The financialization of the economy has brought a number of interrelated problems which have contributed to growing income and wealth inequality. Askari and Mirakhor assert that it is time to make a bold change by putting our financial house in order and on a better path, advocating for a fundamental reform of the financial system.

This book aims to identify what components are needed for economic diplomacy in today's rapidly changing world, looking at the nature, focus and tenets of economic diplomacy, and the differences between economic diplomacy and commercial diplomacy. Further, it considers the new kind of diplomacy that will be required for emerging markets, in contrast to maintaining the traditional techniques used for economic diplomacy between states. The author emphasises the negotiating techniques necessary for successfully engaging in economic diplomacy in the current diplomatic atmosphere. Importantly, it also discusses how to pursue economic diplomacy at international fora and with regard to private foreign investments. Lastly, it addresses the role of non-governmental organisations in economic diplomacy. Given its scope, the book will benefit not only practicing diplomats, but also graduate students.

The author examines the rise of the BRICs and the supposed decline of the United States. Focusing on the boom years from 1992 to 2007, and the crisis years after 2008, he argues that there are limits to the rise of the former and that the extent of US decline has been greatly exaggerated.

The rapid development of Asian countries has met with mixed reactions among economists. Most economists understand that a genuine development is underway; but, since the process has been a complex one, each has been able to apply favorite explanations to the situation. In Eastern Asia, regional interdependence has been important to developing countries. This work discusses the interaction between the regional economies through trade and foreign direct investment, relating interaction to economic growth and development.

The conventional wisdom is that small developing countries exert limited-if any-influence on the foreign policy of superpowers, in particular the United States. This book challenges that premise based on the experience of the small developing country of Jamaica and its relations with the United States. It raises the question: if the foreign policy of the United States can be influenced by even a small developing country, should Washington be worried?

This volume deals with the role and impact of technology on the economy and society. The papers on corporate dimensions address the impact of patents, determinants of innovative activities, differential behaviour of multinationals, industrial groups and other firms with regard to innovations and technology. In contrast, the papers on social dimensions chiefly deal with the role of technology in reducing inequality. The majority of the papers employ econometric techniques and other statistical methods, and many are based on primary data. The studies emphasise the importance of innovations (especially patents) and human capital in influencing productivity across Indian states, the significance of patenting in determining the efficiency of firms, the role of business groups in promoting innovations, differences in the technological characteristics of multinational and domestic firms, and how mergers and acquisitions can promote R&D. The papers on social dimensions analyse how innovative activities can shape employment, the impact of technology on poverty, the socioeconomic characteristics of mobile phone ownerships, use of information and communications technologies at educational institutions, and the influence of Synchronous Technologies in reducing access to teaching programmes. The studies show that those Indian states that have invested in human capital and technology experienced higher labour productivity. Further, the studies establish a positive correlation between R&D spending and employment. Lastly, they demonstrate that the adoption of agriculture-related technologies can have a significant impact on rural poverty and consumption expenditures.

SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE from director Ridley Scott, starring Lady Gaga and Adam Driver The sensational true story of murder, madness, glamour, and greed that shook the Gucci dynasty, now fully updated with a new afterword On March 27, 1995, Maurizio Gucci, heir to the fabulous fashion dynasty, was slain by an unknown gunman as he approached his Milan office. In 1998, his ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani Martinelli--nicknamed "The Black Widow" by the press--was sentenced to 29 years in prison, for arranging his murder. Did Patrizia murder her ex-husband because his spending was wildly out of control? Did she do it because her glamorous ex was preparing to marry his mistress, Paola Franchi? Or is there a possibility she didn't do it at all? The Gucci story is one of glitz, glamour, intrigue, the rise, near fall and subsequent resurgence of a fashion dynasty. Beautifully written, impeccably researched, and widely acclaimed, The House of Gucci will captivate readers with its page-turning account of high fashion, high finance, and heart-rending personal tragedy.

Multinationals are increasingly taking internationalised approaches to the ways in which they generate new knowledge and develop innovative new products from it in the pursuit of global competitiveness. These new perspectives in MNEs' technological behaviour open up important additional possibilities for those countries that play host to operations of these companies. This book analyses in detail the new dimensions in MNEs' approach to global competitiveness and the role played in this by overseas R & D units, and discusses the implications of this for host countries' growth and welfare.

This book argues that the trade-distorting effects of advantages associated with SOEs are more severe from an economic perspective, and the behavior of SOEs after receiving advantages is of more concern, compared to private-owned enterprises (POEs). The premise is that the existence of SOEs per se is not the essential problem; rather, the underlying problems are (i) the disproportionate granting of advantages to SOEs (compared to POEs) and (ii) the behavior of SOEs once they receive advantages. The book offers a systematic analysis focusing on the various advantages granted to SOEs and their subsequent behavior. Its detailed analysis reveals the inadequacy of current WTO rules and is complemented by a number of concrete proposals.

