The remarkable evolution of econophysics research has brought the deep synthesis of ideas derived from economics and physicsto subjects as diverse as education, banking, finance, and the administration of large institutions. The original papers in this collection present a broad summary of these advances, written by interdisciplinary specialists. Included are studies on subjects in the development of econophysics; on the perspectives offered by econophysics on large problems in economics and finance, including the 2008-9 financial crisis; and on higher education and group decision making. The introductions and insights they provide will benefit everyone interested in applications of this new transdisciplinary science.
Ten papers present an updated version of the origins, issues, and applications of econophysics Economics and finance chapters consider lessons learned from the 2008-9 financial crisis Sociophysics chapters propose new thinking on educational reforms and group decision making"

A selection of republished corporate finance articles and book chapters that can serve as an advanced corporate finance supplementary text for courses that use no textbooks. Combining convenience and an affordable price with retypeset pages and a high-quality index, the 600 pages of volume two, "Bidding Strategies, Financing, and Corporate Control," focus on a range of special topics, ranging from theories and evidence on strategic bidding behavior (offer premiums, toeholds, bidder competition, winner s curse adjustments, and managerial overconfidence), issues arising when bidding for targets in bankruptcy auctions, effects of deal protection devices (termination agreements, poison pills), role of large shareholder voting in promoting takeover gains, deal financing issues (such as raising the cash used to pay for the target), managerial incentive effects of takeovers, governance spillovers from cross-border mergers, and returns to merger arbitrage. Including an index and new introduction, this volume will simplify and facilitate students interaction with new concepts and applications.
Provides a status report about modern scientific evidence on corporate takeoversExposes students to new methods and empirical evidence while reading high quality primary materialOffers a concise and cost-efficient package of journal and book articles for advanced corporate finance students"

This book asserts that intangibles create financial transactions, not vice versa. It offers distinct, reproducible methods of valuing intangibles in intangible forms, with associated and meaningful financial values. It also presents new management frameworks in which all forms of intangibles can be classified, measured, managed, and reported.
*A practical, hands-on guide to a new approach to valuing intangibles
*Progresses from simple to complex, using case studies that begin with short simple cases and progress to comprehensive real-life case studies
*Highlights the distinction between what is currently required by law and what is not required but will give firms a competitive edge

This examination of the fiscal health of local governments offers a "how-to" approach to identifying and solving financial problems. It will serve as a primer for readers interested in understanding financial processes and alternatives, and as a practical guide for those who need access to fiscal measurement tools. Its principal selling point lies in its assumptions: instead of using the vocabulary and research agendas of economists (such as Musgrave, Fisher), finance scholars (Ladd/Yinger) and political scientists (Peterson/Strachota), it will appeal to readers who lack sophisticated knowledge in these areas and nevertheless need practical advice.
The book stems from the "Fiscal Health Education Program," an applied economics program at the University of Minnesota. It uses three measures of fiscal health-financial condition, trend analysis, and financial trend monitoring system-as the basis for advocating particular fiscal strategies. The book examines the tools that can be used to assess the condition of a local government's fiscal health and some of the policy causes or remedies for certain situations, as well as some of the strategies governments can pursue to maintain and improve health.
*How-to approach will appeal to readers who lack sophisticated knowledge
* Contains discussion questions and anonymous case studies of actual cities and municipalities
* Presents practical methods for identifying and solving common fiscal problems

For the recorded history of management, the world has managed value creation according to what can be seen, touched and proven. In today's knowledge-based economy, value creation is derived primarily from how well firms manage intangibles (knowledge, service, expectations, response time, innovation, change management, etc). The large capital outlays that signified the manufacturing economy are no longer required. In fact, such 'tangibles' now explain less than 20% of the value of most publicly listed firms. For example, Time Warner has only 6.49% of its value attributable to tangibles. As such, for every $1 of true value, only $0.065 cents is being measured and managed by conventional management practices. For Oracle Corporation, tangibles account for only 4% of its value. For General Electric (worth over US$450 billion), tangibles account for less than 11% of its value.
Intention, context, emotional intelligence, escalation, and sustainability are words that are generally absent from the operational management techniques of managers worldwide. They form, however, the basis of skills required to manage organizations in today's knowledge-based economy. The authors investigate the ways that intangible values can be identified, measured, and managed. Their revolutionary and innovative taxonomy not only reveals fundamental differences between a manufacturing economy and one which creates value through knowledge, relationships, and time. By using case studies, a compelling mixture of theory and applications, and a set of accounting tools, the authors demonstrates how a new value framework can protect investors while giving companies the ability to generate long-term growth.
*Shows how intangible values can be identified, measured, and managed
*Presents a revolutionary and innovative taxonomy with a new set of accounting tools
*Demonstrates with case studies how a new value framework can protect investors while enabling companies to generate long-term growth

