This classic set of essays by Nobel Laureate and leading monetary theorist Milton Friedman presents a coherent view of the role of money, focusing on specific topics related to the empirical analysis of monetary phenomena and policy. The early chapters cover factors determining the real quantity of money held in a community and the welfare implications of policies that affect the quantity held. The following chapters formally restate why quantity analysis has become central to the science of economics. Friedman's presidential address to the American Economic Association, included here, provides a general summary of his views on the role of monetary policy, with an emphasis on its limitations and its possibilities. This theoretical framework is used in examining a number of empirical problems: the demand for money, the explanation of price changes in wartime periods, and the role of money in business cycles. These essays summarize some of the most important results of Friedman's extensive research over the course of his lifetime. The chapters on policy that follow survey the positions of earlier economists and deal with the importance of lags and the implications of destabilizing speculation in foreign markets. Taken as a whole, "The Optimum Quantity of Money" provides a comprehensive view of the body of monetary theory developed in leading centers of monetary analysis. This work is essential reading for economists and graduate students in the field. The volume will be no less important for practicing business and banking personnel as well. The new statement by Michael Bordo, a student of Friedman's and an expert in the field, provides a sense of where the field now stands in the economy and academy. Milton Friedman is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University. Before that, he was Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago. He has also taught at Columbia University, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Minnesota, and Cambridge University. Among his many books are "Essays in Positive Economics," "A Program for Monetary Stability," "Capitalism and Freedom," and "A Monetary History of the United States." Michael D. Bordo is professor of economics at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and author, with Lars Jonung, of, among other works, "Demand for Money."

This title was first published in 2001: Bringing together geographers, planners, political scientists, economists, rural development specialists, bankers, public administrators and other development experts, this volume questions the benefits of Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs). It critically assesses the impact of SAPs from a wider perspective than a purely economic one, highlighting concerns about impacts of adjustments on the more vulnerable elements of society such as social welfare, the environment, labour, gender and agriculture. Revealing both the costs and benefits of the economic restructuring programme, the book also suggests alternatives to current development models, and how SAPs can be made more sustainable. An original and comprehensive addition to the collections of both students and practitioners of development.

This title was first published in 2003. Among the major challenges transition economies are facing is how to cope with globalization. Foreign direct investment (FDI) has proved the most dynamic (defensive and offensive) response, as an integration and network tool, yet outward FDI has so far been overlooked in research. The vitality of outward FDI as an entry mode to the global economy is discussed in this authoritative volume from various angles, beginning with the context of the development strategy and the transition process. The experiences of the Slovene way of internationalization are compared with those of other transition economies. Readers will learn about the size, geographical distribution, trends and sectoral allocation of such outward FDI (OFDI) as well as the major motives, barriers and problems. The book also responds to questions about the extent to which outward FDI is instrumental in development/transition, EU accession and competitiveness strengthening. Based on extensive empirical research and focused case studies, the volume provides valuable lessons for other EU candidate countries and transition economies, while managerial experiences in entering Central and Eastern European markets offer universal internationalization lessons.

This title was first published in 2002.Banking reform lies at the heart of economic reform in China and is central to sustaining the countries high economic growth. This timely book covers an important economic policy issue in China, namely the existing and potential roles of the financial sector in the development of the Chinese economy. It explores for the first time the relationship between the reforms of the financial sector, of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and of the social welfare system. Donald D. Tong presents a wealth of valuable data accompanied by original insights and interpretations. The author also examines the original estimates of the cost of the social welfare burden given that social services such as old age pension, housing, healthcare and education are provided by the SOEs rather than by the private or public sector directly.

This title was first published in 2002. This compelling text provides fresh insight into an area that is often touched upon, but rarely examined in any great detail - the relationship between Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) and their host governments. Taking Japanese Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) strategy, arguably the model of FDI, Young-Chan Kim takes a revealing look at why the United Kingdom (UK) has dominated among the EU member states for FDI destination, while ironically losing its nationalized car manufacturers. Scholars of business history, international business and business economics will find this work invaluable.

This title was first published in 2000: An outstanding volume which examines the professional economic merits, practical feasibility, and underlying politics of the hotly contested competing initiatives for strengthening the international financial system. Challenging much of the conventional wisdom, it offers a comprehensive account of the traditional enduring financial issues facing the G7 and the fundamental architectural elements of the new systemic design. This authoritative text contains a rich and balanced array of contributions from distinguished experts from all G7 countries and from emerging markets outside. Essential reading for academics in the areas of economics and management, to political scientists specializing in international political economy and to officials in the government and the private sector.

