Like all of us, though few so visibly, Alan Greenspan was forced by the financial crisis of 2008 to question some fundamental assumptions about risk management and economic forecasting. How had our models so utterly failed us? Virtually every day, we make wagers on the future - but, even when we're not driven by factors entirely beyond our conscious control, the maps by which we are steering are often out-of-date. The Map and the Territory is an important attempt to update our forecasting conceptual grid using twenty-first-century technologies, offering a lucid and empirical grounding in what we can know about economic forecasting and what we can't.

From the legendary former Fed Chairman and the acclaimed Economist writer and historian, the full, epic story of America's evolution from a small patchwork of threadbare colonies to the most powerful engine of wealth and innovation the world has ever seen. Shortlisted for the 2018 Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award From even the start of his fabled career, Alan Greenspan was duly famous for his deep understanding of even the most arcane corners of the American economy, and his restless curiosity to know even more. To the extent possible, he has made a science of understanding how the US economy works almost as a living organism--how it grows and changes, surges and stalls. He has made a particular study of the question of productivity growth, at the heart of which is the riddle of innovation. Where does innovation come from, and how does it spread through a society? And why do some eras see the fruits of innovation spread more democratically, and others, including our own, see the opposite? In Capitalism in America, Greenspan distills a lifetime of grappling with these questions into a thrilling and profound master reckoning with the decisive drivers of the US economy over the course of its history. In partnership with the celebrated Economist journalist and historian Adrian Wooldridge, he unfolds a tale involving vast landscapes, titanic figures, triumphant breakthroughs, enlightenment ideals as well as terrible moral failings. Every crucial debate is here--from the role of slavery in the antebellum Southern economy to the real impact of FDR's New Deal to America's violent mood swings in its openness to global trade and its impact. But to read Capitalism in America is above all to be stirred deeply by the extraordinary productive energies unleashed by millions of ordinary Americans that have driven this country to unprecedented heights of power and prosperity. At heart, the authors argue, America's genius has been its unique tolerance for the effects of creative destruction, the ceaseless churn of the old giving way to the new, driven by new people and new ideas. Often messy and painful, creative destruction has also lifted almost all Americans to standards of living unimaginable to even the wealthiest citizens of the world a few generations past. A sense of justice and human decency demands that those who bear the brunt of the pain of change be protected, but America has always accepted more pain for more gain, and its vaunted rise cannot otherwise be understood, or its challenges faced, without recognizing this legacy. For now, in our time, productivity growth has stalled again, stirring up the populist furies. There's no better moment to apply the lessons of history to the most pressing question we face, that of whether the United States will preserve its preeminence, or see its leadership pass to other, inevitably less democratic powers.

The foundations of capitalism are being battered by a flood of altruism, which is the cause of the modern world's collapse. This is the view of Ayn Rand, a view so radically opposed to prevailing attitudes that it constitutes a major philosophic revolution. In this series of essays, she presents her stand on the persecution of big business, the causes of war, the default of conservatism, and the evils of altruism. Here is a challenging new look at modern society by one of the most provocative intellectuals on the American scene.

This edition includes two articles by Ayn Rand which did not appear in the hardcover edition: The Wreckage of the Consensus," which presents the Objectivists views on Vietnam and the draft; and Requiem for Man," an answer to the Papal encyclical Progresso Populorum.

Alan Greenspan's The Age of Turbulence is the essential guide to what is happening in the world, and where we're heading, from the ultimate expert. Alan Greenspan wielded more power than the presidents he worked for, from Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton to George Bush and his son. He was in the command room of the world economy for longer than any other single figure. One word from him could send markets into freefall. Now Alan Greenspan, the legendary former chairman of the Federal Reserve, gives us a unique insider's view of the world over his lifetime, from stock market exuberance to political turmoil - and his predictions for the future of our fast-changing, increasingly turbulent global economy. 'First rate ... [The Age of Turbulence] is intelligent in a way that few popular books on economics manage or even try to be ... An enjoyable read' Economist 'With his book, [Greenspan] finally lets us know what he's thinking ... surprisingly frank ... downright entertaining' David Leonhardt, The New York Times '[Readers] will find that Greenspan's well-informed musings offer much more food for thought than the usual Washington memoir' BusinessWeek Alan Greenspan (b.1926) earned his B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from New York University. In 1954, he co-founded the economic consulting firm Townsend-Greenspan & Co. From 1974 to 1977, he served as Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Gerald Ford. In 1987, President Ronald Reagan appointed him Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, a position he held until his retirement in 2006.

This paper offers a new framework for analyzing aggregate sales of new motor vehicles that incorporates separate models for the change in the vehicle stock and for the rate of vehicle scrappage. Because this approach requires only a minimal set of assumptions about demographic trends, the state of the economy, consumer "preferences," new vehicle prices and repair costs, and vehicle retirements, it is shown to be especially useful as a macroeconomic forecasting tool. In addition, a new historical annual time series estimate of motor vehicle stocks in the United States is presented.

