Prudent, verifiable, and timely corporate accounting is a bedrock of our modern capitalist system. In recent years, however, the rules that govern corporate accounting have been subtly changed in ways that compromise these core principles, to the detriment of the economy at large. These changes have been driven by the private agendas of certain corporate special interests, aided selectively and sometimes unwittingly by arguments from business academia With Political Standards, Karthik Ramanna develops the notion of "thin political markets" to describe a key problem facing technical rule-making in corporate accounting and beyond. When standard-setting boards attempt to regulate the accounting practices of corporations, they must draw on a small pool of qualified experts but those experts almost always have strong commercial interests in the outcome. Meanwhile, standard setting rarely enjoys much attention from the general public. This absence of accountability, Ramanna argues, allows corporate managers to game the system. In the profit-maximization framework of modern capitalism, the only practicable solution is to reframe managerial norms when participating in thin political markets. Political Standards will be an essential resource for understanding how the rules of the game are set, whom they inevitably favor, and how the process can be changed for a better capitalism.

Systems thinking is a method of problem solving that deals with various cultural issues including conflict and compromise. In recent years, researchers have begun studying this approach and applying it within several professional fields, specifically organizations and business management. In the modern age of information, professionals are continually looking for new methods to improve traditional practices within their field. Improving organizational practices through the implementation of the soft systems approach is a growing research area that requires in-depth discussion and case studies. Applications of Soft Systems Methodology for Organizational Change is a collection of innovative research on the theories and practices of soft systems and their application within organizational and industrial analysis. While highlighting topics including agent-based modeling, sustainable energy initiatives, and natural resources allocation, this book is ideally designed for researchers, designers, managers, analysts, practitioners, executives, academicians, and students seeking current research on the theories and applications of soft systems design.

Originally published in 1987, The Financial Markets of the Arabian Gulf looks at the importance of finance and the flow of funds to the development of the countries in the Arabian Gulf. Examining in detail the financial markets of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, the book looks at how each of these markets has developed differently because of the political choices made by each government and how each is faced with different cultural and sociological variables which has influenced future of the financial markets. This book provides a look at the fiber of each of these three Arab Nations in respect of their financial markets.

Fischer Black was a remarkable social scientist, one whose contributions range from the lofty perch of highbrow theory to the trenches of practical application. The papers represented in this work span the same range, the contributions of a remarkable array of financial economists who embody in different ways Fischer's ideal of insight from economic theory that both guides and is rooted in the kind of detailed observation of relevant aspects of actual financial markets. It is hoped that readers find this volume to be both a fitting tribute and a stimulus to further research. After all, the advancement of economic science remained a constant goal throughout Fischer's remarkable career in the many and disparate venues in which he plies his trade.

"The Fisher Investments On" series is designed to provide individual investors, students, and aspiring investment professionals the tools necessary to understand and analyze investment opportunities--primarily for investing in global stocks.

Each guide is an easily accessible primer to economic sectors, regions, or other components of the global stock market. While this guide is specifically on Telecom, the basic investment methodology is applicable for analyzing any global sector, regardless of the current macroeconomic environment.

Following a top-down approach to investing, "Fisher Investments on Telecom" can help you make more informed decisions within the Telecom sector. It skillfully addresses how to determine optimal times to invest in Telecom stocks and which Telecom industries have the potential to perform well in various environments.

Divided into three comprehensive parts--Getting Started, Telecom Details, and Thinking Like a Portfolio Manager--"Fisher Investments on Telecom: "Explains some of the sector's key macro drivers--like interest rates, regulation, and risk aversionShows how to capitalize on a wide array of macro conditions and industry-specific features to help you form an opinion on each of the industries within the sectorTakes you through the major components of the industries within the global Telecom sector and reveals how they operateOffers investment strategies to help you determine when and how to overweight specific industries within the sectorOutlines a five-step process to help differentiate firms in this field--designed to help you identify ones with the greatest probability of outperforming

Filled with in-depth insights, "Fisher Investments on Telecom" provides a framework for understanding this sector and its industries to help you make better investment decisions--now and in the future. With this book as your guide, you can gain a global perspective of the Telecom sector and discover strategies to help achieve your investing goals.