Asia and Oceania are close geographically, have complementary trade and investment opportunities, and have developed strong business relationships during recent decades. The rapid growth of Asia has provided huge two-way opportunities in trade and investment for businesses in these areas. In the coming decades, continued strong growth in East Asia is likely to be accompanied by even stronger growth in South Asia. Businesses in Oceania are generally better placed than those of Western Europe and North America to take early advantage of the burgeoning opportunities in Asia. Emerging Business and Trade Opportunities Between Oceania and Asia is a comprehensive reference that comprises research on the latest business ventures and developments that are being forged between countries that include Australia, China, and India. This book provides insight into general knowledge about the trade and investment policies and patterns of the two areas and specific knowledge about more targeted trade and investment opportunities. Covering a plethora of topics such as economic development, knowledge management, and start-ups across a wide range of industries that include tourism and hospitality, elderly care services, and information technology sectors, it is ideal for existing and new business entrepreneurs in Oceania and Asia; economic and political commentators; and researchers, academics, and students working in the fields of economics and business-oriented disciplines. Additionally, business professionals and financial investors can use the book to gain a deeper understanding of investment opportunities in areas such as health and tourism, and business consultants can utilize it to develop road maps for their clients of future business opportunities in what will continue to be the largest and most rapidly growing part of the world economy.

Despite its growing significance, the legal scrutiny of RTAs remains an underdeveloped academic field. This book considers how the interplay between multilateral and preferential liberalisation of trade in services increasingly raises concerns, both from the perspective of the beneficiaries of such liberalisation and that of regulators. With the application of a thorough article-by-article analysis, the author shows how these concerns lead to vast underutilisation of, and often prejudice against, the benefits of services liberalisation. The book meticulously analyses and compares the EU's obligations under the GATS and the services chapters of several RTAs to finally assess the merits of the various concerns. This book will be an invaluable resource for students and scholars of law and related subjects. It will also be of interest to government officials looking for a detailed analysis of the topic, and practitioners looking for a framework for analysing RTA provisions.

This book examines the role of mercantile networks in linking Asian economies to the global economy. It contains fourteen contributions on East, Southeast and South Asia covering the period from 1750 to the present.

Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) will have far-reaching consequences for participating nations. This book contains a unique and editorially neutral collection of key arguments favouring and opposing membership. The economic and policy implications are evaluated by distinguished economists, whilst the impact upon national sovereignty and the world of work is debated by prominent MPs and representatives of business and trade union organisations. The text provides an unbiased, comprehensive and 'readable' resource for specialist students and a general readership.

Today's banking systems, from the prosperous American economy to muddled Europe and wobbly Japan, may not be in as good shape as is generally assumed. Although, for instance, large financial institutions face the challenges of the new Euro with confidence, small and mid-sized banks are not as well prepared to deal with the world's changing financial scene. While most banks' profits continue to come from lending, many have become exposed to lesser borrowers, and others have entered businesses, such as asset management and trading, that could become less attractive. Given the pressure on banks to earn more profits and the extra risks they have taken, it behooves us to revisit the key issues in banking. This book casts the ongoing changes in money and banking into perspective. The issues discussed are long standing. Some have antecedents in the distant past, others are more recent. The book opens with a brief discussion of what money is, including the monetarist, Austrian, and Keynesian views, and of differing views on the role of supply and demand. It then considers the early and later years of central banking in the U.S. and abroad, moving on to the role of bureaucracy and monetary policy. The volume then considers contemporary commercial banking, the changing nature of banking today, and the Euro and the dollar. Written in nontechnical language, the book will be useful to the specialist and interested layman alike.

This edited volume moves beyond the traditional examination of the treaty ports of China and Japan as places of cultural interaction. It moves 'beyond the Bund', presenting instead the history of material culture, the everyday life of the residents of the treaty ports beyond the symbology of Shanghai's waterfront. Bringing for the first time together scholars of China and Japan, museum curators, legal, economic and architectural historians, it studies the treaty ports not only as sites of cultural exchange, but also as sites of social contestation, accommodation and mobility, covering topics as varied as day to day life itself, such as family, property and law, health and welfare, travel, visual culture and memory. The call of this volume is to peel the multiple layers of the encounter between East and West in the treaty ports of China and Japan.

This volume presents current developments in the fields of banking and finance from an international perspective. Featuring contributions from the 2nd International Conference on Banking and Finance Perspectives (ICBFP), this volume serves as a valuable forum for discussing current issues and trends in the banking and financial sectors, especially in light of the global economic challenges triggered by financial institutions. Using the latest theoretical models, new perspectives are brought to topics such as e-finance and e-banking, Islamic banking, international cross-border regulatory cooperation, bank fraud, the global financial crisis, microfinance, and corporate control transactions. Offering an opportunity to explore the challenges of a rapidly changing industry, this volume will be of interest to academics, policy makers, and scholars in the fields of banking, insurance, and finance.

This book examines the effect of banking on the real economy and society, focusing on banking supervision as the decisive factor in steering banking activities and determining the social outcome of the game of finance. Banking is like a cardiovascular system for our society. If it functions correctly, it allows the economy to operate smoothly. On the other hand, if it malfunctions it becomes a doomsday device. This creates an asymmetry of risks - the asymmetry between the potential dire consequences and the modest rewards of accepting those risks. Banking was one of the critical technological factors enabling the transition from the middle ages and the creation of modern society. However, while today it contributes little to economic growth, its malfunction has a profound and lasting adverse impact. The book explains why, how and what. Why is it important to keep tight supervision of the banks? How can banking supervision improve stability, not only of the financial system but also of the whole human society? What went wrong with the regulation in the past?