This title was first published in 2002. In State socialist societies, informal economies were essential for the functioning of the economy as well as for household provision. Since the beginning of social transformation they have been flourishing better than ever before. They are a main outlet on the market for the newly emerging middle classes, stabilize the situation of many workers and pensioners, and in countries on the downward slope they are essential for the survival of large impoverished groups. Presenting recent research on the social importance of informal economies, especially in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Russia, the editors give a short introduction for each country, and a common compilation of basic economic and social data follows in the appendix. Household strategies in the 'shadow', groups of informal winners and losers, informal employment in town and countryside, outcomes from informal activities, the macro-economic importance of informal economies, and researching methods are all investigated.

In its pursuit to equip the reader with a basic knowledge of Islamic economics, this book divulges the micro-foundations of the discipline, and highlights the predominant schools of thought that exist in the field. It explains, in simple terms, what Islamic economics entails and how it can be studied as a science in relation to the Holy Quran, the Sunnah and the Islamic intellectual tradition based on these two sources. The book familiarizes the reader with knowledge of the basic maxims of the discipline. It then establishes the arguments that are presented by the proponents of religion-based economics, specifically Islam, and apprises readers about the aforementioned schools as they exist. A number of chapters consider the dimension of the dilemmas the discipline is facing, and the chronological progress of the field is reviewed, hence providing a comprehensive overview of the topic. The book deals with the issues about the origins of Islamic economics, the basic methodological questions, the use of the opportunities offered by fiqh in the methodological discussions and the main problems arising from the encounter with other cultures and civilizations. It offers practical solutions, despite the differing schools of thought, not unlike the development of conventional Economics where radical differences between Keynesian, Classical and Monetarist approaches existed. It concludes by incorporating some of the finest works that explain to the reader how Islamic economics may progress as a discipline. This guide will provide both students and researchers in Comparative Economic Studies, Islamic Economics and Islamic Finance with an essential overview of the field.

Foreign Exchange is big business in the City of London. At the last official count, turnover on the London foreign exchange market averaged a staggering $504 billion a day. No other financial centre in the world even comes close to matching this total. Thirty one per cent of global foreign exchange activity takes place in the United Kingdom, compared with only sixteen per cent in the United States and nine per cent in Japan.

However, this has not always been so. A hundred years ago, the London foreign exchange market played second fiddle to more important centres in New York, Paris and Berlin. This book charts the inexorable rise of foreign exchange in London over the past century and is the first full-length study of this amazing transformation.

This title was first published in 2002: From Individualism to the Individual treats finance as a social and cultural process, exploring the unseen side of academic discourse and the many obstacles the deeply entrenched elite puts in the way of alternative thinking. Opening with a detailed discussion of the role of ideology in the perpetuation of the limited methodological bias of the profession toward markets, the book then examines the more specific effects of such ideological limitations on theoretical and empirical research in finance. The authors develop alternative ways to examine finance both as a profession and as a field of inquiry. This book will be of particular value to researchers and practitioners working in finance, as well as those in other social science disciplines whose research relates to finance, culture and society.

Paul Davidson investigates why the 1990s was a decade of financial crises that almost precipitated a global market crash. He explores the reasons why the global economy still struggles with the aftermath of these crises and discusses the possibility that volatile financial markets in the future will have real impacts on whole industries and national economic systems. The author highlights the central role that domestic and international financial markets play in determining the economic growth rate, unemployment rate and international payments position of capitalist economies. He explains why the primary function of financial markets is to create liquidity and demonstrates that a liquid market cannot be efficient, and an efficient market cannot be liquid. He also proves that preventing liquidity problems from developing in national and international financial markets is the key element in fostering prosperity. Statistical evidence and theoretical analysis are combined to demonstrate why orthodox prescriptions for 'liberalizing' labor, product, and capital markets are the wrong policies for promoting a civilized society in the 21st century. Professional economists, financial reporters, government policy makers, those working in international economic organizations such as the IMF, the World Bank and the WTO, and concerned citizens will all benefit greatly from reading this highly acclaimed book.

The studies included in these two volumes have been selected to highlight key recent contributions to scholarship on the political economy of international monetary relations. Over the last decade, the central theme of research in this area has been the growth and increasingly pervasive influence of capital mobility. The papers collected here have significantly advanced theoretical and analytical understanding of the causes and, even more importantly, the political and economic consequences of financial liberalization. Among the issues addressed are the impact of growing capital mobility on domestic policy, the choice of exchange-rate regimes and monetary institutions, governance of international capital, policy cooperation and monetary integration. These volumes will be of particular interest to specialists in international political economy. 34 articles, dating from 1993 to 2002

This title was first published in 2001. Containing a wide array of intellectual perspectives, this illuminating text takes an authoritative look at the rules, decision-making procedures and organizational resources at the heart of the institutions of global governance and provides a much-needed Asian perspective on key issues, dealing with new questions raised at the Okinawa summit. Particularly suitable for graduate courses in political science, international political economy, international organizations, corporate strategy and international business, as well as having implications for the public policy community.

