Research in Health Economics has developed into a separate discipline during the last 25 years. All this intense research activity has come about through the teaching of courses on health economics, mostly at graduate level. However, the Industrial Organization aspects of the health care market do not occupy a central place in those courses. We propose a textbook of health economics whose distinguishing feature is the analysis of the health care market from an Industrial Organization perspective. This textbook will provide teachers and students with a reference to study the market structure aspects of the health care sector.

The book is structured in three parts. The first part will present the basic principles of economics. It will bring all readers to the required level of knowledge to follow subsequent parts. Part II will review the main concepts of health economics. The third part will contain the core of the book. It will present the industrial organization analysis of the health care market, based on our own research.

Rapid growth of the global economy has accelerated the degradation of the Earth's most important asset: the environment. Increasing poverty and challenges arising from climate change further threaten the planet's natural systems. With a rising global population, the demand on natural resources to cover even basic human needs is intensifying - supporting businesses that promote the sustainable use of natural resources and help ensure their long-term viability is imperative. As part of a pioneering movement to harness business towards effecting environmental change, The Nature Conservancy launched EcoEnterprises Fund in 2000 to provide investment capital to grow small "eco"-businesses in Latin America. There is a compelling need for financing this niche. Companies of this size truly drive change - creating the engine for economic activity and generating livelihoods for bottom of the pyramid rural peoples which brings about positive social and conservation impacts. EcoEnterprises Fund's portfolio highlights twenty-three cutting-edge companies, in expanding sectors such as organic agriculture, ecotourism, sustainable forestry, and non-timber forest products which include innovative industry first-movers-from organic shrimp to biodynamic flowers, and ready-to-drink smoothies made from the latest Amazonian berry. With a successful ten-year track record, EcoEnterprises Fund has valuable learning to share - from what pitfalls to avoid when structuring investments to what types of assistance entrepreneurs in these emerging environmental sectors need most. Portfolio for the Planet translates a decade of experience into accessible lessons for both veterans and newcomers in the field: for those interested in investing in sustainable businesses, discovering novel approaches to environmental conservation, or seeing entrepreneurs pursue their dreams.

Transaction cost economics have come to dominate discussions about the nature of the firm. In this critical analysis of the transaction cost paradigm, the author argues that while it offers certain insights, the transaction cost approach is an inadequate basis for a general theory of the firm. Beginning with an overview of transaction costs, it outlines both the advantages and the disadvantages of the approach. Assuming that the organization of the firm is static, transaction cost economics is least effective in explaining the dynamic aspects of firms' behaviour. However, rather than rejecting the whole approach on these grounds, Michael Dietrich looks at ways in which the theory can be enlarged and its explanatory power increased. Considering such recent innovations as total quality control and just-in-time management, the book presents a vision of the firm in which decision making can be both hierarchical and creative. The implications of this for business policy are assessed.

First published in 1930, John Hobson's study deals with the economic dilemmas generated in the early twentieth century by the advent of mass production. Namely the over-production and surfeit of goods and the resultant failure of the expansion of markets leading to record levels of mass unemployment. Seeking a solution to this dilemma, Hobson analyses all aspects of the problem: income, uses of the surplus, underconsumption, markets and distribution, and internationalism. The study also explores theories concerning economies of rationalisation, both in terms of productivity and consumption.

This book provides a compendium to the empirical work investigating the hypotheses generated by recent banking theory. Such a compendium is overdue. Since the publication of the The Microeconomics of Banking by Xavier Freixas and Jean Charles Rochet, work in empirical banking has further blossomed, not only in sheer volume but also in the variety of questions being tackled, datasets becoming available, and methodologies being introduced. This book follows the structure in Freixas and Rochet's book and arranges the relevant methodologies, applications, and results according to each of their original chapters in order to have a coherent synthesis between available theory and supporting empirics. Each chapter in Microeconometrics of Banking contains a modest introduction (where possible and appropriate), a concise methodology section with one or more relevant methodologies, and several illustrative applications. In a "muscular" results section the authors summarize the main robust and seminal findings in the literature that are in the text, and provide the details of many other studies in figures and tables.

