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Books > Business & Economics > Economics > Microeconomics
This monograph is a formal account of the structure and organization of a large Japanese advertising agency. Based on a year's fieldwork in a Tokyo-based agency, the book presents a case study of an advertising campaign to outline the complex relations that exist between different divisions (Account, Planning, Marketing, Creative) within an advertising agency, and between the agency and the client, on the one hand, and the agency and media, on the other.
This work offers information about the provision of rented housing in several European countries, and includes topics such as policy instruments, social housing issues and affordability. It should be relevant to housing, surveying and planning students courses with a European housing element/option. The text explains the development, financing and management of rented housing in several European countries. It also examines the issues surrounding the provision of social housing - municipal and association housing - in France, Germany and the Netherlands. The book is both policy - and practice - orientated, and offers specific detail and arguments on aspects of rented housing in several countries, as well as information on policy developments.
In this ambitious book Christian Petersen has taken a central topic in economic and social history and given it a new sweep and coherence. As the Lord's Prayer suggests, securing an adequate supply of bread was a matter of over-riding concern to everyone until very recently. Bread was always by far the largest single item in the budgets of the poor, but bread could be made from many grains - wheat, rye, barley etc. Christian Petersen describes how in the later eighteenth century the process of replacing other cereals by wheat in bread making was completed throughout Britain. He provides a continuous series of estimates of bread consumption per caput, of bread prices (and, consequently, used in conjunction with population data, of total national expenditure on bread), and of wheat output and net imports. The implications of the changes in techniques of milling and baking that occurred are analysed, and the organisation of the baking and retailing of bread is described. Bread was so central to the economy of individual households and to the national economy as a whole that this book represents a major contribution to the history of the British economy and of British society in the period 1770-1870.
The economic crisis which has hit Africa since 1985 is raising questions about Africa's future position in World Trade and whether it has any chance of developing a competitive industrial structure. Presenting studies of 55 exporting manufacturers in six African countries, this collection examines the question of why some firms in the Sub-Saharan economies have been able to develop export trade, despite generally unfavourable circumstances. In particular the papers seek to understand how these firms have been able to sustain their competitiveness in the face of rapid technological change in the international economy in the context of the threats and promises such change presents to Africa. A case is made for selective complementary investments by governments to build the technological capabilities which are necessary for attaining and maintaining competitiveness. The papers present empirical research and a framework which should be of interest to academics in the development field and to government as well as international policy makers.
Much of the literature for business economics courses has tended to be highly technical and theoretical. This text aims to redress this imbalance by focusing on real life business situations. The book provides an explanation of microeconomic analysis in terms of real business practice. The author looks at the various issues involved, including: the economic way of thinking; the business environment; product markets; factor markets; and general equilibrium. The underlying theme is the way in which markets link together interdependent economic activities, so the discussion begins in an individual bookshop and ends with general equilibrium models of the entire economic system. On the way, attention is paid to markets facing and resolving problems of information. The book is largely free of mathematics and technical detail and is therefore easily accessible. It should be valuable to those students who are primarily interested in the human side of industry and economic specialists feeling the need to come down to earth from the heights of pure theory.
The British Economy in Transition: From the Old to the New?
examines attempts at economic regeneration in areas that have
experienced the decline in 'traditional' industry of recent years.
The contributors also look at the impact of techno and managerial
modernization strategies in industries that have survived, but have
had to adapt rapidly to do so. Coverage includes:
Managing to innovate successfully is one of the key challenges facing modern managers, firms, and governments. The rise to prominence of Japanese "keiretsu" in recent years has brought into question the effectiveness of traditional Western forms of corporate organization. Will the future favour networks of small innovative firms as in California's Silicon Valley, or will giant integrated firms dominate? Should governments play a role in directing the innovation process or should decisions be left to private enterprise?;This work draws on industrial economics, business strategy, and economic history to illuminate these topics. The authors first develop an evolutionary model to show when innovation is best undertaken within firms and when markets are the most efficient way of dealing with change. This is then illustrated by detailed discussion of the effect of innovation on the organization of the American automobile industry in the early years of the 20th century. The chapters which follow outline the effect of innovation on the organization in the early years of the 20th century.