One of the most difficult challenges facing central banks is how to conduct monetary policy in an uncertain economic environment. This challenge is magnified when ongoing changes in the structure of the economy make economic models and forecasts less reliable. How should policymakers act in an environment of increased uncertainty? Should they be more cautious and wait for additional information about the economy that might reduce uncertainty? Or, should they react more aggressively in an attempt to keep the economy on course? In designing monetary policy in an uncertain world, how much should policymakers depend on formal rules, and how much should they rely on judgment? To address these questions, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City sponsored a symposium, titled, "Monetary Policy and Uncertainty: Adapting to a Changing Economy," at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on August 28-30, 2003. The symposium brought together a distinguished group of central bank officials, academic economists, and business economists to discuss and debate these issues. Over the years, the Jackson Hole symposium has provided a forum for the exchange of ideas on important public policy issues of interest to central banks around the world. Its continuing success is due to the contributions of all those who participate, including authors, discussants, panelists, and audience members. Special thanks also go to Craig Hakkio, Gordon Sellon, and other members of the Bank's Research Division who developed this year's program. Thomas M. Hoenig President and Chief Executive Officer Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Few economic issues have such far-reaching implications as excessive government budget deficits and debt. It is almost universally agreed that fiscal imbalances retard economic growth, impose heavy burdens on future generations, and heighten the risk of financial market disruption. It is also agreed, however, that correcting such imbalances is a difficult task. Around the world, countries are attempting to address the problem of excessive deficits and debt. This issue is at the core of many political and economic debates. To gain a better understanding of the problem and to consider potential solutions, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City sponsored a symposium on Budget Deficits and Debt: Issues and Options at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on August 31-September 2, 1995. A distinguished group of central bankers, finance ministers, academics, and financial market representatives shared their views and research results on this vital topic. The opening remarks are by Alan Greenspan, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

For some time, the use of monetary and fiscal policies to smooth business cycle fluctuations has taken a back seat to longer-term objectives of restoring price stability and fiscal balance. Many policymakers and academic economists have held the view that fiscal policy had little or no short-run stabilization role and that monetary policy should give priority to maintaining price stability. More recently, however, weaker economic performance in some of the world's economies, most notably in Japan and the United States, has led to renewed interest in the use of short-run stabilization policy. The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City sponsored a symposium, "Rethinking Stabilization Policy," at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on August 29-31, 2002. The symposium brought together a distinguished group of central bank officials, academic economists, and business economists to discuss the potential scope for stabilization policy in today's new environment. Our goal for this symposium was straight-forward, although hardly simple. It was to provide a forum to discuss the roles of monetary and fiscal stabilization policies, their effectiveness, and their limitations. And finally, so as not to lose sight of a consensus from earlier meetings, we analyzed these stabilization policies' compatibility with long-run price stability and fiscal sustainability, which are critical to the success of any economy - industrial or emerging. Thomas M. Hoenig President Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

The economies of the industrialized counties are being reshaped by the rapid development and diffusion of advanced information and communications technologies. Access to information is unprecedented, and the ability to process and exchange information has helped businesses increase efficiency and households raise their standards of living. There has been considerable agreement as to the broad features of the emerging information economy. But there has been less consensus on the likely magnitude and significance of the economic effects or on the important policy issues raised by these developments. The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City sponsored a symposium, "Economic Policy for the Information Economy," at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on August 30 - September 1, 2001. The symposium brought together a distinguished group of central bankers, academics, and financial market experts to examine how the information economy will alter the structure of economic activity. The symposium also served as a forum for addressing key policy challenges resulting from the information age changing the microeconomic and macroeconomic structure of the U.S. and foreign economies. We hope these proceedings will contribute to a better understanding of how the information economy will alter the structure of economic activity. Thomas M. Hoenig President Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

'An inspiring, rip-roaring read - like the astonishing story it describes' Liam Halligan, Daily Telegraph Where does prosperity come from, and how does it spread through a society? What role does innovation play in creating prosperity and why do some eras see the fruits of innovation spread more democratically, and others, including our own, find the opposite? In Capitalism in America, Alan Greenspan, legendary Chair of the Federal Reserve, distils a lifetime of grappling with these questions into a profound assessment of the decisive drivers of the US economy over the course of its history. In partnership with Economist journalist and historian Adrian Wooldridge, he unfolds a tale of vast landscapes, titanic figures and triumphant breakthroughs as well as terrible moral failings. Every crucial American economic debate is here - from the role of slavery in the antebellum Southern economy to America's violent swings in its openness to global trade. At heart, the authors argue, America's genius has been its enthusiasm for the effects of creative destruction, the ceaseless churn of the old giving way to the new. Although messy and painful, it has lifted the overwhelming majority of Americans to standards of living unimaginable even a few generations past. At a time when productivity has again stalled, stirring populist furies, and the continuing of American pre-eminence seems uncertain, Capitalism in America explains why America has worked so successfully in the past and been such a gigantic engine of economic growth.

How does globalisation affect our economy and how did it cause the financial melt-down? In this unique book twelve global thinkers and business people, including global entrepreneur Richard Branson ("Losing My Viriginity"), give their compelling views on the threats and opportunities that lie ahead. Included among the contributors are Jim O'Neill head of Goldman Sachs research who coined the phrase BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) countries; Peter Jones of BBC Draggon's Den; and, Minister for Business Lord Mandelson, Clare Short, alternative globalisation expert and eco-feminist Vandana Shiva (Earth Democracy), and 2006 Nobel Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus (Banker to the Poor).