This book investigates from the perspective of the major economic dictionaries the notions of economic crisis and cycles. It gives an extensive summary of a number of significant entries on this subject, with an introductory essay to each entry placing them (and the dictionary to which they belong) in their context, giving some details on the author of the dictionary entry, and assessing the entry's (and its author's) contribution. The broad picture (including the history of these encyclopedic tools) is examined in the introductory essays. Extra resources may be accessed at the author's personal website: http://www.danielebesomi.ch/dictionaries/crises_in_dictionaries/index.html

First published in 1930, John Hobson 's study deals with the economic dilemmas generated in the early twentieth century by the advent of mass production. Namely the over-production and surfeit of goods and the resultant failure of the expansion of markets leading to record levels of mass unemployment.

Seeking a solution to this dilemma, Hobson analyses all aspects of the problem: income, uses of the surplus, underconsumption, markets and distribution, and internationalism. The study also explores theories concerning economies of rationalisation, both in terms of productivity and consumption.

The Handbook of Microfinance showcases an expansive collection of works from leading academics and field practitioners. In an attempt to understand the enormous gap between the limited number of clients that are currently benefiting from microfinance services, and the huge number of potential clients that are not, the selected contributions in this comprehensive handbook have one common thread: the prevailing mismatch between demand by clients of microfinance institutions and potential clients selecting themselves out for their demand for a wider array of financial products which is not being met.The scope of the book is wide, and explores successes and failures, main challenges and debates, methodologies for impact evaluation via random trials, leading trends in Asia versus Latin America, main efforts in Africa, the importance of value chains in Central America, ethical and gender issues, savings, microinsurance, governance, commercialization trends and the potential advantages and disadvantages of it. This exhaustive Handbook also features main lessons from informal finance and 19th-century credit cooperatives addressing the above-mentioned mismatch.

First published in 1977, this is an applied economics text, in which the basic theory of any introductory economics couurse is applied to a whole range of UK macro- and micro-economic policy issues. The book is designed specifically for first and second year university students, with the aim of demonstrating the relevance of theory to policy, how theory can be applied to policy problems and, in the process, to improve their understanding of the theory itself.

Escaping from Bad Decisions presents a modern conceptual and mathematical framework of the decision-making process. By interpreting ordinal utility theory as normative analysis examined in view of rationality, it shows how decision-making under certainty, risk, and uncertainty can be better understood. It provides a critical examination of psychological models in multi-attribute decision-making, and evaluates the constitutive elements of "good" and "bad" decisions. Multi-attribute decision-making is analysed descriptively, based on the psychological model of decision-making and computer simulations of decision strategies. Finally, prescriptive examinations of multi-attribute decision-making are performed, supporting the argument that decision-making from a pluralistic perspective creates results that can help "escape" from bad decisions. This book will be of particular interest to graduate students and early career researchers in economics, decision-theory, behavioral economics, experimental economics, psychology, cognitive sciences, and decision neurosciences.

A market-leading text, Microeconomics presents economic theory in the context of real, data-driven examples, and then helps you develop your intuition through hallmark Solved Problems. The text places emphasis on modern theories, such as industrial organization theory, game theory, and transaction cost theory, which are useful in analyzing actual markets. At the same time, a step-by-step problem-based learning approach demonstrates how to use microeconomic theory to solve business problems and analyze policy. The 9th Edition has been substantially updated with new or revised real-world examples, applications and problems. This gives you a practical perspective, seeing how models connect to real-world decisions being made in today's firms and policy debates. This print textbook is available for students to rent for their classes. The Pearson print rental program provides students with affordable access to learning materials, so they come to class ready to succeed.

Discover the secrets to applying simple econometric techniques to improve forecasting Equipping analysts, practitioners, and graduate students with a statistical framework to make effective decisions based on the application of simple economic and statistical methods, Economic and Business Forecasting offers a comprehensive and practical approach to quantifying and accurate forecasting of key variables. Using simple econometric techniques, author John E. Silvia focuses on a select set of major economic and financial variables, revealing how to optimally use statistical software as a template to apply to your own variables of interest. * Presents the economic and financial variables that offer unique insights into economic performance * Highlights the econometric techniques that can be used to characterize variables * Explores the application of SAS software, complete with simple explanations of SAS-code and output * Identifies key econometric issues with practical solutions to those problems Presenting the "ten commandments" for economic and business forecasting, this book provides you with a practical forecasting framework you can use for important everyday business applications.

