The theory of persistence modules originated in topological data analysis and became an active area of research in algebraic topology. This book provides a concise and self-contained introduction to persistence modules and focuses on their interactions with pure mathematics, bringing the reader to the cutting edge of current research. In particular, the authors present applications of persistence to symplectic topology, including the geometry of symplectomorphism groups and embedding problems. Furthermore, they discuss topological function theory, which provides new insight into oscillation of functions. The book is accessible to readers with a basic background in algebraic and differential topology.

Taiwan has a special status for the United States, as both a leading high-technology economic partner and a place of political and security concern. The authors look at both the quantitative and qualitative evidence on the potential effects of a US-Taiwan free trade agreement (FTA), both for maximizing US economic benefits and for securing a prosperous and secure future for Taiwan. Their analysis indicates that the direct economic benefits of a prospective FTA would be modest and that the FTA could be most valuable to the United States if it leads Taiwan toward greater regional integration.

This study describes the experiences of foreign-invested firms in the mainland Chinese economy and discusses the implications of those experiences for the foreign commercial policies of the industrial countries, including the United States. It draws on extensive interviews with expatriate managers and other professionals currently at work in China. Whereas recent books on Chinese marketplace conditions focus on a single firm or issue or lack a discussion of policy conclusions (because they are prepared for a commercial audience), this study is distinguished by the breadth of industry interviews and its concern for policy implications. Rosen makes a rare attempt to deduce the policy implications of current experiences of foreign firms in China, presenting conclusions that go beyond those found in today's usual policy debate. Behind the Open Door is a must for China specialists and should be read by anyone with general or business interests in China or the Asia-Pacific region. The book is an ideal text for MBA programs that focus on the region, and for political science and Asian studies courses on China.

Roots of Competitiveness: China's Evolving Agriculture Interests examines China's interests in global agriculture trade liberalization. It begins with an overview of China's policy behavior in recent WTO talks, and then goes back to describe the reform foundations that got China to this point. This study seeks to clarify for uncertain observers China's underlying interests on the question of agriculture trade liberalization - whether to go faster, slower, not at all beyond the status quo, or even backwards. manifestly toward reform, structural adjustment and economic rationalization. China is further along toward the end point of that process than generally recognized, and shows a deep, probably irreversible commitment to the process. China can point to demonstrated successes in raising incomes, overall welfare and productivity to justify (to itself) the pain of further adjustment, and has the policy skills to manage (if not minimize) adjustment costs.

China and Taiwan have built one of the most intertwined and important economic relationships in the world, and yet that relationship is not mutually open, compliant with World Trade Organization norms, or even fully institutionalized. What's more, despite massive trade and investment flows, the boundary between the two is a serious flashpoint for potential conflict. But leaders in Beijing and Taipei have committed to normalize and deepen their economic intercourse and open a new post-Cold War era in their relationship. While the political significance of this gambit has captured attention worldwide, the scope of opening intended and the bilateral, regional, and global effects likely to ensue are as yet poorly understood. This volume attempts to remedy that uncertainty with careful modeling combined with a qualitative assessment of the implications of the cross-strait economic opening now agreed in an Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA). The study explores the implications for Taiwan and China, for their neighbors, and for the United States if this undertaking is fully implemented by 2020.

Until recently a lack of precision around China's economic size was taken for granted but caused little lost sleep: room to expand and the pace of growth were self-evident, and everything beyond that was academic for most purposes. But today the pace and even direction of China's growth is prone to volatility, and the nation is sizable enough to cause global disruption. This study reassesses China's nominal economic size from the bottom up. It compares China's practices with international standards and reviews the long-standing arguments about Chinese economic statistics to separate real concerns from distractions.