The results of macroeconomic policy are often unpredictable. One of the major reasons for this is the importance of confidence and expectations in economic affairs. For a government's economic policies to succeed they must gain and maintain economic credibility, which many governments are finding increasingly difficult. "Confidence, Credibility and Macroeconomic Policy" explores the interaction between fiscal and monetary stabilization, confidence and expectations, and the credibility of the government's financial policies. The volume is divided into three parts. Part I begins with an overview of the inter-relationship between fiscal policy, credibility and inflation and presents two pioneering, experimental studies that explore the effects of macroeconomic policies on expectations. Part II focuses on empirical research and presents historical as well as contemporary evidence on the importance of public confidence and expectations to the success of fiscal and monetary policy. Part III covers the definition and functions of consumer confidence as it is measured today.
A conspicuous feature of the modern economy is the multitude of multiunit systems that operate in several markets - an organizational form that arguably rivals the "M-form" as the 20th century's most successful. Research traditions studying multiunit systems include the multimarket perspective, which has used commitment and mutual forbearance theory, and the multiunit perspective, which has used learning and knowledge transfer theory. These perspectives are interdisciplinary, but to date there has been little direct interaction among them. This text aims to bring these areas together, discussing such things as: examining how variation in firm capabilities affects the co-ordination of branches and thus their forbearance or transfer of routines; bridging theories of market conduct and internal behaviour to explore how knowledge about markets and competitor behaviour is transferred among organizational units; making a theory of contingent multiunit or single-unit competitive advantage that can account for the coexistence of these organizational forms in many markets; and examining the effects of firm contacts in alliances or technological fields on their competitive behaviours.
This book shows that combining a sound understanding of economic and managerial principles can make a striking difference in the quality of the strategic planning of an organization and provide guidelines for effective corporate strategies. Covering new and important areas in economics not treated in other management and strategic planning books, Modern Competitive Analysis is a fundamental resource to the managers of today and tomorrow. The Third Edition includes new material in game theory, added value analysis and strategic intent. Examples are drawn from modern network industries and more attention is paid to newly deregulated markets.
Transnational corporations are now of immense significance for most economies. However, by definition they are involved in international production and this poses problems for national governments. The threat of a major company leaving gives it leverage over its host government. This means that even though there is a broad consensus that in some respects the impact of a transnational on an economy can be negative, there is a marked reluctance on the part of governments to try to do anything about it. Although they remain sensitive to the problems posed by transnationals, the authors of "Making Transnationals Accountable" do not accept that there is nothing that can be done to influence the behaviour of transnationals. The authors advocate a policy of monitoring their activities and use a comparative approach to show that many governments know surprisingly little about the impact of transnationals on their economies. They identify areas which governments might like to know more about. In an attempt to show what their approach might mean in practice, they draw upon the new techniques developed in social accounting to prepare a detailed social and economic account of "Glaxo".
Without doubt, Cuba is facing its most serious economic challenge in nearly thirty-five years of revolutionary rule. There is consensus that as the official, centrally planned economy has faltered, ordinary citizens eke out a living only by engaging in under-the-table, unrecorded, and mostly illegal activities. In fact, this "second economy" is growing by leaps and bounds. This volume sketches the contours of the very complex phenomenon of the second economy of socialist Cuba, and discusses its evolution over time, as well as the role that it may play in the transition to a market economy on the island. The economic crisis of the 1990s has propelled the second economy from behind the scenes to center stage. Not only have black markets mushroomed, but second economy activities connected to the free-market that the Castro government has traditionally discouraged or even prosecuted are now being incorporated into the government's own economic strategy. Self-employment, cultivation of individual plots, and the use of foreign currencies to buy or sell goods, are now promoted with considerable enthusiasm by the leadership. Perez-Lopez examines different ways of thinking about unregulated economic activities that have been set forth in the literature and concludes that the concept of the second economy is the most appropriate for Cuba. He brings together available information from a multitude of sources on the manifestations of the second economy in Cuba and of its operation. Cuba's Second Economy is a timely study of an economic system in crisis. It will be of interest to economists, political scientists, policymakers, and Latin America area scholars.
Transnational corporations are now of immense significance for most economies. However, by definition they are involved in international production and this poses problems for national governments. The threat of a major company leaving gives it leverage over its host government. This means that even though there is a broad consensus that in some respects the impact of a transnational on an economy can be negative, there is a marked reluctance on the part of governments to try to do anything about it. Although they remain sensitive to the problems posed by transnationals, the authors of "Making Transnationals Accountable" do not accept that there is nothing that can be done to influence the behaviour of transnationals. The authors advocate a policy of monitoring their activities and use a comparative approach to show that many governments know surprisingly little about the impact of transnationals on their economies. They identify areas which governments might like to know more about. In an attempt to show what their approach might mean in practice, they draw upon the new techniques developed in social accounting to prepare a detailed social and economic account of "Glaxo".
