This path-breaking book considers the recent trend for governments to look increasingly to private sector finance, provided by private enterprises constructing and managing public infrastructure facilities in partnership with government bodies. One outstanding feature of the book is that it brings together an academic assessment of this phenomenon with practitioner-based experience of organizing partnerships and advising government bodies in Australia, Canada, Continental Europe, Hong Kong and the UK. While the volume, as a whole, draws on this extensive experience of the market, there are also a number of specific case studies. Developments in the major advanced countries are covered, along with the potential for public private partnerships in developing countries and transition economies. Combining practitioner knowledge and academic perspective and integrating engineering, economics and finance literature, Public Private Partnerships will be of great interest to economists, engineers, investment banks and government bodies.

Special economic zones (SEZs) are important doorways for countries to attract foreign investment and promote trade. A strong correlation between the creation of SEZs and economic development indicators has also been identified in previous studies, at the municipal level, in China. Thus, the fundamental question that needs to be explored is to what extent SEZs can play the role of development enablers in different regions, development states, and institutional settings. Special Economic Zones as Regional Development Enablers discusses the diverse and international track records in the implementation of SEZs, the interplay of SEZ models and local institutional infrastructure and stakeholders, and the SEZ models that can best fit certain development states and/or settings. Covering topics such as the Belt and Road Initiative, local and national economies, and regional integration, this book is essential for government officials, development officers, scholars, students, researchers, entrepreneurs, public decision makers, aid agencies, company executives, investors, and academicians.

Joseph G. McCoy was a cattle rancher who forged a career spanning decades in the westerly frontiers of North America. This book contains Joseph's recollections of his career and major events in his life. The life of a livestock trader and herder in the nineteenth century was not easy; dangers abounded in lands which were newly charted. Organizing an efficient and profitable business in such conditions was no easy feat; ranchers had to be physically tough and determined, as well as capable with overseeing and operating a farm. The frequent threat of cattle theft - a common occurrence in the frontier lands - meant security was an added concern. We also receive a history of Kansas, whereby we learn of the state's steady development. The growth of the population, the establishment of banks and storefronts, and the arrival of the railroads were all landmarks of progress in McCoy's home state.

This book examines the early American cotton industry through British perspectives. The book covers the period from the 1780s to 1880, and concerns mainly Lancashire and New England, although there are many references to Scotland on the one hand, and to Pennsylvania and New York on the other. By concentrating on the spinning branch of the industry, which was far more affected by technological advances than the weaving branch during this period, Cohen is able to contrast different types of technologies, workers, markets, and goods. For example, the book contrasts how American industrialists acted differently than the British millowners and deals with the response of American factory workers to industrialization as distinct from the British operatives. Three interrelated themes emerge to define the theoretical subject matter of this study: mass production versus craft production, technology and organization, and craft control. Significantly, this study recognizes the often overlooked importance of mule spinning to the industry. The volume examines the craft workers' rise to and struggle for power, the rise of the foreman, the role of unions, and an exploration of strikes--how they happened, why they happened, and what happened because of them. In the final chapter, the book expands its focus to examine the relationship of cotton to the coal, iron, and steel industries.

National champions are firms promoted by governments to defend the national interest in the international market. This book looks at how European national champions have fared under the pressure of European integration and in an increasingly competitive world economy.

"When thinking about modern China's chemical industry, forget not Fan Xudong," so declared Mao Zedong publicly after 1949. Although Mao might have united front politics in mind when invoking Fan as a paragon of the national bourgeoisie, why would the chairman praise a champion of private enterprise? How did Fan Xudong and his colleagues build Yongli from scratch into one of the largest industrial conglomerates in modern China amid predatory foreign competition and domestic strife? What were his secrets of success? Drawing from company documents, government archives, and personal correspondences, this book traces Yongli's birth, growth, nationalization, and how Fan and his colleagues pursued a third path of national development between for-profit private enterprise and state ownership.