This second edition of eCommerce Economics addresses the economic issues associated with using computer-mediated electronic networks, such as the Internet, as mechanisms for transferring ownership of or rights to use goods and services. After studying this book, students will recognize problems that arise in the electronic marketplace, such as how to gauge the competitive environment, what products to offer, how to market those products, and how to price those products. They also will understand the conceptual tools required to evaluate the proper scope of public policies relating to electronic commerce.

Core topics covered in the book include the underpinning of electronic commerce and the application of basic economic principles, including the theories of perfect and imperfect competition, to the electronic marketplace. Building on this foundation, the book discusses virtual products, network industries, and business strategies and conduct. Additional key topics include Internet advertising, intellectual property rights in a digital environment, regulatory issues in electronic markets, public sector issues, online banking and finance, digital cash, international electronic trade, and the implications of e-commerce for aggregate economic activity.

This book, first published in 1990, analyses contemporary Yugoslavian development strategy in its historical and political context, assessing how corruption, negligence, and an emphasis on industry to the detriment of agriculture and trade, have all played a part in bringing Yugoslavia close to financial and political chaos. The book concludes by considering the contemporary prospects for a more integrated policy approach in the midst of the country's political crisis.

What produces a happy society and a happy life? Thanks to the new science of wellbeing, we can now answer this question using state-of-the-art empirical evidence. This transforms our ability to base our decisions on the outcomes that matter most, namely the wellbeing of us all including future generations. Written by two of the world's leading experts on the economics of wellbeing, this book shows how wellbeing can be measured, what causes it, and how it can be improved. The findings of the book are profoundly relevant to all social sciences, including psychology, economics, politics, behavioural science and sociology. This is the first field-defining text on a new science that aims to span the whole of human life. It will be an invaluable resource for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as policy-makers and employers who will be able to apply its insights in their professional and private lives.

First published in 1985, Advances in Monetary Economics draws together papers given at the 1984 Money Study Group Conference and additional papers presented in seminars of the same year. The book includes papers on theoretical, empirical and institutional aspects of monetary economics. Each chapter displays a concern with policy in the monetary sphere, both with regards to macroeconomic questions of monetary and fiscal management, and issues of policy at the microeconomic level towards financial institutions and markets. In doing so, the book highlights the importance of monetary economics in policy issues. Advances in Monetary Economics has enduring relevance for those with an interest in the history and development of monetary economics.

First published in 1984, this title discusses the emergence of both the orthodox and political economy based approaches to underdevelopment in geography , critically assessing their strengths and weaknesses, and showing the relationship between intellectual developments and changing material conditions. The work is primarily concerned with theories, though it does contain much empirical material drawn from throughout the Third World. The book examines the emergence of theories of development historically and considers the various contemporary theoretical 'schools', both Marxist and non-Marxist. It goes on to consider four aspects of development which are of particular interest to geographers, namely the world economy, regional imbalances, the human-nature theme and the analysis of urban space, and concludes by suggesting some directions for future research.

This 13-volume collection originally published between 1929 and 1982 contains a selection of titles from the fields of economics and political science. Many individual titles focus on Britain and include topics such as democracy; environmental planning; foreign policy; legislation; microeconomics; national income; and the welfare state. The earliest title looks at the nature of nationality, and two further titles look at politics in France. This set will be an insight for those interested in the history of either field.

This timely and important book takes a serious view of our current economic situation. The author's conclusions differ from the conventional wisdom, which suggests that the manufacturing sector is regaining much of its dominance as a result of the declining dollar, that exports will take over as a major source of economic growth, that a recession is unlikely, and that a depression is no longer possible. Indeed, she outlines many similarities between the excesses of the 1980s and those of the 1920s which led to the Great Depression. The author provides convincing evidence that the recent economic recovery may only have provided a smokescreen for the continued deterioration of the U.S. economy.

