This influential volume, which has been revised and updated for the twenty-first century, includes both new material and more detailed expositions of existing arguments. Although so-called 'real' theories of business cycles and growth are prevalent in contemporary mainstream economics, Controversies in Monetary Economics suggests that those economists who have instinctively focused on monetary factors in explaining macroeconomic behaviour are more genuinely 'realistic'. The author combines an explanation of past and present monetary controversy with practical proposals for the conduct of monetary policy in the contemporary global economy. Several alternative approaches are discussed, ranging from the traditional quantity theory to post Keynesian theories of endogenous money. This insightful book will be of interest to all those concerned with monetary economics and macroeconomics, including academic researchers, graduate and senior undergraduate students - particularly those looking for an alternative to current economic orthodoxy - and historians of economic thought. Practitioners in central banks, international financial institutions, the financial markets and finance ministries will also find this work invaluable.

This book provides a comprehensive overview, in the form of eight long essays, of the evolution of monetary theory over the three-quarters of century, from the time of Keynes to the present day. The essays are originally based on lecture notes from a graduate course on Advanced Monetary Economics offered at York University, Toronto, written in the style of academic papers. The essays are mathematical in method - but also take a historical perspective, tracing the evolution of monetary thought through the Keynesian model, the monetarist model, new classical model, etc, up to and including the neo-Wickesellian models of the early 21st century. The book will be an essential resource for both graduate and advanced undergraduate students in economics, as well as for individual researchers seeking basic information on the theoretical background of contemporary debates.

Money, Financial Institutions and Macroeconomics presents a comparative and international perspective on the current state of research in monetary theory, and the application of monetary theory to important policy issues. The main emphasis is on views stressing the importance of credit creation in the monetary process, in a tradition which arguably encompasses Wicksell, the later Swedes and the Austrians, through the later Hicks, the circuit school and contemporary post-Keynesians. In addition, however, there are distinguished contributions from economists with a more `mainstream' approach to the issues. The book is subdivided into four main parts: Part I reviews the theory of a monetary and credit economy; Part II explores alternative views on money and credit; Part III deals with monetary policy issues in North America; and Part IV discusses monetary policy issues in Europe. `Taken together, the contributions to this volume certainly bear out Hick's famous adage about the much closer relationship between `monetary theory' and `monetary history' than is the case in other branches of economic thought.'

This book provides a comprehensive re-working of the basic principles of monetary macroeconomics in an alternative monetary model (AMM) of economic growth, the business cycle, inflation and income distribution. These principles differ considerably from those advanced in the standard macroeconomics literature and in textbooks. However, the latter have been demonstrably unsuccessful in the promotion of usable macroeconomic policy advice for the past several years, actually decades. A different approach is needed. In particular, the new approach takes seriously the vital role of credit creation and endogenous money in capitalism. It does not imagine that all of the difficult questions of economic policy-making may be resolved within a paradigm that conceptualizes economic activity as merely a question of barter exchange. The result is a blueprint for a set of growth-friendly macroeconomic policies which will promote full employment, financial stability and higher real wages - essentially for the benefit of the long-suffering middle and working classes rather for the chamber of commerce and financial interests.

This book provides a comprehensive re-working of the basic principles of monetary macroeconomics in an alternative monetary model (AMM) of economic growth, the business cycle, inflation and income distribution. These principles differ considerably from those advanced in the standard macroeconomics literature and in textbooks. However, the latter have been demonstrably unsuccessful in the promotion of usable macroeconomic policy advice for the past several years, actually decades. A different approach is needed. In particular, the new approach takes seriously the vital role of credit creation and endogenous money in capitalism. It does not imagine that all of the difficult questions of economic policy-making may be resolved within a paradigm that conceptualizes economic activity as merely a question of barter exchange. The result is a blueprint for a set of growth-friendly macroeconomic policies which will promote full employment, financial stability and higher real wages - essentially for the benefit of the long-suffering middle and working classes rather for the chamber of commerce and financial interests.

This influential volume, which has been revised and updated for the twenty-first century, includes both new material and more detailed expositions of existing arguments. Although so-called 'real' theories of business cycles and growth are prevalent in contemporary mainstream economics, Controversies in Monetary Economics suggests that those economists who have instinctively focused on monetary factors in explaining macroeconomic behaviour are more genuinely 'realistic'. The author combines an explanation of past and present monetary controversy with practical proposals for the conduct of monetary policy in the contemporary global economy. Several alternative approaches are discussed, ranging from the traditional quantity theory to post Keynesian theories of endogenous money. This insightful book will be of interest to all those concerned with monetary economics and macroeconomics, including academic researchers, graduate and senior undergraduate students - particularly those looking for an alternative to current economic orthodoxy - and historians of economic thought. Practitioners in central banks, international financial institutions, the financial markets and finance ministries will also find this work invaluable.

Mainstream neoclassical economics tells us that money is essentially a commodity, has no other social meanings or consequences, and (therefore) exists only as a medium of exchange to lubricate/facilitate barter. This book takes the view that money is definitively a social relation between private persons or legal persons. As such, it is one of the main building blocks of the complex structure of social relations of capitalism itself.

Mainstream neoclassical economics tells us that money is essentially a commodity, has no other social meanings or consequences, and (therefore) exists only as a medium of exchange to lubricate/facilitate barter. This book takes the view that money is definitively a social relation between private persons or legal persons. As such, it is one of the main building blocks of the complex structure of social relations of capitalism itself.