Clusters are geographic concentrations of interconnected companies, specialized suppliers, service providers, and associated institutions in a particular field that are present in a nation or region. The development and upgrading of clusters is an important agenda for governments, companies, and other institutions. Cluster growth initiatives are an important new direction in economic policy, building on earlier efforts in macroeconomic stabilization, privatization, market opening, and cost reduction related to doing business. Comparing High Technology Firms in Developed and Developing Countries: Cluster Growth Initiatives is the leading source of information for readers interested in this field of study as it promotes scientific discussion on policies and practice of cluster growth, as well as covers the emerging research topics which are going to define the future of the management of technology. Furthermore, this book demonstrates the effectiveness and efficiency of technology policy based on observations of differential growth rate of high technology firms in clusters, and explores the factors that explain superior performance of high technology firms to contribute the improvement of technology policy in both developed and developing countries.

How much do you want to be a winner? How much do you yearn to resolve nagging problems in your work and life? How do we transform failures into successes? What made, Einstein win? How Tagore focused his consciousness to be one of the great poets? How did Gandhi see through problems? How did winners like Guru Nanak, Shri Ramakrishna and Gautama Buddha create great movements around their schools of thought? Both organizations and individuals can learn and gain from those insights. This book which forms the first part of the N-E-M-E series, basically concentrates on the 'Sa' note of the Sargam or the 'Do' of the octave, the starting point of all that is harmonious and melodious. Dibyendu in this wonderful narration humbly asks people to "see" and become a winner in whatever they do. The secret lies in mastering the mind and directing it to unravel the mysteries of complex reality that constantly engulfs our lives in multiple layers. In a way, it tries to guide the reader to break free of seemingly impossible strangleholds in life and work through the power of 'SEE'. This book seeks to answer a universal question. How does one enhance one's quality of life and work to live more humanely and harmoniously? "1 of the best of @PredictSwan Imagination and memory have their proper place but if used wrongly they transform into slippery paths to hell" -- @humanatom "Once there is self-awareness, traders can practice improving strengths and reducing weaknesses. @predictswan' -- @toughloveforx

The economic situation in Sub-Saharan Africa has recently undergone a process of change. After a long period of stagnation during the 1980s and 1990s, GDP per capita has shown significant growth in the 2000s. Although the growth rate is lower than that of East Asia, it is significantly higher than that in previous decades. The most significant factor yielding the better economic performance is the increase in commodity prices including oil, mineral and agricultural products, which are the main export products for most African countries. Another factor has been the scaling up of aid flows following the commencement of the Millennium Development Goals. The enhanced commitment of the donor community increased aid flow to Africa, which in turn increased GDP through consumption of locally sourced products and services, such as with the construction industry.This book aims to fill the lack of micro evidences on a structural change of African producers. By collecting studies on single industries, the authors attempt to demonstrate firms' and farmers' responses to the recent economic trend such as growth of demand, emergence of FDI and improvement in infrastructure. Since the economic trend differs by industry, its impacts on producers can be observed more clearly by focusing on a single industry. Based on case studies, this book covers four industries in five countries that experienced significant external changes; namely, horticulture in Ghana, construction in Burkina Faso, textiles in Madagascar, agriculture in Uganda, and wood processing in Tanzania. All studies are based on original data collected through the authors' field work.

Tourists are today urged to visit the 'birthplace of the Industrial Revolution', packaged as part of 'a glorious heritage'. Half a century and more ago the picture was very different. Then the Industrial Revolution was commonly treated as having been a social catastrophe which had brought 'a new barbarism' to the country. Donald Coleman traces the history of the term 'Industrial Revolution' and the uses to which it has been put. Originating in European radical Romanticism, popularised in English by Arnold Toynbee in the 1 880s, it has achieved, with its meaning transformed, the status of potent myth in the nation's history. The book examines industrial revolutions real and imaginary; illuminates some of the activities of businessmen engaged therein; considers attitudes towards the businessmen who have thus come to occupy the historical stage; and discusses the academic study of business history- a subject hardly imaginable without the Industrial Revolution. In the course of investigating these inter-related topics, the volume as a whole offers valuable insights into the ways in which economic history has been written and the concepts which have been invented and deployed in an effort to understand a central event in British history. This book provides an excellent introduction to the subject.

