This book provides a comprehensive investigation of the messy and crisis-ridden relationship between the operations of capitalist finance, global capital flows, and state power in emerging markets. The politics, drivers of emergence, and diversity of these myriad forms of state power are explored in light of the positionality of emerging markets within the network of space and power relations that characterises contemporary global finance. The book develops a multi-disciplinary perspective and combines insights from Marxist political economy, post-Keynesian economics, economic geography, and postcolonial and feminist International Political Economy. Alami comprehensively reviews the theories, histories, and geographies of cross-border finance management, and develops a conceptual framework which allows unpacking the complex entanglement of constraint and opportunities, of growing integration and tight discipline, that cross-border finance represents for emerging markets. Extensive fieldwork research provides an in-depth comparative critical interrogation of the policies and regulations deployed in Brazil and South Africa. This volume will be especially useful to those researching and working in the areas of international political economy, contemporary geographies of money and finance, and critical development studies. It should also prove of interest to policy makers, practitioners, and activists concerned with the relation between finance and development in emerging markets and beyond.

This book investigates why the convergence of Japan's bank-centered financial system to an American-style capital market-based model has lost steam since the mid-2000s, despite financial deregulation during the 1980s and 1990s. Examining the ideational conflict within Japanese elites between the market liberalization and anti-free market camps, it scrutinizes the American and Japanese credit rating agencies operating in Tokyo and explores the differences between the two major industrial associations, Keidanren and Doyukai, which have played a key role as "ideational platforms" for Japanese corporate society. The book emphasizes the concept of "systemic support", whose broadened definition incorporates dominant elites' support and protection of subordinates in exchange for the latter's obedience and loyalty. It argues that Japanese society's anti-liberal, anti-free market norms centered on systemic support are a form of counter-hegemony, and this has resisted American financial hegemony, promoting international capital mobility and capital markets, and prevented capitalist dominance from severing long-term social ties such as management-labor cooperation and corporate group alliances. Yet this resistance has generated growing problems for Japan. With a focus on social norms, bureaucracy, credit rating agencies, industrial associations and corporate governance, this book will provide useful insights for scholars and students of international political economy, sociology, cultural studies, and business studies.

Recalling the Lisbon strategy defining structural reform in the EU, and stressing the need to integrate the acceding countries in the reform process, this book argues that meeting the ambitious challenges set is not impossible. It scrutinises both reforms already undertaken and those yet to be tackled. The main thrust of the book is that the sharing of mutual experiences is important for generating an acceptable policy mix, both at EU and national levels. The contributors highlight key financial issues, including the role of FDI and of foreign banks in the still 'under-banked' acceding countries, the re-launch of social security systems and the fiscal challenges of financing the catch-up process. They also examine the ongoing EU debate surrounding the application of the Stability and Growth Pact in Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) and go on to explore the contrasting evidence that some CEECs have shown more extensive privatisation efforts than some EU countries. Linking general theory and empirical research with practical evidence from EU and acceding countries, this accessible volume will be invaluable to a wide-ranging readership, encompassing economists and specialists - whether academic or professional - in the fields of CEECs and European integration and enlargement, as well as governments, banks and international organisations.

Originally published in 1979, The Investment Behaviour of British Life Insurance Companies provides a critical analysis of the investment policy of the life insurance industry for the period of 1962-76, and attempts to construct an econometric model of the investment behaviour. It looks at the portfolio composition of life funds and their position in the markets for securities in terms of their gross purchases and sales and net acquisitions. It also considers the principles on which life offices appear to operate the principles on which life offices appear to operate in respect of investing their 'reserves' to meet future contingent liabilities. This book will appeal to those working in the field of economic and business.

This revised and updated edition presents detailed analysis of the history and current state of the G20, and the challenges it faces. The emergence of the G20 was the result of calls for full inclusion of major developing and other systemically important countries and to reflect new global economic and political realities. The growth of Chinese power, growing significance of other major developing countries and new concerns concerning anti-globalization and rising protectionism in the West have all resulted in important changes to the dynamics of the institution. The suspension of Russia's membership in the G8 has also necessitated a change in G7/G20 dynamics and the G20's processes, agenda priorities and role in global governance. Providing a historical overview and analysis of the evolving agenda, methods of performance evaluation, relationship with structured international organizations and other external actors, Hajnal's text is an authoritative work of history, analysis and reference on the G20 and also G7/G8/G20 reform. This book is an essential source for researchers and students focusing on the G20, international organizations and global governance, and more generally for scholars in the fields of political science, economics, and finance.