Risk and Business Cycles examines the causes of business cycles, a perennial topic of interest within economics. The author argues the case for the revival of an important role for monetary causes in business cycle theory, which challenges the current trend towards favouring purely real theories. The work also presents a critique of the traditional Austrian theory of the trade cycle. This controversial approach will ensure that the book is of interest to all those involved with business cycles, as well as Austrian economics.

Eco-innovation is becoming a conceptual reference point for many regional and international public policies and management strategies. This field of research has been focusing on how environmental innovation is particularly related to the intensity of emissions and economic performance. There are two reasons for this growing interest. The first is that environmental performance is one of the main economic policy goals of European countries, thanks to its relevance to the Lisbon Strategy and the Goteborg priorities for sustainable development. The second, which is partly linked to the first, is related to the growing impact of environmental regulation on private sector activity in many European countries.

This volume brings together microeconomics studies on firms' eco-innovation and economic performance, both in the industrial and service sector, with a sector-based perspective rooted mainly in the exploitation of NAMEA data at regional level, and finally with a macroeconomic analysis of the environment, income and welfare.

This collection brings together the best of recent research in the interlinked areas of eco-innovation and income-environment relationships studies, and in its entirety is an excellent source of knowledge for postgraduates, researchers and students of Environmental and Ecological Economics alike. As well as fully developing the theoretical aspects of its topics, these essays are also strongly policy-oriented and will be of interest to anyone seeking information on an applied perspective.

Based on bank and official archives, this book focuses on Japan's financial activities abroad - in particular, Japan's borrowings. This is the story of Japan's success: a "doubtful" borrower in the 1870s, it became respected after the Russo-Japan war. This study also highlights the mechanism of loan issues on the international capital markets. First published in 1994, this title is part of the Bloomsbury Academic Collections series.

Traditional microeconomic theory has much to offer a manager. It suggests ways to increase profits by setting prices and packaging services, using advertising to increase demand and shows how internet auction sites like eBay affect competition and profitability. By using game theory to present and solve a manager's decision-making problems and by focusing on the strategic nature of these problems, this text makes microeconomic theory much more intuitive and relevant for the business student.

The text is separated into four sections:

• basic microeconomic theory of the firm and the basic tools of game theory
• problems related to the strategic interaction between firms, including price and quantity competition and product differentiation
• issues arising from strategic interactions within the firm, including vertical and horizontal integration, training and motivating workers, and labour unions
• marketing economics including information problems, advertising, durable goods and the product life cycle.

This book will be suitable for any student with a background of introductory economics. The authors include a variety of international examples and case studies from the business world to expand and illustrate key concepts, and provide end-of-chapter exercises to test students? grasp of the material. An online supplement comprising of problems and solutions as well as PowerPoint slides is available for lecturers.

What constitutes a good life? For most people, well-being involves more than a high income or material prosperity alone. Many non-material aspects, such as health, family life, living environment, job quality and the meaningful use of time are at least as important. Together, these factors also influence the degree to which people are satisfied with their lives, and help to determine how happy they feel. This book argues that happiness and life satisfaction do not form a good basis for measuring well-being, and proposes an alternative method that not only considers the various aspects of well-being, but also the fact that people have their own views on what is important in life. Not limited just to theory, the book also presents a large-scale, representative survey involving more than 3000 adults from over 2000 Belgian families, which charted the various aspects of the individual well-being of Belgians. Focusing on the unequal distribution of these various aspects of well-being within families, the survey showed that some Belgians are more likely to suffer from cumulative deprivation in multiple dimensions. Based on this innovative study, the book describes which people in society are worst off - and these are not necessarily only people on low incomes or those who feel unhappy - and proposes that policymakers prioritise these individuals.

"Schefold's book provides a mathematical goldmine of theorems, as well as presenting those interested in Sraffian and Marxian economics with a basic source book and, indeed, inspiration for work in this field. It strides across many boundaries which currently divide our subject."--John Eatwell, University of Cambridge
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