The book relates to understanding the growing importance of aerospace power in modern warfare, including integration of air and space which has truly become the new theatre of war. The unifying space dimension will remain the single most important source for information and communication which can be used in multiple forms. It is an attempt to focus on China's evolving military strategy with emphasis on the aerospace dimension and its implications in the region, specifically in the Indian context. Initially, the book attempts to analyse the strategic importance of the rising economic, political and military stature of China with a view to understand its regional and global implications in the military domain. China, in recent times, has time and again demonstrated its resolve to defend its security interests at all costs. For over three decades, China has been modernising its strategic and nuclear capabilities besides developing new and complex military platforms that would be of great value to joint operations warfare. The current decade through 2020 will prove critical to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) as it attempts to integrate many new and complex platforms, and to adopt modern operational concepts, including network-centric warfare. Besides undertaking a comprehensive modernisation of its armed forces, China is developing a series of offensive space capabilities while advocating the peaceful use of outer space. In the later part, the book highlights the transformation of China's aerospace power. The PLA Air Force (PLAAF) appears to be well on its way to becoming a modern, highly capable air force for the 21st century. China's latest combat aircraft, the J-20, highlights China's ambition to produce a fighter aircraft that incorporates stealth attributes, advanced avionics, and super-cruise capable engines over the next several years. China's aviation industry is developing several types of Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. PLAAF exercises have demonstrated that its role has changed from support to ground forces to being able to conduct operations independently. It is actively trying to imbibe better training programmes and has increased joint training with other air forces in the recent years. Induction of the aircraft carrier Liaoning in September 2012 highlights China's growing maritime interests and power projection capabilities. The book will be of immense value both for the readers of the countries in the immediate neighbourhood of China and the strategic community in general since the rise of China and other major Asian players, including India, will shape the strategic international environment in the coming decades of this century.

Productivity growth has long been recognised by both economists and non-economists as being necessary for all economies aspiring to raise their standard of living. Thus, Renuka Mahadevan aims to highlight the conceptual differences, advantages and disadvantages of the various total factor productivity (TFP) measures and suggests processes and strategies for choosing the best technique to draw up policies for sustainable growth. Empirical results from six case studies are presented, and the analysis of the selected Asia Pacific economies is not only informative but also allows for variety in issues concerning productivity analysis. Consequently, policy measures based on each of the economies' experiences are carefully measured out in relation to various aspects such as trade liberalisation, industrial policy and other microeconomic and macroeconomic policies. The nature of the applied work in the book is refreshing and will therefore appeal to policy makers. It is also a valuable reference material for economists and researchers in industry and government, as well as graduate students who are interested in the Asia-pacific region and in particular, in productivity growth analysis.

Mass production is on its way out, according to Glenn Bassett, and is being replaced by a project shop economy. In a visionary book that is both theoretical and practical Bassett examines the factors turning our economy back to the short-run production methods that prevailed until the Industrial Revolution, 150 years ago. This economic change can be disorienting to management and can produce wrenching changes on the shop floor. Using the models and methods of management science, the author shows how to make the transition easier. He offers fresh strategies for measuring business effectiveness and specific management practices appropriate to the flexible, small-scale job shop. These include moderate to low capacity utilization, scheduling sensitivity to bottlenecks, and development of the job shop's most important asset--its highly skilled workers.