This title was first published in 2002: As the twenty-first century began, it was easy to assume that the reforms to the international financial system undertaken in the last half of the 1990s were adequate to the core tasks of ensuring stability, sustained growth and broadly shared benefits in the world economy. That comfortable consensus has now been shattered. This volume critically assesses fundamental issues including: -the elements and adequacy of recent G7-led efforts at international financial reform -current causes of and prospects for growth in the new global economy -the challenges of crisis prevention -private sector participation and IFI responsibilities -the world's monetary supply and sovereignty in the face of market forces. These key topics are examined by leading economists and scholars of political economy from both academic and policy communities in G7 countries, making it an essential addition to the collections of all those concerned with the challenges facing the world economy in the coming years.

Originally published in 1930, the essays in this book discuss some of the leading financial controversities of the early 1930s in non-technical language. Rationalisation, the Gold Standard and the problems of currency and credit in their relation to unemployment are among the questions discussed. The volume as a whole is a plea at once for a revision of the (then) current banking policy and for a more energetic effort by the Government to break into the vicious circle of unemployment and under-consumption.

This timely book provides an innovative examination of financial integration in the European Union - an issue that has become of paramount importance in view of the commencement of European Economic and Monetary Union. The author begins by assessing three different methods of financial integration in the European Union: interest parity conditions, savings-investment correlations and consumption correlations. He goes on to examine the fundamental determinants of financial integration and analyses the factors likely to influence the movement of capital within the European Union. The blend of empirical and theoretical research provides the reader with a comprehensive account of the progress made in integrating financial markets in the European Union. Integrating Financial Markets in the European Union will be essential reading for students and scholars of monetary economics, international finance and European integration. It will also prove useful to practitioners and policymakers working in central banking and government.

'I have lost interest ... in all that I have written prior to The Philosophy of Money. This one is really my book, the others appear to me colourless and seem as if they could have been written by anyone else.' - Georg Simmel to Heinrich Rickert (1904)
We should all be grateful for this translation. It must have been extremely hard work, but it shows no trace of it. Indeed, it positively sparkles.' - Alan Ryan, The Guardian
In The Philosophy of Money, Simmel provides us with a remarkably wide-ranging discussion of the social, psychological and philosophical aspects of the money economy, full of brilliant insights into the forms that social relationships take. He analyzes the relationships of money to exchange, the human personality, the position of women, individual freedom and many other areas of human existence. Later he provides us with an account of the consequences of the modern money economy and the division of labor, which examines the processes of alienation and reification in work, urban life and elsewhere. Perhaps, more than any of his other sociological works, The Philosophy of Money gives us an example of his comprehensive analysis of the interrelationships between the most diverse and seemingly connected social phenomena.
This revised edition of the translation by Tom Bottomore and David Frisby, includes a new Preface by David Frisby.

This book, first published in 1989, assesses the existing tax and benefit systems as being beyond repair, and examines the case for integration. Integrated tax/benefit systems change the basis of entitlement from contribution record and contingency to citizenship and need. Having shown that full integration is not realistic, the author discusses four major partial integration options in detail. Basing her comparison on detailed analysis of specific models, she is able to compare the redistributive and incentive efforts of each scheme.

The title was first published in 2001: In 1979, China opened the door to the West and implemented a series of economic reforms that led the accounting system to depart from the Soviet model. This book investigates the development of Chinese accounting in a broad social, economic and cultural environment and analyzes the environmental influences on the development of accounting in China. Including the latest accounting systems, which have to date received little scholarly attention, this cutting-edge analysis makes a worthy addition to a growing area of research.

Are exchange rates determined by economic fundamentals or are they a prey to random speculative forces? Some economists assert that economic theory has so far performed poorly in explaining the dramatic increase in exchange rate volatility in the recent floating rate period. This book argues that modern macroeconomic theory does provide guidelines for understanding exchange rate fluctuations. Since the mid-1990s, there has been an outpouring of research that aims at laying new foundations for open-macroeconomic theory. The so-called New Open Economy Macroeconomics (NOEM) approach embeds micro-founded behaviour into dynamic general equilibrium models. This provides a rich framework for thinking about exchange rate behaviour and lays the groundwork for credible policy evaluation. This book shows how the most recent analytical tools proposed in this literature improve our understanding of exchange rate fluctuations. With contributions from an international array of thinkers, this impressive book shall interest both students and researchers involved with Macroeconomics, Money and Banking as well as all those interested in International Finance, including financial institu