Globalization has been under extreme pressure in the wake of the financial crisis. Multinational firms are weighing the costs and benefits of international scale and scope, and are increasingly under pressure to hire local, to source local, and to pay taxes domestically. At the same time global competitive pressures have intensified. This book reviews international business practices from the multinational firm perspective, and provides pathways forward concerning competitiveness and sustainability in global markets. What sets this book apart from others is that the benefits and pitfalls of globalization are addressed. Chapter coverage focuses on the functional areas of the business and how they are impacted by international expansion. Practical case studies supplement chapter coverage and highlight both positive and negative developments in the global business arena. Readers should expect to be challenged on what will be the limits of the multinational firm in the future, and how multinational firms can continue to prosper while at the same time adhere to sustainable business initiatives. Equally useful to both undergraduate and graduate students of international business as well as professional development programs, Global Business: Competitiveness and Sustainability provides a necessary tonic for dealing with today's troubled seas of globalization.

Americans tend to believe that their country is very different from Europe. Yet over the past half century they have imported and embraced the most transformative social idea of modern Scandinavia: egalitarianism. Today, the United States is more like Sweden than it is different, dedicated to economic redistribution and to vigorously defending its big government. What price, morally and economically, are today's Americans willing to pay to preserve their egalitarian welfare state? Are they willing to turn life into a fiscal cost item? Will they sacrifice their children's future prosperity to defend their entitlements? The Rise of Big Government: How Egalitarianism Conquered America pursues the answer to these questions by going back to the ideological origins of the modern, egalitarian welfare state. Specifically, the book asks why this unity has been able to set such deep roots in the United States, a country that is often perceived as fundamentally different when it comes to the role of government in the economy. It is shown that there are more similarities than differences between the welfare state in the United States and its Swedish "template." This book is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding how the egalitarian ideology conquered the United States, and who seeks to gain a deeper understanding of its strength, its resiliency, and the problems it faces in the future.

Americans tend to believe that their country is very different from Europe. Yet over the past half century they have imported and embraced the most transformative social idea of modern Scandinavia: egalitarianism. Today, the United States is more like Sweden than it is different, dedicated to economic redistribution and to vigorously defending its big government. What price, morally and economically, are today's Americans willing to pay to preserve their egalitarian welfare state? Are they willing to turn life into a fiscal cost item? Will they sacrifice their children's future prosperity to defend their entitlements? The Rise of Big Government: How Egalitarianism Conquered America pursues the answer to these questions by going back to the ideological origins of the modern, egalitarian welfare state. Specifically, the book asks why this unity has been able to set such deep roots in the United States, a country that is often perceived as fundamentally different when it comes to the role of government in the economy. It is shown that there are more similarities than differences between the welfare state in the United States and its Swedish "template." This book is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding how the egalitarian ideology conquered the United States, and who seeks to gain a deeper understanding of its strength, its resiliency, and the problems it faces in the future.

Hedge your stock market bets with funds that can deliver returns in down markets Hedge Funds For Dummies is your introduction to the popular investing strategy that can help you gain positive returns, no matter what direction the market takes. Hedge funds use pooled funds to focus on high-risk, high-return investments, often with a focus on shorting--so you can earn profit even when stocks fall. But there's a whole lot more to it than that. This book teaches you about the diversity of hedge funds, their pros and cons, and their potentially lucrative role as a part of your portfolio. We also give you tips on finding a broker that is right for you and the investment you wish to make. Let Dummies be your investment advisor as you set up a strategy that will deliver results. Understand the ins and outs of hedge funds and how they fit in your portfolio Choose the funds that make the most sense for your unique situation Build a hedge fund strategy based on tested techniques and the latest market data Avoid common mistakes and identify solid funds to ensure success This Dummies guide is for traders and investors looking to learn more about hedge funds and how they can become lucrative investments in a down market.

This book provides not only practical guidance on how to manage resources but also a critical examination of the conventional techniques of financial planning and control through the introduction of new approaches. Additional chapters have been added to introduce Strategic Management Accounting, Activity Based Costing and the Balanced Scorecard, New Performance Measures, Venture Capital, Knowledge Management and Outsourcing, and Financial Considerations of eBusiness. In this third edition, the book has been revised to encourage the reader to think about and reflect upon the emergence of recent principles and practices related to financial planning and control. While it is addressed primarily to business managers with an interest in financial planning and control, the range of subjects covered and the breadth of approach adopted by many of the contributors will make the Handbook of Financial Planning and Control especially useful to those managers in non-financial functions (as well as students of management) who must reconcile theory with the everyday reality of modern business practice.

Managerial Finance provides a clear and readable explanation of the most important topics managers should understand about business finance. These include resource management, investment and decision making, as well as the practical use of financial rations and performance indicators. Real examples and case studies are used throughout to illustrate points in a practical context. The book is based upon the Management Charter Initiative's Occupational Standards for Management NVQs and SVQs at Levels 4 & 5 and is also particularly suitable for managers on Certificate and Diploma in Management programmes, including those accredited by the IM and Edexcel (formerly BTEC).Managerial Finance is part of the highly successful series of textbooks for managers which cover the knowledge and understanding required as part of any competency based management programme. The books cover the three main levels of management: supervisory/first-line management (NVQ level 3), middle management (Certificate/NVQ level 4) and senior management (Diploma/NVQ level 5).Alan Parkinson is the Hill Samuel Senior Lecturer in Accounting & Finance at the Open Business School. He was previously responsible as Director of the Open University MBA Programme for launching the highly successful MBA Course.

