This book is about law, but it is not a law book. It is aimed at all interested contemporaries, lawyers and non-lawyers alike. Richly seasoned with personal memories and anecdotes, it offers unique insights into how European courts actually work. It is generally assumed that independence is part and parcel of the role and function of a judge. Nevertheless, European judges sometimes face difficulties in this regard. Owing to their being nominated by a government, their limited term of appointment, and the possibility of being reappointed or not, their judicial independence can be jeopardized. Certain governments have a track record of choosing candidates who they believe they can keep on a leash. When this happens, private parties are at risk of losing out. The EFTA Court is under even more pressure, since the EEA/EFTA states Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway essentially constitute a pond with one big fish (Norway) and two minnows. For quite some time now, certain Norwegian protagonists have sought to effectively transform the EEA into a bilateral agreement with the EU. This attitude has led to political implications that have affected the author himself. The independence of the EFTA Court is also endangered by the fact that it operates alongside a large sister court, the Court of Justice of the European Union. And yet the EFTA Court has established its own line of jurisprudence and its own judicial style. It has remained faithful to specific EFTA values, such as the belief in free trade and open markets, efficiency, and a modern view of mankind. During the first 24 years of its existence, it has even had an over-proportionate influence on ECJ case law. Since EEA Single Market law is economic law, the importance of economics, an often-overlooked aspect, is also addressed. In closing, the book explores Switzerland's complicated relationship with, and Britain's impending departure from, the EU. In this regard, it argues that the EFTA pillar should be expanded into a second European structure under British leadership and with Swiss participation.

Based on new archival research, this is the first comprehensive study of the failure of international co-operation to combat the Great Depression. The book explores the impact of protectionism, reparations and war debts, as well as the more well known disagreements on monetary issues which, together, helped to prolong the most profound economic depression of the twentieth century. The economic and diplomatic lessons drawn from this period by the major powers - particularly German intelligence as to the deep divisions in Anglo-American economic relations - also provide an important contribution to understanding the origins of the Second World War and the diplomatic and economic order created in its aftermath.

This up-to-date study of the contribution of women and men to changing European economic activity patterns, covers 15 members states. Based on the work of the European Commission's network of experts on women's employment, it draws on both national and European data sources. The book links trends in the structures of employment with new comparative data on the role of systems of welfare provision in order to explore economic activity patterns by gender. Participation patterns of women still vary widely within Europe, so much attention is paid to the institutions - both in the labour market and welfare - which help to explain these variations. The apparently contradictory tendency for women's employment and unemployment to rise is analyzed, taking into account changes in industrial/occupational structure and trends at the European, national and regional level. Many countries continue to pursue inconsistent and discriminatory labour market policies; many still base welfare policies on the nation of a single male breadwinner family. This text considers how such policies affect women as workers.

Looking at all sides of the globalization debate, Suranovic analyzes how international economic policy is made and how it has become so controversial. He offers a solution to the debate between free trade/unregulated markets and the push for greater government involvement that is consistent with both economic efficiency and social justice.

Will "making a living" remain a dream for the deprived and excluded? Jobs are one of Europe's most important problems. Employment provides the basic means of distributing wealth in society, in providing for families, and ensuring pensions for the elderly. Yet unemployment, and increasingly "non-employment", continues at near record levels in the European Union. This text shows how the culture of work has been transformed in the industrialized nations of the EU. Exploring the relationship between employment change, society and economic restructuring, the shift toward "flexible" work for women in services, away from traditional industrial jobs for men, is demonstrated within three key sectors - business services, retailing and tourism. The outcome of change is discussed in terms of shifts of people and jobs from urban to rural areas. Europe must be understood in the context of the new Europe, of change in the USA and of global change. Drawing on examples from UK and European regions and USA, the author challenges long-standing assumptions about changes in economy and society and highlights the need for stronger local and European policies to reduce inequality at large and contribute

Will "making a living" remain a dream for the deprived and excluded? Jobs are one of Europe's most important problems. Employment provides the basic means of distributing wealth in society, in providing for families, and ensuring pensions for the elderly. Yet unemployment, and increasingly "non-employment", continues at near record levels in the European Union. This text shows how the culture of work has been transformed in the industrialized nations of the EU. Exploring the relationship between employment change, society and economic restructuring, the shift toward "flexible" work for women in services, away from traditional industrial jobs for men, is demonstrated within three key sectors - business services, retailing and tourism. The outcome of change is discussed in terms of shifts of people and jobs from urban to rural areas. Europe must be understood in the context of the new Europe, of change in the USA and of global change. Drawing on examples from UK and European regions and USA, the author challenges long-standing assumptions about changes in economy and society and highlights the need for stronger local and European policies to reduce inequality at large and contribute

In an era of globalization, private markets are expected to dominate the distribution of goods worldwide. Yet surprisingly little empirical work is conducted on them. The sensitive and secret nature of trading information, the complexity of real markets and the lack of official data other than that on price can all cause problems. This book seeks to overcome these in examining arguably the most difficult markets of all - agricultural markets under conditions of underdevelopment. Case-studies from nine countries covering all three underdeveloped continents offer a comprehensive overview of the lessons to be learnt from field experience.