Contents:
Part 1. Commodities, Markets and Capital 1. Social Relations Underpinning Commodity Markets 2. Commodities and Gifts Part 2. Money and Credit 3. Money's Monopoly over the Ability to Buy 4. The Social Content of Credit Relations Part 3. Theoretical Approaches to the Social Relations Sustaining Markets and Money 5. Social Norms and Institutions in the Capitalist Economy 6. The Emergence and Functioning of Money 7. Money as Unit of Account and Means of Exchange in a Socialist Economy

The income velocity of money-an inverse measure of the demand for money balances-is the ratio of the money value of income to the average money stock that the public (excluding banks) holds in a given period. Why the magnitude of that ratio has changed over time is the subject of Michael D. Bordo and Lars Jonung's classic study, originally published as The Long-Run Behavior of the Velocity of Circulation. Supported by statistical data, econometric estimation techniques, and meticulous historical analysis, this work describes, in an international setting, how slow-moving economic, social, and political forces interact with the decisions households and firms make about how much money to hold.

Annual time series of velocity for several countries from the late nineteenth century to the late twentieth century display a U-shaped pattern. Existing theories can explain each section of the velocity curve-the falling, flat, and rising parts-but the overall pattern is not consistent with any one theory. Here the authors put forth a comprehensive explanation for this behavior over time. Their theory is largely an extension of the approach of Knut Wicksell, the Swedish economist who stressed the role of substitution between monetary assets. This approach, which emphasizes institutional variables, is incorporated into the arguments for the traditional long-run money demand (velocity) function. Four types of empirical evidence strongly support the authors' theory: econometric studies of the long-run velocity function for several countries; a cross section study of approximately eighty countries in the postwar period; a case study of the Swedish monetization process in the fifty years before World War I; and an examination of the time series properties of velocity.

Demand for Money suggests that institutional factors, as opposed to real income, play a greater role in velocity than previously thought. And these institutional factors have a major impact on monetary policy. This is a book that will prove of great value to economists, monetary strategists, and policymakers.

In this comprehensive historical overview, the author writes about monetary unions with an admirable completeness and covers such themes as:
*The Gold Standard
*Monetary Unions in Countries and Areas from Latin America to The British Empire to Japan and Korea with many in between
*EMU and its Policy Ramifications
*the CFA Franc Zone in the former French Colonies.
Written in readable and enjoyable prose, A History of Monetary Unions combines historical analysis with present day context. The book will be of great interest to students and academics involved in the study of money, banking and finance. It is also essential reading for anyone working in the financial sector.

eBook available with sample pages: 020341778X

This book looks at the role of the Association for Monetary Union in Europe's role in the construction of the Euro. It argues that the AMUE played a prominent role in the adoption of a number of proposals related to the single currency and had a guiding influence on the transition from a market-let to an institution-centred approach to monetary union.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203222172

The euro crisis is tearing Europe apart. But the heart of the matter is that, as the crisis unfolds, the basic rules of European democracy are being subverted or turned into their opposite, bypassing parliaments, governments and EU institutions. Multilateralism is turning into unilateralism, equality into hegemony, sovereignty into the dependency and recognition into disrespect for the dignity of other nations. Even France, which long dominated European integration, must submit to Berlin's strictures now that it must fear for its international credit rating.How did this happen? The anticipation of the European catastrophe has already fundamentally changed the European landscape of power. It is giving birth to a political monster: a German Europe.Germany did not seek this leadership position - rather, it is a perfect illustration of the law of unintended consequences. The invention and implementation of the euro was the price demanded by France in order to pin Germany down to a European Monetary Union in the context of German unification. It was a quid pro quo for binding a united Germany into a more integrated Europe in which France would continue to play the leading role. But the precise opposite has happened. Economically the euro turned out to be very good for Germany, and with the euro crisis Chancellor Angela Merkel became the informal Queen of Europe.The new grammar of power reflects the difference between creditor and debtor countries; it is not a military but an economic logic. Its ideological foundation is 'German euro nationalism' - that is, an extended European version of the Deutschmark nationalism that underpinned German identity after the Second World War. In this way the German model of stability is being surreptitiously elevated into the guiding idea for Europe. The Europe we have now will not be able to survive in the risk-laden storms of the globalized world. The EU has to be more than a grim marriage sustained by the fear of the chaos that would be caused by its breakdown. It has to be built on something more positive: a vision of rebuilding Europe bottom-up, creating a Europe of the citizen. There is no better way to reinvigorate Europe than through the coming together of ordinary Europeans acting on their own behalf.