The architecture of global economic and financial governance has undergone a deep and pervasive reform in the last ten years, radically transforming international institutions and groups, such as the International Monetary Fund, the G7, and the G20. This book investigates the new, unsettled order which is now prevailing, driven by the change in the balance of power between advanced economies and key emerging market economies. Bringing together multiple strands of analysis, traditionally kept separate, Reforming Global Economic Governance: An Unsettled Order particularly explores the role of Europe within this changing world. The book documents and examines a broad range of events, building on methods from economics and other disciplines, as well as on the insights from the author's personal involvement. This innovative approach allows the reader to ascertain the defining features of the reform: the increasing fragmentation of governance; the interconnectedness of its different elements; and the strong concern for inclusiveness. Furthermore, it presents analyses highlighting the controversial nature of the new order which underpins the current policy debate on international economic relations, including the resurgence of nationalism and trade conflicts. Through these explorations, this engaging book has direct relevance for the future prospects of international economic affairs. Offering a comprehensive view of these issues, this accessible text will appeal to scholars, insiders, and the general reader. Its detailed and thorough analyses will also be of great use to those studying economics, international political economy, and international relations.

The year 2015 witnessed significant events in the area of finance, trade and investment, which brought Asia to the centre of the world stage. The Trans-Pacific Partnership reached its basic agreement among the 12 member countries in October; the Chinese Yuan was included into the Special Drawing Rights basket of currencies at the International Monetary Fund in November; the ASEAN Economic Community came into force; and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank was established with the 57 founding members in December. Within and outside the region, there is an urgent need to understand the underlying economic structures that brought about these events, which have global implications. The Centre on Asia and Globalisation at the National University of Singapore launched a series of conferences on 'Evolving Finance, Trade and Investment in Asia' with the aim of strengthening research capacity in Asia to influence regional policymaking. Looking forward, the conference will provide an annual platform for scholars to discuss the latest findings and to disseminate them to business leaders and policymakers. This book contains scholarship presented at the inaugural international conference in September 2015, and was originally published as a special issue of the International Economic Journal.

The architecture of global economic and financial governance has undergone a deep and pervasive reform in the last ten years, radically transforming international institutions and groups, such as the International Monetary Fund, the G7, and the G20. This book investigates the new, unsettled order which is now prevailing, driven by the change in the balance of power between advanced economies and key emerging market economies. Bringing together multiple strands of analysis, traditionally kept separate, Reforming Global Economic Governance: An Unsettled Order particularly explores the role of Europe within this changing world. The book documents and examines a broad range of events, building on methods from economics and other disciplines, as well as on the insights from the author's personal involvement. This innovative approach allows the reader to ascertain the defining features of the reform: the increasing fragmentation of governance; the interconnectedness of its different elements; and the strong concern for inclusiveness. Furthermore, it presents analyses highlighting the controversial nature of the new order which underpins the current policy debate on international economic relations, including the resurgence of nationalism and trade conflicts. Through these explorations, this engaging book has direct relevance for the future prospects of international economic affairs. Offering a comprehensive view of these issues, this accessible text will appeal to scholars, insiders, and the general reader. Its detailed and thorough analyses will also be of great use to those studying economics, international political economy, and international relations.