In an era of rapid and extensive economic reform, what is the appropriate role for fiscal policy? Is there a residual role of government after socialism and dirigisme? Following Macroeconomic Dimensions of Public Finance, this is the second volume of essays in honour of Vito Tanzi. It focuses on the importance of fiscal policy on the wholesale economic reforms that are sweeping the advanced, less developed and formerly communist countries. Issues analysed include: the role of fiscal and budgetary policies in the process of reform; the impact of privatization on the exchequer and the dilemmas for social policy in times of fiscal austerity; the paradox of post-socialism and post-dirigisme that an efficient and harmonic move to a decontrolled, liberal market economy involves active state intervention; and the methodological aspects relating to the proper assessment of selected fiscal policy mechanisms. This collection of essays will contribute to understanding the channels and transmission mechanisms of fiscal policies in the context of major economic reforms.

Series Information:
European Institute of Japanese Studies East Asian Economics and Business

This book brings into sharp focus the problems of development under conditions of structural adjustment and their relation to democratic change in Africa. Contributors to this volume are interested in specific countries such as Kenya, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, etc., but do bring to bear a rigorous comparative method which uses a political economy approach to the study of democracy, gender, industrialization, agriculture and the state. Its comparative approach in revisionist political economy allows for issues such as the new international division of labor to become central to the analysis of the relationship between developed and underdeveloped countries.

The state-centric approach, although useful, may have missed important undercurrents in civil society. An analysis of development through the state's lenses has predominated the study of Africa. The approach by contributors in this volume is equally interested in the state but is also concerned with non-state actors. This dynamic approach characterizes few texts on Africa. This work should attract those who are concerned with African development, specifically, and international political economy in general.

This book brings together policymakers, high-level practitioners, academics, and experts from central banks and international institutions in order to review key policy challenges for convergence in the region of central, eastern and south-eastern Europe. Contributions focus especially on inflation, growth, migration and the balance of payments.

The Bretton Woods system ensured a quarter of a century of relative stability on the world's financial markets. The quarter of a century which has followed has brought financial chaos and excessive financial volatility. Exchange Rate Chaos: 25 Years of Financial and Consumer Democracy describes and compares US and British financial history during this period. It highlights: * similarites in financial developments between the two countries * consumer democracy: Have the wishes of consumers dominated exchange rate policy? * The decline of the small investor and the hegemony of financial institutions * How the floating exchange rates are manipulated to government advantage One of the few financial histories to deal with the postwar period, this book shows how financial developments have shaped contemporary society and politics.

The biggest causes of dissatisfaction in the current analysis of China's mega trends is the lack of serious economic research effort. This has resulted in confusion and misunderstanding about the development and direction of mega trends and blind acceptance of these trends. This all leads to potentially erroneous business and policy decisions and reactions to the emergence of China. This new book examines the structural forces behind mega trends in China, refuting conventional wisdom and demystifying media and market hype. It aims to bridge the gap between the East and the West, and academic and market studies of China by examining China's macroeconomic mega trends through the lens of rigorous economic research and evidence and taking a critical approach to question and assess the evolution of these mega trends. Coverage of China's mega trends in this book is not meant to be exhaustive, as new trends will emerge over time and the existing trends will keep on evolving.

In the present text the author deals with both conventional and new approaches to trade theory and policy, treating all important research topics in international economics and clarifying their mathematical intricacies. The textbook is intended for undergraduates, graduates and researchers alike. It addresses undergraduate students with extremely clear language and illustrations, making even the most complex trade models accessible. In the appendices, graduate students and researchers will find self-contained treatments in mathematical terms. The new edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect the latest research on international trade.

This text sets out to describe the emergence of economics in the period of Japanese Enlightenment, or the first two decades of the Meiji era. At this time, there was general agreement for the need to modernize the country by abolishing all remaining feudalism, and opening up to Western economic thought. The author examines the main characteristics of economic thought at this time, in particular, the predominance of nationalism among both proponents of protectionism and free-trade.

Rich and informative case studies throughout bring this book to life for professionals and students alike. Written by one of the leading competitive experts in the world. Tackles a complex issues in a lively and engaging way.

This work explores the problems arising from dynamic information technology in its application to intellectual property rights. In a global marketplace of ideas, political boundaries and the sovereignty of the nation state seem to be disappearing because of the increasing difficulty of scrutinizing the infringement of intellectual property. That is particularly true of computer software, the focus of this book. The work analyzes the legal and political economy implications of investment in the software programming industry and the near-futility of monitoring protection of intellectual property in industry. The book begins by exploring the current state of copyright laws for computer software. It analyzes the economic theories of demand elasticities, public choice, clubs, and the concept of public goods as those theories apply to intellectual property, particularly computer software. This analysis is followed by a discussion of prevailing legislation in the United States, Europe, Japan, Asia, and China. The analysis is fortified by a comprehensive coverage of the Uruguay Round. The work concludes in favor of the free flow of information, which yields overwhelming benefits to a globally integrated market.