The training and culture of dental practice is based on clinical treatment and patient care. However in order to run their practices efficiently dentists and their staff must have business acumen and knowledge for which most are unprepared. This clear and authoritative guide presents the facts of practice finance explains how practice income can be maximised through its various sources and identifies the pitfalls and opportunities for further development. The 'New Contract' and reforms to the NHS system emphasize the need for the dental profession to respond effectively to the changed environment and this concise and comprehensive reference has been designed to meet this need.

Introduces practical approaches for optimizing management and hedging of Interest Rate Risk in the Banking Book (IRRBB) driven by fast evolving regulatory landscape and market expectations. Interest rate risk in the banking book (IRRBB) gained its importance through the regulatory requirements that have been growing and guiding the banking industry for the last couple of years. The importance of IRRBB is shifting for banks, away from 'just' a regulatory requirement to having an impact on the overall profitability of a financial institution. Interest Rate Risk in the Banking Book sheds light on the best practices for managing this importance risk category and provides detailed analysis of the hedging strategies, practical examples, and case studies based on the author's experience. This handbook is rich in practical insights on methodological approach and contents of ALCO report, IRRBB policy, ICAAP, Risk Appetite Statement (RAS) and model documentation. It is intended for the Treasury, Risk and Finance department and is helpful in improving and optimizing their IRRBB framework and strategy. By the end of this IRRBB journey, the reader will be equipped with all the necessary tools to build a proactive and compliant framework within a financial institution. Gain an updated understanding of the evolving regulatory landscape for IRRBB Learn to apply maturity gap analysis, sensitivity analysis, and the hedging strategy in banking contexts - Understand how customer behavior impacts interest rate risk and how to manage the consequences Examine case studies illustrating key IRRBB exposures and their implications Written by London market risk expert Beata Lubinska, Interest Rate Risk in the Banking Book is the authoritative resource on this evolving topic.

Written in a highly accessible style, A Factor Model Approach to Derivative Pricing lays a clear and structured foundation for the pricing of derivative securities based upon simple factor model related absence of arbitrage ideas. This unique and unifying approach provides for a broad treatment of topics and models, including equity, interest-rate, and credit derivatives, as well as hedging and tree-based computational methods, but without reliance on the heavy prerequisites that often accompany such topics. Key features A single fundamental absence of arbitrage relationship based on factor models is used to motivate all the results in the book A structured three-step procedure is used to guide the derivation of absence of arbitrage equations and illuminate core underlying concepts Brownian motion and Poisson process driven models are treated together, allowing for a broad and cohesive presentation of topics The final chapter provides a new approach to risk neutral pricing that introduces the topic as a seamless and natural extension of the factor model approach Whether being used as text for an intermediate level course in derivatives, or by researchers and practitioners who are seeking a better understanding of the fundamental ideas that underlie derivative pricing, readers will appreciate the book's ability to unify many disparate topics and models under a single conceptual theme. James A Primbs is an Associate Professor of Finance at the Mihaylo College of Business and Economics at California State University, Fullerton.

The methods and concepts presented in the bestselling first edition revolutionized the approach to the management and control of Lean companies. Enhanced with extensive end-of-chapter exercises and downloadable resources with Lean accounting tools, the second edition of this preeminent practitioner's guide is now suitable for classroom use. Practical Lean Accounting: A Proven System for Measuring and Managing the Lean Enterprise, Second Edition explains exactly what it takes to transform a traditional accounting system to one that supports and enhances a company's Lean efforts. Defining the fundamental principles of Lean accounting, it demonstrates how to use them to identify and eliminate wasteful transactions. The book includes coverage of cell performance measurement, use of the box score, operational and financial planning, cost targeting, Lean accounting diagnostics, and value stream mapping. Retaining the easy-to-use format that made the first edition a bestseller, this updated edition includes: A new section on the use of value stream performance measurements in continuous improvement A re-written Target Costing chapter that emphasizes a value-based approach to the management of the Lean value system A Lean Accounting Diagnostic tool to help you assess progress and develop a plan for implementing changes Cutting-edge examples that illustrate implementation in accounting departments Downloadable resources with data from the ECI Value Stream Cost Analysis case study included in the text, Excel templates, and end-of-chapter questions with solutions The book contains a wealth of tools that makes it ideal for company training sessions and advanced undergraduate and graduate-level courses. For each major example provided, two similar problems are included-one for instructors to guide students through and a second for students to work through on their own. An additional set of problems and questions for testing purposes are also available to instructors on the authors' website. Unfortunately, during the publishing process mistakes can be made that are not caught before the book is printed. Productivity Press takes great care to catch any errors prior to the printing stage.