This volume provocatively rethinks the economics, politics and sociology of money and examines the classic question of what is money. Starting from the two dominant views of money, as neutral instrument and as social relation, What is Money? presents a thematic, interdisciplinary approach which points to a definitive statement on money.
Bringing together a variety of neclassical and heterodox perspectives, this work collects the latest thinking of some of the best-known economics scholars on the question of money. The contributors are Victoria Chick, Kevin Dowd, Gilles Dostaler, Steve Fleetwood, Gunnar Heinsohn, Geoff Ingham, Peter Kennedy, Peter G. Klein, Bernard Maris, Scott Meikle, Alain Parguez, Colin Rodgers, T.K.Rymes, Mario Seccarreccia, George Selgin, Otto Steiger, John Smithin and L. Randall Wray.

This volume provocatively rethinks the economics, politics and sociology of money and examines the classic question of what is money. Starting from the two dominant views of money, as neutral instrument and as social relation, What is Money? presents a thematic, interdisciplinary approach which points to a definitive statement on money.
Bringing together a variety of neclassical and heterodox perspectives, this work collects the latest thinking of some of the best-known economics scholars on the question of money. The contributors are Victoria Chick, Kevin Dowd, Gilles Dostaler, Steve Fleetwood, Gunnar Heinsohn, Geoff Ingham, Peter Kennedy, Peter G. Klein, Bernard Maris, Scott Meikle, Alain Parguez, Colin Rodgers, T.K.Rymes, Mario Seccarreccia, George Selgin, Otto Steiger, John Smithin and L. Randall Wray.


eBook available with sample pages: 0203072693

Economic Integration between Unequal Partners deals with the emergence of the major trading blocs, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the European Union. The rise of these blocs has profound implications for the socio-economic and geo-political systems as we know them.The author's question whether the irreversible trend towards mega trading blocs will lead to a reduction of economic disparities and convergence between unequal partners, or whether the process is a 'zero sum game' where one player's gains must come at the expense of another. The first two sections deal with the experience in North America and the EU respectively. The following sections concentrate on the political economy of integration, the monetary and financial aspects of the process, and the unique experience of German unification after 1990. Featuring essays by leading experts in the field, this volume will be welcomed by scholars and students concerned with economic integration, international economics and international relations, as well as by practitioners in international institutions, finance ministries and central banks.

Money, Financial Institutions and Macroeconomics presents a comparative and international perspective on the current state of research in monetary theory, and the application of monetary theory to important policy issues. The main emphasis is on views stressing the importance of credit creation in the monetary process, in a tradition which arguably encompasses Wicksell, the later Swedes and the Austrians, through the later Hicks, the circuit school and contemporary post-Keynesians. In addition, however, there are distinguished contributions from economists with a more `mainstream' approach to the issues. The book is subdivided into four main parts: Part I reviews the theory of a monetary and credit economy; Part II explores alternative views on money and credit; Part III deals with monetary policy issues in North America; and Part IV discusses monetary policy issues in Europe. `Taken together, the contributions to this volume certainly bear out Hick's famous adage about the much closer relationship between `monetary theory' and `monetary history' than is the case in other branches of economic thought.'

Macroeconomic Policy and the Future of Capitalism addresses the revolution in macroeconomic policy of the last quarter of the twentieth century and the movement away from concerns with employment and growth in favour of financial variables such as inflation and exchange rates.John Smithin argues that this 'financial reaction' in macroeconomic policy is the result of a distinct shift in political power in favour of financial or 'rentier' interests, and away from both labour and manufacturing business. The outcome is a regime in which the real rate of return to financial capital is persistently higher than it was in the relatively prosperous years between the end of World War II and the mid-1970s, but economic performance is persistently worse. Professor Smithin recommends drastic changes in attitude, in particular in the conduct of monetary policy, if a more secure prosperity is to be restored in the 21st century. Macroeconomic Policy and the Future of Capitalism is an accessible, highly readable account of macroeconomic policy in the industrial nations which cuts through the complex mathematics and obscure jargon of most books on economics to deal with real issues.

This edited volume presents the key unresolved debates in monetary macroeconomics, covering the five topics of budget, trade, taxes, exchange rates and monetary policy. For each topic, there are two authors - one arguing for a certain policy and one against. The book takes an approach eschewing mathematics or econometrics, instead presenting arguments in the spirit of political economy - while incorporating the most recent thinking in macroeconomics. This approach, combined with the objective of encouraging debate, makes the book ideal reading for students of monetary macroeconomics, researchers seeking alternative views, and the general public.

The conventional macroeconomic theory of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century, based on the assumption that the working of complex monetary economy could be analysed on the same principles as those of barter exchange, has demonstrably failed. This book provides a thorough rethinking of the nature of a monetary economy. It builds upon a complete theory of the domestic and international monetary macro-economy, and of macroeconomic policy for the modern age. Central to the analysis is the idea that a successful market economy requires an endogenous supply of money via the banking system. Therefore to achieve macroeconomic stability, the book proposes the targeting of real interest rates under a regime of flexible exchange rates or 'fixed but adjustable exchange rates' as the main goal of monetary policy, along with a range of innovative fiscal and trade policies to promote economic growth, and thereby achieve full employment and a fair distribution of income.

Fundamentals of Economics for Business is an innovative text designed specifically for students in business education programs. It provides a comprehensive yet accessible introduction to the key economic issues relevant to present or future business decision-makers. Reflecting the requirements of globalization, the content is international in scope and is applicable worldwide. The material is easily adaptable to courses of different lengths and educational objectives, including a one-semester MBA course, economics courses in an undergraduate commerce or business degree, or an executive MBA program.This second edition adds significant new material on production costs, managerial economics, growth and competitiveness, and includes new case studies with applications to international business.