The historical analyses in this work are compelling to any reader aware of the limitations of passive consumerism. An economy characterized by mass production of commodity goods and services is inherently unstable because people will naturally begin to seek self-expression in the special and the uncommon. Not just a countertrend in a society of mass markets, this reemphasis of craftsmanship and quality represents a full-scale reversion to nonstandardization. Bassett helps managers understand the true value of custom production. While the project shop can never possess the precision and efficiency of mass production, it is more effective. It puts out higher quality products and provides a more humane workplace that utilizes the full potential of skilled workers. This book will help managers of short-run/custom production and service operations and production operations managers to adapt to the changing workplace and economy.

This book proposes a new approach to the government regulation of utilities. Arguing that traditional command-and-control regulation does not encourage efficient performance, Strasser and Kohler advocate the use of an incentive-based regulatory system and offer a practical, realistic strategy for the successful implementation of such plans within the context of utility regulation. The analysis is supported by a comprehensive survey of the relevant legal materials, an overview of the literature on organization theory and institutional economics, and a survey of the latest thinking on how incentives can most effectively be paid.

Strasser and Kohler begin by identifying problems associated with current regulatory techniques, demonstrating that disincentives are often built into the regulatory system. When that system has tried incentives, the authors show they have been applied in an ad hoc manner, further exacerbating the problem. In presenting the case for incentive-based regulation, the authors review the history of comprehensive incentive plans, look at what organization theory can teach us about using incentives as a regulatory strategy, and explore the effective use of incentive compensation by nonregulated companies. Strasser and Kohler then develop a strategy for implementing incentive plans in regulated utilities, showing that, in order to work, the plans must include the installation of clearly defined bonuses and penalties, specific standards of performance, the payment of bonuses to managers rather than shareholders, and reliable and complete measures of company performance. Policymakers, economists, public utility regulators, and attorneys involved in the complex arena of utility regulation will find Regulating Utilities with Management Incentives indispensable reading.

Many Japanese and Germans endorse the shareholder-first assumptions dominant today in Britain and America. Yet in both countries there are articulate defenders of what they consider to be a better, more social-solidary way of life. Dore traces the fascinating debates which ensue on corporate governance, on worker rights, on supplier relations, on cartels and anti-trust, on pensions and welfare. He also analyses actual changes in economic behaviour. These accounts of the battle for the national soul in Japan and Germany constitute one of the finest contributions to the 'diversity of capitalism' debate. Dore's account should be read by anyone who is interested to know whether, for all the talk of globalization, that diversity is going to survive.

The process of food production and distribution has grown into a global corporate system in recent years. This has caused significant impacts on sustainability on an international scale, particularly for developing nations. Establishing Food Security and Alternatives to International Trade in Emerging Economies is a pivotal reference source for the latest scholarly research on agricultural trade relations and trade liberalization in the context of developing countries. Highlighting a range of pertinent topics such as crop productivity, rural development, and value-added agriculture, this book is ideally designed for academics, researchers, graduate students, and practitioners interested in the current state of global food markets. Topics Covered: The many academic areas covered in this publication include, but are not limited to: Climate Change Crop Productivity Food Safety Maritime Piracy Rural Development Trade Policies Value-Added Agriculture

In Outraged, an auto insider provides an inspiring account of what it means to lose your rights, property, and, in essence, the American dream. It begins with roughly two thousand men and women whose companies were destroyed by two automakers, General Motors and Chrysler, during their government-led corporate restructurings in 2009. Authors Tamara Darvish, vice president of DARCARS Automotive in Maryland, and Lillie Guyer, a Detroit area automotive journalist, show the collapse of the American dream from the perspective of an entrepreneur who was affected by the automotive industry bailout. In this featurized business story, Outraged details the founding of the activist group Committee to Restore Dealer Rights and its efforts to regain the economic rights of auto dealerships throughout the United States. It tells how they took their fight to Congress and to the steps of the White House. Outraged candidly examines the battles between dealers and the entities that engineered their demise. It also details the pain and the high points in government as its temporary power brokers ignore the significant role of Congress in lawmaking and the rights of ordinary citizens. This personal, controversial account shows what can happen when people unite in a common cause and stand up for what they believe is right.