This book contributes to the current debates on the shadow economy and related issues of tax evasion and corruption. The approach taken here is one that will develop a better understanding of these related issues, which are increasingly seen as impediments to country competitiveness and economic growth. Economists and policymakers are increasingly focused on how the shadow economy operates. The contributors discuss how effective corporate governance may help to reduce both the occurrence and effects of illegal activities. The book begins by considering institutional governance and how issues such as economic growth and development can be better understood by gaining a deeper understanding of the decision-making process. The importance of collective persuasion and collective decision-making in an institutional context is illustrated. The remainder of the work details a series of empirical studies outlining the role of governance and institutional capacity in assessing economic performance, the role of political competition in reducing corruption and measures of, and influences on, corruption in different countries around the world. Institutions such as the WTO, World Bank and the IMF will find much to engage them in this book as will policy makers in government and research policy agencies. It will also hold great appeal to academics (postgraduate and above) in the fields of political economy, economic development and international economics.

Get ready to smile all the way to the bank.No longer are wit and business mutually exclusive. Roger has tapped into something very important: How to make home finance, which is inherently dull, interesting and fun. Roger talks to us, not at us. He shows us how to choose the right mortgage while serving up the facts and rules with a generous helping of humor. One might even call it business entertainment. You will quickly learn that the mortgage industry is not the 30 year fixed loan. It is just one of the loans available and not the best one in any circumstance. You will understand, finally, what the phrase "30 years is a sentence, not a loan. Prepare yourself to learn and laugh your way through this thoroughly enjoyable book

This book explores the system of financing local governments in selected countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Using evidence from the last two decades, the authors, experts on their particular countries, describe the development of the current local government finance system in each nation, and the major challenges and policy options they face. The contributions in this book provide comprehensive coverage of a transitional Europe that encompasses both modern local public finance theory and specific applications in the target countries. The book is a recommended read not only for students of local government and local public finance, but also practitioners and all those who have to deal with the accountability and financial issues at local government level in Central and Eastern Europe.

The Handbook of Finance and Development provides a thorough assessment of the existing research on the relationship between the financial system and economic growth. Containing chapters on theory, empirical work and historic accounts, this is the first Handbook to provide a comprehensive overview of the fields of finance and development. As leading researchers in the field the contributors analyse the emergence of, and innovations in, financial instruments, markets, and intermediaries, providing commentary on how these components of financial systems shape resource allocation, poverty, income inequality and aggregate economic growth. They also explore the causes and consequences of financial fragility, the historic development of financial systems and the regulatory and supervisory underpinnings of financial sector development. Further chapters examine financial development at both the aggregate and country levels and assess the degree to which individuals and firms can access financial services. Recent literature on the financial inclusion of households and enterprises is also analysed. The Handbook will be of great value to scholars and researchers who are interested in the fields of finance, development and financial inclusion. Throughout the chapters the contributors highlight how insights drawn from research inform policy debates on the topics at hand making this work a useful resource for policy makers and regulators. Contributors include: F. Abraham, P. Aghion, F. Allen, M. Ayyagari, J. Barth, T. Beck, A. Berger, H. Bodenhorn, C. Burhop, J. Caprio, R. Cull, A. Demirguc-Kunt, S. Frame, X. Gu, T. Guinnane, P. Honohan, P. Howitt, L. Klapper, O. Kowalewski, T. Lambert, R. Levine, N. Loayza, V. Maksimovic, R. Morck, J. Morduch, A. Ouazad, A. Popov, R. Ranciere, R. Roman, S. Schmukler, D. Singer, M. Soledad Martinez Peria, W. Summerhill, R. Tilly, J. Verrier, P. Volpin, H.-J. Voth, B. Yeung

This is the autobiographical story of David Freud's accidental career in the City and how, after a bruising 20 years, he emerged as one of the most successful investment bankers of his generation. This is the inside story of some of the most interesting and controversial mega-deals of the period. He stayed at the sharp end of the business through his 20 year stint - conducting transactions in no fewer than 19 countries. Written with pace, humour and insight David Freud's lively account of his work and life in the City is as accessible to interested outsiders as it to those who have work there.