These essays are a product of a co-operative research project between American and Taiwanese social scientists. Of particular interest is the chapter discussing a comparative study of industrial policy, productivity growth and structural change in manufacturing.
These essays are a product of a co-operative research project between American and Taiwanese social scientists. Of particular interest is the chapter discussing a comparative study of industrial policy, productivity growth and structural change in manufacturing.
Organization theory is a fast-developing field of microeconomics. Organizational approaches are now used in a wide range of topics in business studies. They are based on information economics, contract theory, and mechanism design. This book introduces such organizational approaches and how to adopt them as business applications. The book presents the theory in the first two chapters and proceeds to cover the applications of the theory in the three chapters that follow. The theory lays the foundation and the applications illustrate how the theory can be used in a wide range of business problems. The book covers many concepts and ideas in organization theory, including complete contracts, incomplete contracts, allocation of control rights, option contracts, convertibles, and joint ventures, concisely. It will be of use to third-year undergraduates and above, as well as Master's- and Ph.D-level students in business schools.
Because of the potential ease with which transnational corporations can relocate, many governments have avoided direct attempts to intervene in their activities. Nonetheless, the major economies have adopted a wide range of policies towards transnational corporations. Some (Japan and France in particular) have been very concerned by the impact of such firms. Others (most notably Britain) have had a relatively relaxed attitude. This book offers an account of policy towards transnationals over the last 30 years or so. It features: detailed, up-to-date accounts of policy in Japan, France, Germany, the United States and Britain; the role of organizations other than governments, including trade unions, business and opposition parties; summaries of which issues have most concerned which countries overall characterizations of each country's policy stance. The result should appeal to those interested in industrial economics, international business, global political economy, and international law.
This book analyzes the factors that shape business activity in Republican Turkey and examines the presence of some of these factors in other societies with highly different cultures and histories. Bugra's premise is that neither the institutional framework nor the behavioral regularities of a market economy emerge spontaneously following principles of a universally rational behavior. Rather, these reflect societal characteristics to be shaped by policy measures that ensure the smooth functioning of the market mechanism.
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.
The purpose of this volume is to reopen the discussion of how to develop the economic theory of investment to better model the facts of experience and to provide policy makers with a better understanding of how capital markets work. In this final decade of the twentieth century, almost everyone agrees that human progress will be closely related to the decisions regarding the investments made to promote economic growth of output. Despite the Nobel prize work done in recent decades, economic performance in this area seems to have worsened. Clearly, a reopening of public discussion on what is required is necessary. Until we get our theory right, it is impossible to get our public policy right. This book does not promise to provide "the" correct theory. Instead, it hopes to stimulate the reader into an understanding of where we may have gone wrong, and how we might rectify our mistakes.
The purpose of this volume is to reopen the discussion of how to develop the economic theory of investment to better model the facts of experience and to provide policy makers with a better understanding of how capital markets work. In this final decade of the twentieth century, almost everyone agrees that human progress will be closely related to the decisions regarding the investments made to promote economic growth of output. Despite the Nobel prize work done in recent decades, economic performance in this area seems to have worsened. Clearly, a reopening of public discussion on what is required is necessary. Until we get our theory right, it is impossible to get our public policy right. This book does not promise to provide "the" correct theory. Instead, it hopes to stimulate the reader into an understanding of where we may have gone wrong, and how we might rectify our mistakes.
Consumer Culture Reborn focuses on consumption as the point at which economy and culture combine. The book strives to draw the often polarized discourses of political economy and cultural studies closer together in a historical context, as a means of understanding our social situations as we approach the end of the millennium. Taking as its central theme the ability of the capitalist mode of production to transform the material and social world which sustains it, the book focuses upon some of the ways in which this transformational impulse has altered the means by which ordinary people reproduce their patterns of life. Treating the commodity as the primary touchstone for both the analysis of the economy and culture, Consumer Culture Reborn charts the rise and fall of the first mass consumption society of the post-war years. It also considers the evidence for the emergence of a new consumer society, exploring the ways in which the organization of economic affairs has had profound consequences for the formation of everyday cultures. |
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