers unique insight about how to stay resilient and positive no matter how many times life knocks you down. Under Construction is for anyone who wants to remember that no matter what happens or how, you have to get up, dress up and show up - and walk back into the room stronger than ever before.

Boss Your Money is a no-fluff guide to building wealth in South Africa, written by someone who has asked all the same questions you have about work, salary negotiation, saving and investing, buying your first car or home, and more.

With honesty, humour and hard-won insights, Nokuhle Kumalo unpacks the money habits we inherit from our parents, the mistakes we make and the steps we can take to break the cycle. This isn’t about quick tips or flashy flexes; it will help you understand money and finally take control of how you earn, spend, save and build your wealth. If financial freedom is your dream, this is your starting point to mastering the wealth creation formula.