Dreaming of becoming a successful trader? Daryl Guppy and Karen Wong show you the steps that will allow you to turn part-time trading into a successful income stream.Wong's unique approach uses a stock exchange-based Trading Game simulation as an arena for stress testing trading ideas before risking real cash. This is a serious training method. Wong reveals the essential lessons underpinning survival and success in modern trading markets. She shows how sensible use of derivatives like contract for differences (CFD) enhance returns from trading ideas. Wong takes you through the steps she followed to turn an ambition into a reality. Based on her experience, using Guppy trading methods and her own trading methods, she shows mistakes to avoid and some shortcuts to success.Guppy shows how to adapt your stock trading skills to trading the foreign exchange (Forex) market using methods suitable for a part-time trader. This includes a full explanation of a trading approach for Forex, commodities, and indices. This new trading method identifies high probability trades with well-defined exit targets. This method is designed for time-poor traders who want to limit time risk in the market.Guppy and Wong explain how charting and technical analysis methods are easily applied to improve trade identification, trade management, and profit taking. The discussion is illuminated with real trades so you can identify the features of success, and also the warning signs of failure.Modern markets call for a new mixture of trade methods to make the best use of new trading instruments like CFDs and the increasingly accessible Forex market. You can trade part-time and make a decent second income. Guppy and Wong give you the benefit of their experience and the tools to make this dream a reality.Related Link(s)

Dreaming of becoming a successful trader? Daryl Guppy and Karen Wong show you the steps that will allow you to turn part-time trading into a successful income stream.Wong's unique approach uses a stock exchange-based Trading Game simulation as an arena for stress testing trading ideas before risking real cash. This is a serious training method. Wong reveals the essential lessons underpinning survival and success in modern trading markets. She shows how sensible use of derivatives like contract for differences (CFD) enhance returns from trading ideas. Wong takes you through the steps she followed to turn an ambition into a reality. Based on her experience, using Guppy trading methods and her own trading methods, she shows mistakes to avoid and some shortcuts to success.Guppy shows how to adapt your stock trading skills to trading the foreign exchange (Forex) market using methods suitable for a part-time trader. This includes a full explanation of a trading approach for Forex, commodities, and indices. This new trading method identifies high probability trades with well-defined exit targets. This method is designed for time-poor traders who want to limit time risk in the market.Guppy and Wong explain how charting and technical analysis methods are easily applied to improve trade identification, trade management, and profit taking. The discussion is illuminated with real trades so you can identify the features of success, and also the warning signs of failure.Modern markets call for a new mixture of trade methods to make the best use of new trading instruments like CFDs and the increasingly accessible Forex market. You can trade part-time and make a decent second income. Guppy and Wong give you the benefit of their experience and the tools to make this dream a reality.Related Link(s)

Developing personal financial skills and improving financial literacy are fundamental aspects for managing money and propelling a bright financial future. Considering life events and risks that unexpectantly present themselves, especially in the light of recent global events, there is often an uncertainty associated with financial standings in unsettled times. It is important to have personal finance management to prepare for times of crisis, and personal finance is something to be thought about in everyday life. The incorporation of financial literacy for individuals is essential for a decision-making process that could affect their financial future. Having a keen understanding of beneficial and detrimental financial decisions, a plan for personal finances, and personalized goals are baselines for money management that will create stability and prosperity. In a world that is rapidly digitalized, there are new tools and technologies that have entered the sphere of finance as well that should be integrated into the conversation. The latest methods and models for improving financial literacy along with critical information on budgeting, saving, and managing spending are essential topics in today's world. The Research Anthology on Personal Finance and Improving Financial Literacy provides readers with the latest research and developments in how to improve, understand, and utilize personal finance methodologies or services and obtain critical financial literacy. The chapters within this essential reference work will cover personal finance technologies, banking, investing, budgeting, saving, and the best practices and techniques for optimal money management. This book is ideally designed for business managers, financial consultants, entrepreneurs, auditors, economists, accountants, academicians, researchers, and students seeking current research on modern advancements and recent findings in personal finance.

This innovative book employs the social studies of finance approach, which aims to enhance the dialogue between finance and sociology by addressing the blind spots of economic and financial theories. In so doing, it challenges the accusations made towards financial models in the aftermath of the last economic crisis and argues that they cannot be condemned indiscriminately. Their influence on markets and society is not straightforward, but determined by the many ways in which models are created and then used. Ekaterina Svetlova analyses the various patterns of the application of models in asset management, risk management and financial engineering to demonstrate that their power is far more fragile than widespread criticism would indicate.This unique and stimulating book furthers our understanding of the influence of financial models on markets and society more broadly. It will be of value to academics in the social studies of finance, economic sociology, philosophy of economics and political economy. It will also useful to practitioners who design and apply models within financial markets, regulators and policy-makers involved in the stability of financial markets, as well as any readers with a general interest in these areas.