This volume brings together business, government and academic representatives from the United States, Pacific and Asian nations to address issues of regional economic cooperation in the Pacific Basin. The contributors focus particularly on cooperation in five areas: development, commodities, technology, human resources, and issues and directions. Their papers explore both the broad questions of cooperation in regional economic development and more practical concerns such as appropriate technology, political constraints, and foreign aid. Invaluable supplemental reading for courses in economic development and comparative economics, "Pacific Cooperation and Development" provides important new insights into the dynamics of economic development in an increasingly critical global market.

Advances in International Accounting is a referred, academic research annual, that is devoted to publishing articles about advancements in the development of accounting and its related disciplines from an international perspective. This serial examines how these developments affect the financial reporting and disclosure practices, taxation, management accounting practices, and auditing of multinational corporations, as well as their effect on the education of professional accountants worldwide. Advances in International Accounting welcomes traditional and alternative approaches, including theoretical research, empirical research, applied research, and cross-cultural studies.

The author argues that we should not be diverted by the East Asian 'meltdown', which is a predictable outcome of global dynamics. Of real concern, however, is the 'hidden crisis', which has been inadvertently engineered by neoliberal economists who dominate the world's financial institutions. They are the global crisis makers, who have convinced governments to abandon strategic leadership and to impose crippling deflationary policies. By employing the innovative theoretical and empirical work published in his recent series of remarkable books, Graeme Snooks shows how this threat to progress and liberty can be overcome.

This book explores the role of cities in the trade liberalization process in the global economy and their efforts to enhance the competitiveness of cities. Cities have become the primary actors in the trade liberalization process, both in North America and Europe. It is their efforts to design strategic responses, to create city networks, to influence priorities for public expenditures, and to enhance their own competitiveness that are vital to the realization of the potential for increased efficiency and higher incomes which free-trade promises.

This work examines the impact of trade liberalization on the urban economy through case studies of urban areas along the U.S.-Canadian border, in the European Community, and in Scandinavia. The findings will be of interest to scholars in development economics and international trade and to practitioners and policy-makers involved in urban economic development.

The Mexican expropriation of British and American properties in March 1938 marked the first time any oil-producing country successfully stood up to foreign companies who claimed to own oil properties in that country and who had the support of their respective governments. Totally reliant on overseas oil at a time when war seemed imminent, British officials responsible for policy toward Mexico immediately emphasized the importance of preventing other oil-exporting nations from following Mexico's lead. Washington also sought to make an example of Mexico--one that would guarantee respect for U.S. businesses operating abroad.

Although both Washington and London wanted to return to the pre-expropriation status quo, Washington was unwilling to work with London to achieve this goal, and Washington's attitude paralleled its reaction to British efforts to get U.S. support on certain defense issues during this critical period. The resulting Anglo-American strife over how to handle Mexico was also consistent with Anglo-American commercial competition and the oil rivalry in Mexico early in the century.

This study quantifies the relationships between the economies of the Unites States and Japan on an industrially disaggregated basis. It links two large-scale econometric models of the U.S. and Japan in the framework of the world model system (Project LINK). These models are useful not only for forecasts and aggregate policy studies, but also for detailed investigation of industrial changes and trade policy on sectoral output employment, trade balance, and inflation in both countries. The interactions with other parts of the world are also taken into account. Applications to policy changes and exchange rate variations illustrate the potential of the model system and provide a powerful insight into the operation of two closely integrated economies. A pioneering effort to link quantitatively the relationships between the economies of the United States and Japan, this volume will be of interest to economists and policymakers here and abroad.

Development Corruption in South Africa examines governance matters with a focus on corruption. This rich empirical body on governance variables and governance performance is a welcome addition to South African government literature.

International trade is now almost universally regarded as an important stimulus to growth and economic development, but while many aspects of international trade are regulated by international agreement, most nations retain some important specific trade policies for manufactured goods. In this work, the second volume of Greenwood's Handbook of Comparative Economic Policies, Dominick Salvatore presents an overview of national trade policies in the world's most important countries. As the only detailed comparative study of international trade policies, this volume will be an increasingly useful reference tool as international trade becomes more and more important in the years to come. The work brings together contributions on twenty-two different countries plus four chapters on overall trade policies and helps to shed light not only on each nation's specific trade policies but also on the effect of various policies on the growth of developed countries, the rate of economic development, and the progress of restructuring in the former centrally planned economies. The book is divided into six basic sections: the first provides an introduction to international trade policies and tariff and trade agreements, while the remaining five sections detail leading industrial countries, other industrial countries, Latin American nations, the countries of Asia and Africa, and the USSR, Poland, and China. Each chapter within these sections offers an easily accessible overview of trade policies as well as a list of references that identify the most important sources of additional information. This handbook will be an effective resource and reference tool for students of comparative economics and for economists and international policymakers.