The interplay between the macro-economic imbalances, notably in the relationship between the USA and China, and the more micro-economic shortcomings of the West's financial systems, particularly the lax regulation, forms the centre-piece of this excellently written book. In the disputes about the relative culpability of China and the USA for current macro-economic problems, they tend to support the Chinese arguments, and give well-considered arguments for so doing. This book provides an excellent, clear, and at times provocative, assessment of the course of the macro-monetary problems of the world since the 'great recession' struck.' - Charles A.E. Goodhart, London School of Economics, UKThis thought-provoking book addresses challenging questions raised in light of the aftermath of the global financial crisis that saw an accelerated rise in the economic growth of China and other emerging market economies, while the US, Japan and Europe have labored under the great recession. The authors examine global post-crisis reordering in a long-run context, identify five fundamental flaws in global bank business models and document the explosion of gross capital flows. They tackle difficult-to-answer lines of enquiry such as: can zero interest rates and quantitative easing lift the advanced world back to growth, or will they be dragged down by the overhang of debt? Might costs on savers, retirees and distortions to the pattern of global financing render zero rates counter-productive? What issues face the BRICs? Could 'China as number one' see the renminbi soon challenge the dollar and the euro as a major international currency? Providing a detailed analysis of the post-crisis world and the issues posed by the rise of China and emerging market economies relative to developed countries, this book will prove a stimulating account for academics, students and researchers in the fields of economics, money, finance and banking, and world trade. Bank and market economists as well as policymakers based in central banks, governments and think-tanks will also find this book to be an invaluable reference tool. Contents: Preface 1. The Rapidly Changing World Economy 2. The Great Recession 3. Global Finance and Payments Imbalances 4. The Role of Monetary Policy 5. The Post-crisis World 6. China's Prospects and Challenges 7. The US External Position 8. The Redback, the Greenback and the Troubled Euro 9. Conclusions References Index

This volume is a contribution to the debates surrounding international monetary reform. The author examines and analyses the workings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and suggests how the international monetary system could, through changes to the IMF, be reshaped and reformed. Chapters examine the Palais-Royal report, explain how the IMF could be granted unlimited bailout powers to confront a global crisis, propose an exchange-rate based mechanism by which the international community could discipline excessive imbalances, examine alternative possibilities for the supply of future reserves, advocate `enthronement of the Special Drawing Right', and discuss the obstacles in the way of such an ambitious reform agenda.

Originally published in 1926. This book explains clearly the depreciation of the franc, the return to the gold standard and dollar parity, inflation and deflation, the stabilization of the mark and its effects; and the connexion between exchange rates and prices. It describes the transfer of money abroad, bank credits, the various methods in which documentary bills are dealt with and foreign currencies exchanged. Based on the author's practical experience of finance, it incorporates economic research and contains a concise statement of Britain's debt to America, the Dawes Reparation Plan, and the debt settlements with France and Italy.

Originally published in 1923. This book describes the working of the exchanges, and explains post-war fluctuations. It describes bills, documentary and blank credits, the mechanism of exchange trading and money market; and explains inflation, floating debts, purchasing power parity, international indebtedness and stabilisation.

Originally published in 1979. This book addresses three questions regarding uncertainty in economic life: how do we define uncertainty and use the concept meaningfully to provide conclusions; how can the level of uncertainty associated with a particular variable of economic interest be measured; and does experience provide any support for the view that uncertainty really matters. It develops a theory of the effect of price uncertainty on production and trade, takes a graphical approach to look at effects of a mean preserving spread to create rules for ordering distributions, and finishes with an econometric analysis of the effects of Brazil's adoption of a crawling peg in reducing real exchange rate uncertainty. This is an important early study into the significance of uncertainty.

Originally published in 1984. This book examines two important dimensions of efficiency in the foreign exchange market using econometric techniques. It responds to the macroeconomics trend to re-examining the theories of exchange rate determination following the erratic behaviour of exchange rates in the late 1970s. In particular the text looks at the relation between spot and forward exchange rates and the term structure of the forward premium, both of which require a joint test of market efficiency and the equilibrium model. Approaches used are the regression of spot rates on lagged forward rates and an explicit time series analysis of the spot and forward rates, using data from Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany.

Originally published in 1997. This study investigates what the effects of real exchange rate volatility are on sectorial investment in the fixed and flexible exchange rate systems. It lays out the results of research into the effects of the levels and volatility of real exchange rates on investment in the manufacturing sectors of the countries in the European Monetary System as well as of the countries in the flexible exchange rate system, with data from between 1973 and 1993. Examining the differences between the two systems in the results this book also looks at exchange rate effects on interest rates at the time.

Originally published in 1983. With the prevailing uncertainties and wild fluctuation in exchange values at the time, the forward market in foreign exchange had become a vital issue for both governments and business corporations. This book by an expert practitioner in foreign exchange dealing describes how the forward market functions and analyses the constituent elements in its behaviour. The two principal types of foreign exchange deal are examined; forward outright and swap, and explanations are given of how both operate. The linkage between forward rates and interest rates is also considered and the book investigates what factors cause deviation from parity conditions. In addition, there is a discussion of political risk and the forward contract and the role of speculation in forward exchange as well as the methods of hedging.