This book presents a theoretical and empirical framework to interpret the possible configurations of the integration between performance management and risk management systems as part of management control systems. The book provides an overview of the development paths of these three systems, outlining the evolution and the current development of these disciplines, highlighting emerging issues and providing some original considerations. The author uses both an inductive and deductive approach in shaping the proposed framework, and includes the perspective of practitioners and academics on the topic. Based on a multiple case study in listed companies and a survey administered to small and medium enterprises, this book provides readers with valuable insights to adapt the proposed framework in different business contexts.

This book considers the extent to which innovation and entrepreneurship are engines of economic prosperity. It brings together theorists and empiricists from diverse backgrounds to provides a comprehensive overview of the field of entrepreneurship, focusing specifically on entrepreneurial developments within Turkey and the surrounding regions and Europe. It looks at innovation, creativity, economic development and women's empowerment. This book considers the for-profit and the not-for-profit sectors, and examines outcome metrics such as change, sustainability and employment, in addition to economic value. This book will inspire academics and students to better understand the origins, evolution and impact of new ideas, new organizations, and new industries, and the impact on the economy. This book offers an excellent foundation for investigating and questioning current entrepreneurial practices across developed economies. It will also provide the foundations for researching and evaluating new and existing approaches to emerging technologies. Additionally, the book will offer useful insights into the real world, and will appeal to academics in economics and business as well as those studying entrepreneurship on the international scene.

The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 brought enormous political, economic, and social challenges. Since 1991 fiscal reform has been a pillar of Russia's reform agenda. This book analyzes the effort to adopt a modern tax code where previously there were few recognizable taxes, establish an efficient tax administration where taxpayers had never paid taxes directly, and decentralize the system of governance where power had been centralized and dictatorial. Despite the remarkable achievements, many old and new challenges remain. The authors bring an analytical approach to fiscal reform in Russia, providing a detailed analysis of the tax system and estimates of tax compliance and evasion. The book offers a careful examination of the fiscal architecture of Russia and concludes with a presentation of remaining reform needs and options for Russia. Based on Russia's reform experience, the authors also draw lessons for fiscal reform in other developing and transitional countries. Given the dynamic nature of Russia's economic development, this book will prove a timely and informative resource for academics in economics, public finance, political science and public administration as well as for policy makers. Its lessons will also be useful for officials involved with finance in transition and developing countries.

This book examines the success story of Seng Heng Bank (SHB), the successful acquisition of SHB by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), and the continuing sound management and performance of ICBC (Macau). It shows how a loss-making small bank grew into one of the best banks in Macao and highlights the achievement, awards, and recognition of SHB. The authors detail the SHB acquisition process by ICBC, the biggest bank in the world in terms of total assets. They identify the main contributing factors for the success of SHB and draw conclusions and implications for bank managers in the region and beyond. This book will be of interest to finance professionals and business scholars.

Money laundering is a problem of some magnitude internationally and has long term negative economic impacts. Brigitte Unger argues that today, money laundering is largely linked to fraud and that it is not only small islands and tax havens which launder, but increasingly, industrialized countries like the US, Australia, The Netherlands and the UK. Well established financial markets and growing economies with sound political and social structures attract launderers in the same way as they attract honest capital. The book gives an interdisciplinary overview of the state-of-the-art of money laundering as well as describing the legal problems of defining and fighting money laundering. It then goes on to present a number of economic models designed to measure money laundering and applies these to measuring the size of laundering in The Netherlands and Australia. The book also gives an overview of techniques and potential effects of money laundering identified and measured so far in the literature. It adds to this debate by calculating the effects of laundering on crime and economic growth. This book will be of great interest to lawyers, financial experts, economists, political scientists, as well as to government ministries, international and national organizations and central banks.

If you've ever thought about succession planning and avoided it because it seemed too complex and daunting, this book is for you. If you're a business owner who has never thought about succession planning, this book is for you. This book is designed to be a primer, an overview of succession planning, written in language that you can understand. It will help you navigate the process of developing an effective succession plan for your business. In other words, it will help you pass the torch without getting scorched. I've had a lot of experience with succession planning and the consequences of the absence of a succession plan, and I know first-hand how critical is the need for effective succession planning for any business, large or small. My goal is to demystify this topic and present you, the reader, with basic concepts that will remove your fears and replace them with a solid platform for the legacy you wish to pass on to the next generation.