Smart strategies for taking control of your money from bestselling author and personal finance expert Terry Savage--the new, fully updated third edition. The Savage Truths on Money are time-tested, but new technologies and techniques make it easier and more profitable to make your money work for you! Now, financial success can be achieved simply and automatically through new apps, tools, and access to low-cost money management tools and advice. Living in financial security--not constantly worrying about education costs, medical bills, or having enough money saved for retirement--is within anyone's reach. In this new edition of The Savage Truth on Money, author Terry Savage shares the time-tested truths of financial security, guides you on redirecting your finances, and helps you create a financial plan for your future--using all the resources of technology, the best people in the financial planning industry, and your own informed judgment. This must-have resource is a roadmap for navigating today's economic reality on the way to your best possible financial future. This invaluable guide will help you: Take responsibility for your own financial future, using technology to improve your financial decision-making Control your spending and deal with debt, protect your assets, and grow your savings Learn the basic truths about money, markets, and human emotions--and how to use that knowledge to your advantage Find financial advisors you can trust--fiduciaries who will put your interests first, and save you money on costs Make a realistic plan for college without being buried in debt--and deal with existing student loans Create--and reach--retirement goals that allow you to enjoy your financial success Whether you're just starting out and unsure of your next steps, or you're worried about how you'll manage your investments and plan your retirement, the third edition of The Savage Truth on Money is your one-stop guide for taking control of your finances today and reaping the benefits tomorrow.

Throughout his career Fisher Black has described a view of business fluctuations based on the idea that a well-developed economy will be continually in equilibrium. In the essays that constitute this book he explores this idea thoroughly and reaches some surprising conclusions.
Provocative and clearly written, Business Cycles and Equilibrium will be of value to students of macroeconomics as well as those of finance and the international economy.

This book examines key aspects of the measurement of fiscal policy making in the EU fiscal surveillance framework, highlighting strengths and weaknesses of current assessment practice. Based on the proceedings of a workshop organized by the European Commission's Directorate-General Economic and Financial Affairs, the book's contributions from leading experts will be of particular value to individuals and institutions involved in the fields of national and international economics and finance. Key Features: Chapters are arranged within three main sections: Long-term sustainability; Measurement of the underlying budgetary position and discretionary fiscal policy; Reliability of fiscal indicators Edited by Martin Larch and Jo Nogueira Martins Expert contributors include Ant Afonso, Fabrizio Balassone, Fernando Ballabriga, Roy Barrell, Peter Brandner, Peter Claeys, Leopold Diebalek, Per Eckefeldt, Jonas Fischer, Daniele Franco, Jagadeesh Gokhale, Ian Hurst, Walpurga K hler-T glhofer, Gy rgy Kopits, Martin Larch, Carlos Martinez-Mongay, James Mitchell, Jo Nogueira Martins, Jan in 't Veld, Stefania Zotteri Text amply supported by charts and tables. Bibliography and Index

With the Solvency II deadline approaching, and full implementation expected from January 2016, affected entities are at varying states of readiness with embedding Solvency II into everyday practices becoming a major focus. Programme stakeholder communications needs to be robust to secure compliance and buy-in on both internal and external fronts. If your CEO fails to communicate to the markets your organization's ability to deliver on the EU Directive, or if a local Regulator finds that your Board has failed to embed a risk culture that is aligned with Solvency II, your ability to operate in the Solvency II world will be questioned. Solvency II: Stakeholder Communications and Change explains how to negate such risks. Gabrielle O'Donovan demonstrates how to approach stakeholder communications and change management in a structured and disciplined way, framed by the EU Directive's governance requirements. She demonstrates how to use a variety of tools and techniques to engage people with change and embed new ways of doing things. She reveals how to embed risk consciousness into your culture, helping you secure Solvency II approval and operate successfully in the Solvency II world. Based on the author's original research and the latest industry developments, Solvency II: Stakeholder Communications and Change is well-structured, readable and above all essential for all involved in Solvency II implementation.