Originally published in 1982. This book deals with exchange-rate determination and the implications of floating rate regimes for the time paths of prices and quantities. It develops a class of stochastic equilibrium models of the open economy operating under flexible exchange rates, assuming that agents are endowed with rational expectations but do not possess full current information as to the state of the world. Chapters look at a model's response to economic disturbances, the effect on non-traded goods, and cyclical variations of the terms of trade. The final chapter considers a model to investigate purchasing parity issues.

Originally published in 1925. This book sets forth a plan to stabilize the currency at a time in which there was much discussion of what to radically change to improve the state of the flow of gold and discounts and interests. It addresses such questions as 'what is a standard of currency' and 'to whom does the gold belong' among its discussion of the best way forward. A fascinating insight into 1920s economic history.

Originally published in 1994. This work investigates seasonal fluctuations of US and British short term nominal interest rates, the dollar-sterling exchange rate and short term interest rate differentials between the US and Britain during the period 1883-1913. It finds that during the pre-World War Gold Standard seasonal movements in exchange rates did not tend to offset the seasonal fluctuations in interest rate differentials. It presents a model to explain the fluctuations and outlines two specific empirical investigations, considering the results in the light of more recent historical periods as well.

Originally published in 1972. This book covers the broader aspects of foreign exchange, for businessmen, to remove a hazardous gap in executive knowledge. The language is non-technical and the author gives an insight into the workings of the international currency markets which will enable business-men to operate more easily and be more profitable in this field.

Originally published in 1996. This study looks at the impact of exchange rate fluctuation on the pricing practices of foreign industries that import into the United States market. It presents several studies of the pass-through behaviour of over 100 disaggregated commodity groups with bi-lateral exchange rates. The book presents analysis of specific competitors and their individual pricing responses to exchange rate changes, adding significantly to pricing theory as well as being useful for marketers in predicting business responses.

Originally published in 1986. This helpful text sets out what appears to make exchange rates change and shows how these various factors contribute to an explanation of the past. It considers the problems of providing satisfactory forecasts of the exchange rate while presenting the methods used, outlining their drawbacks and speculating on future ways forward. Laid out to move from empirical issues to theory and on to policy, this book is easily of use to those interested in macroeconomics, applied economics and international economics as well as economic history.

This is an innovative collection of papers written by a panel of highly respected academics and financial experts. Whilst providing an insight into the phenomenology of the financial crises of the 1990s in Asia and Latin America, the book also explores possibilities for their solution.

`The authors have done an excellent job explaining the development and practice of Socially Responsible Investment (SRI). Under the recent recognition of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Asia and its strong emphasis by US and European corporations, this book provides important guidance to students and professionals who are interested in the effects and implications of SRI. This book is truly informative and should be on the reading list of all fund managers and CFOs of international corporations which are serious about CSR.' - Louis T.W. Cheng, Hong Kong Polytechnic University `Individual investors and corporate heads have the responsibility to keep abreast of major changes in the marketplace. Socially responsible investment is one of those changes. Fung, Law and Yau provide, in a single source, a great opportunity to get up to date on an area that will be a force for years to come. I encourage any thoughtful investor or manager to read this book.' - Thomas Schneeweis, University of Massachusetts - Amherst, US Socially responsible investment (SRI) is becoming increasingly popular and can be potentially rewarding to all parties concerned. This book discusses the opportunities, challenges, and practices of SRI in a global financial environment in a consistent and integrated framework of risk management. It also covers a wide variety of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) issues related to various participants, such as values-based retail, institutional investors, corporations, banks, supranational agencies, and non-governmental organizations. Readers are provided with the perspectives of SRI from various players in the financial community - from values-based investors to fiduciaries to supranational agencies. The authors analyse the incorporation of ESG issues into investment practices within a regulatory, legal, reputational, and operational risk management framework. Academics, corporate executives, government regulators and policymakers, bankers, and non-governmental organizations involved with sustainable development will find much of interest in this book.

This book, originally published in 1975, deals with the sources of economic growth, inflation and the prospects of bringing it under control, floating exchange rates and restrictions on international capital movements. Although aimed at the non-specialist, professional economists willa slo find the book stimulating.