This book has two themes: Private Banking and investment decisions regarding Structural Financial Products. Dr. Dimitris Chorafas examines in a rigorous way whether structured financial products are advisable investments for retail and institutional investors and, if yes, which risks they entail. As our society becomes increasingly affluent, and state-supported pension schemes find it difficult to survive, a growing number of high net-worth individuals, and families, have become retail investors - looking for ways and means to optimize wealth management, and Private Banking deals with these sorts of clients. Private banking also deals with clients that are institutional investors, such as pension funds, mutual funds, and insurance companies, as well as not-for-profits, foundations and companies explicitly set up for wealth management. Both institutional and retail investors are being offered by the banks they work with structured products. Typically, these are securities that provide them with a redemption amount, with may be either with full or partial capital protection, and some type of return. The book examines structured financial products, their polyvalent nature, and the results which could be expected from them.
Return on structural instruments, which are essentially derivatives, is paid in function of a specific investment strategy on selected underlying asset(s). This essentially means on the performance of the underlyings, obtained by asset managers, which may be banks or hedge funds, through purchase or sale of embedded options. But there are risks. Both risk and return from structured products are related to three main issues: the volatility of future value of anunderlying, the uncertainty of future events, and the exposure of the product. Every type of investment is subject to market forces, and the more leveraged a portfolio is, the greater will probably be both the assumed risk and the expected reward. The fact that structured financial products appeal, or at least are being marketed, to both retail investors and institutional investors makes the dual approach deliberately chosen in this book most advisable. This book addresses all these issues in a practical manner with numerous case studies and real-world examples drawn from the author's intensive research.
*Because it is based on intensive research, the book is rich in practical examples and case studies
*Addresses the growing trend towards the use of structured financial instruments in private banking
*Thorough treatment of structured financial products that keeps maths to a minimum

This monograph is practically oriented, presenting a survey and explanation of credit insurance services for protection of short-term trade receivables primarily against commercial risk of insolvency and protracted default. The subject matter (i.e., main functions, features and principles of credit insurance with detailed description of credit insurance coverage, insurance conditions, and credit insurance policy management) follows procedural stages and presents commercial, financial, legal, and practical points of view which emphasize the needs of both the providers of these services andtheir clients - existing and potential credit insured companies - as well asother practitioners.
Explains how credit insurance has changed from an esoteric type of property insurance into a flexible and frequently used credit risk mitigation tool used on a global basisCompares credit insurance with self-insurance and equivalent substitutesDescribes the types of insurance available and how to obtain and manage credit insurance policies"

A former member of the American Stock Exchange introduces trading and financial markets to upper-division undergraduates and graduate students who are planning to work in the finance industry. Unlike standard investment texts that cover trading as one of many subjects, "Financial Trading and Investing"gives primary attention to trading, trading institutions, markets, and the institutions that facilitate and regulate trading activities what economists call "market microstructure." Thetext will be accompanied by a website that can be used in conjunction with "TraderEx," "Markit," "StocklinkU," "Virtual Trade," "Vecon Lab Experiment," "Tradingsim," "IB Student Trading Lab," "Brenexa," "Stock Trak "and "How the Market Works."
Introduces the financial markets and the quantitative tools used in them so students learn how the markets operate and gain experience with their principal toolsHelps students develop their skills with the most popular trading simulation programs so they can reuse the book to solve day-to-day problems Stretches from investor behavior to hedging strategies and noise trading, capturing recent advances in an up-to-date reference source"

Mergers and Acquisitions Basics: All You Need to Know provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts of mergers and acquisitions. Key concepts discussed include M&As as change agents in the context of corporate restructuring; legal structures and strategies employed in corporate restructuring; takeover strategies and the impact on corporate governance; takeover defenses; and players who make mergers and acquisitions happen. The book also covers developing a business plan and the tools used to evaluate, display, and communicate information to key constituencies both inside and outside the corporation; the acquisition planning process; the negotiation, integration planning, and closing phases; financing transactions; and M&A post-merger integration. This book is written for buyers and sellers of businesses, financial analysts, chief executive officers, chief financial officers, operating managers, investment bankers, and portfolio managers. Others who may have an interest include bank lending officers, venture capitalists, government regulators, human resource managers, entrepreneurs, and board members. The book may also be used as a companion or supplemental text for undergraduate and graduate students taking courses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, business strategy, management, governance, and entrepreneurship.