How much risk should we take? A Short Guide to Risk Appetite sets out to help all those who need to decide how much risk can be taken in a particular risky and important situation. David Hillson and Ruth Murray-Webster introduce the RARA Model to explain the complementary and central roles of Risk Appetite and Risk Attitude, and along the way they show how other risk-related concepts fit in. Risk thresholds are the external expression of inherent risk appetite, and the challenge is how to set the right thresholds. By progressively deconstructing the RARA Model, the authors show that the essential control step is our ability to choose an appropriate risk attitude. The book contains practical guidance to setting risk thresholds that take proper account of the influences of organisational risk culture and the individual risk preferences of key stakeholders. Alongside this, individuals and organisations need to choose the risk attitude that will optimise their chances of achieving the desired objectives.

We are in an era of high volatility and uncertain outcomes, driven by accelerating technologies, shortened product cycles, fast-changing information, an increasingly mobile workforce, more demanding customers, complex financial markets, ad-hoc public policies, and many other factors that add layers of uncertainty to all future possibilities. While most believe that good management requires better prediction of the future and better planning, Gill Eapen instead contends that the best way to manage effectively in an uncertain world is through the conscious application of flexibility - an ability to absorb constantly shifting variables and adapt quickly. Flexibility: Flexible Companies for the Uncertain World explores ways in which organizations can systematically enhance their ability to survive and succeed without the guarantees that come with certainty. In these pages, Eapen details: Specific attributes of status-quo organizations that hinder their capacity for flexibility in their three primary components: structure, systems, and strategies A tool and process for diagnosing flexibility-related problems within an organization Specific actions companies can take to improve flexibility, regardless of their size or age A case study of a technology company progressively losing flexibility due to management actions, as well as a detailed project plan for remedial actions Based on the author's years of experience working with a variety of industries, including life sciences, energy, technology, financial services, and manufacturing, and his expertise in decision options, Flexibility offers a holistic alternative approach for managing risk and making the best decisions possible in these especially uncertain times.

A guide to improving sales and profits in consumer financial services that stresses the development of a sales and service culture. The key principles discussed are interaction with customers, cultural support and values, service from the customer's point of view, service selling, characteristics of successful sales organizations, star sales people, perfecting the sales process, dealing with prospective clients, and ongoing interaction with the client.

Business is an understudied area in American religious history that has profound implications for how we understand the popularity and ongoing transformation of religion in the US. This volume explores the business aspects of American religious organizations by analyzing the financing, production, marketing, and distribution of religious goods and services and the role of wealth and economic organization in sustaining and even shaping worship, charity, philanthropy, institutional growth and missionary work. Treating religion and business holistically, the essays show how business practices have continually informed American religious life. Laying important groundwork for further investigation, the essays show how American business has operated as a domain for achieving religious purpose that historians of religion often overlook. Even when critics denounce its corruption and fallen state, business occupies a central place in American religious life that merits better understanding. Historically, religion has been more powerful in America when interwoven with business. Chapters on Mormon enterprise, Jewish philanthropy, Hindu gurus, Native American casinos, and the wedding of business wealth to conservative Catholic social teaching indicate the range of new studies stimulated by the business turn in American religious history. Other essays show how evangelicals joined neo-liberal economic practice and right-wing politics to religious fundamentalism to consolidate wealth and power, and develop marketing campaigns and organizational strategies that transformed the broader parameters of American religious life. All these essays stimulate new ways of thinking about American religious history, and about American success. Some essays in this volume expose the moral compromises religious organizations have made to succeed as centers of wealth and influence, and the religious beliefs that rationalize and justify these compromises. Other essays dwell on the application of business practices as a means of sustaining religious institutions and expanding their reach. Still others take account of controversy over business practices within religious organizations, and the adjustments religious organizations have made in response. Together, the essays collected here offer various ways of conceptualizing the interdependence of religion and business in the U.S., establishing multiple paths for further study of their intertwined historical development.

Financial technology is rapidly changing and shaping financial services and markets. These changes are considered making the future of finance a digital one.This Handbook analyses developments in the financial services, products and markets that are being reshaped by technologically driven changes with a view to their policy, regulatory, supervisory and other legal implications. The Handbook aims to illustrate the crucial role the law has to play in tackling the revolutionary developments in the financial sector by offering a framework of legally enforceable principles and values in which such innovations might take place without threatening the acquis of financial markets law and more generally the rule of law and basic human rights. With contributions from international leading experts, topics will include: Policy, High-level Principles, Trends and Perspectives Fintech and Lending Fintech and Payment Services Fintech, Investment and Insurance Services Fintech, Financial Inclusion and Sustainable Finance Cryptocurrencies and Cryptoassets Markets and Trading Regtech and Suptech This Handbook will be of great relevance for practitioners and students alike, and a first reference point for academics researching in the fields of banking and financial markets law.