The West has long been ignorant of cultural and political processes in China. Today, a growing number of Westerners are becoming aware of China's real and giant potential as a player in the international business arena. As business becomes increasingly international, it is vital to understand the concrete nature of business and underlying attitudes in the world's most populated country.
This volume presents a unique view of the major facets of international business in China. It examines the workings of finance and accounting, law, management, and marketing as well as trade, foreign direct investment, and the management of foreign subsidiaries. Discussion of such functional areas is placed firmly in the context of developments in China in recent years, with special emphasis placed on implications for firms doing business in or with China. Succinct, up-to-date analysis is combined with practical guidelines and recommendations for the business person.
This highly international bookis an important step towards demystification of the workings of international business. The material presented is from leading experts in business from around the world who write from direct experience of business in China.

The economics and history of the closing years of the 20th century may turn out to mark the era of transformation when the nation-states lose most of their ability to maneuver in economics as finance and investment become transnationalized. In the European Community and similar associations, the nation-state loses some formal powers and has to modify its policies to fit those of its neighbors and the association. An economically sustainable social democracy may be beyond the reach of any one nation, and reforms based in a single middle-sized country may be impossible.

Over the past two decades, emerging market multinationals have become an important force in international business. This book provides a better understanding of the actions and strategies used by firms from mid-sized emerging markets to upgrade their capabilities and become successful multinationals. It is the first book to provide an in-depth look at Mexican multinationals, or 'Multimexicans'. These include some of the leading firms in the world, such as the construction materials producer Cemex and the tortilla maker Grumasa, as well as smaller but innovative firms such as the theme park Kidzania and the cinema multicomplex Cinepolis. This comprehensive analysis contains case studies written by local industry experts on these and other firms, across twenty-two industries. The lessons drawn will be of interest to researchers, students, and consultants, as well as managers and executives of firms in other emerging markets looking to upgrade capabilities and expand abroad.

Knowledge has in recent years become a key driver for growth of regions and nations. This volume empirically investigates the emergence of the knowledge economy in the late 20th century from a regional point of view. It first deals with the theoretical background for understanding the knowledge economy, with knowledge spillovers and development externalities. It then examines aspects of the relationship between knowledge inputs and innovative outputs in the information, computer and telecommunications sector (ICT) of the economy at the regional level. Case studies focusing on a wide variety of sectors, countries and regions finally illustrate important regional innovation issues.

This collection of essays presents insight and methodology that are highly relevant for readers today as they consider the future of the world they live in. Experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic, people have realized how fragile the current economy is and the necessity for reconstructing the socio-economic system. That system, which was considered the default for so long, was succeeded by the analytical framework of economics and regional science. The contents of this book are diversified, as are the achievements of Prof. Yasuhiro Sakai, to whom this volume is dedicated, and cover a wide area from mathematical and experimental economics to conventional and emerging fields of regional science. Some are timeless topics that have had new life breathed into them. Part I deals with, among other areas, risk management with uncertain events; the effectiveness and impacts of regulation and friction related to trading; the stability of strategic behavior and market equilibrium; and sustainable regional development and urban planning from the long-term perspective. Part II also presents a diversity of subjects, including input-output analysis and computable general equilibrium (CGE) modelling for internal as well as external structure and network linkage, such as a value chain; openness and creativity as related to competition among cities and regions; dispersion versus concentration; and inequality versus equality.

This unique and comprehensive study provides the English-speaking reader with the opportunity to hear what some of Japan's leading social scientists and other commentators have to say about the internationalization of their country and its impact overseas. As the global community's demands on Japan call for a greater Japanese contribution to international society and for changes in Japan to facilitate foreign access, the topic of internationalization takes on even greater significance.
The contributors examine internationalization from a variety of perspectives, and place it into its political, economic and social contexts. Topics of special interest include the internationalization of Japanese capital, the response of Japanese society to foreign workers, local level initiatives, and the internationalization of education. In addition to the group of highly regarded Japanese scholars who have contributed to this volume, two leading political scientists from the United States and Britain discuss the experience of Japan as it compares to their countries of origin.
"The Internationalisation" "of Japan" will appeal to students and scholars of Japanese affairs, and to political scientists and specialists in international affairs who are interested in the rise and fall of great powers.

Africa's international relations are in a state of transition as the continent enters the last decade of the twentieth century. Old assumptions about development, security, diplomacy and dependence are being challenged by new realities of debt, drought, devaluation and destabilisation. Collective self-reliance remains elusive despite the demise of nationalism. This collection identifies the major issues in Africa's foreign and development policies and prospects as she enters the 1990s.