Divided into six parts, this substantive reference work charts how childhood studies has moved beyond developmental issues to focus on broader issues of children in society, as actors and agents, and as subjects of policy intervention. It is a comprehensive overview of key theoretical and empirical work in the field of childhood studies.

Past and future development as well as possibilities for influencing the process of retirement are discussed, in particular effects on the labour market (supply and demand, behaviour of workers and firms, concerning human resource management and occupational pensions), financing of social security and income of workers. Decisions concerning earlier or postponed, full or partial retirement are the main topic stressing the central role of firms' decisions depending e.g. on their view of the productivity of the elderly. Reports on Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Denmark, Finland) in particular on their approach for partial retirement are included as well as papers discussing possibilities to stop the trend of early exit from the labour force and how to give incentives for a longer working life (e.g. by changes in social security). These topics are discussed in the view of structural changes in demography, economy and society, using - among other - the US and West Germany as examples. The papers point out the necessity to look at retirement as a process (in a life cycle perspective, requiring longitudinal data for empirical research) and in a perspective integrating the different aspects involved.

A landmark publication in the field, this state-of-the-art reference work, with contributions from leading thinkers across a range of disciplines, is an essential guide to the study of children and childhood, and sets out future research agendas for the subject.

A Primer to the Theory of Critical Phenomena provides scientists in academia and industry, as well as graduate students in physics, chemistry, and geochemistry with the scientific fundamentals of critical phenomena and phase transitions. The book helps readers broaden their understanding of a field that has developed tremendously over the last forty years. The book also makes a great resource for graduate level instructors at universities.

Thermodynamics: Principles Characterizing Physical and Chemical Processes, Fifth Edition is an authoritative guide on the physical and chemical processes based on classical thermodynamic principles. Emphasis is placed on fundamental principles, with a combination of theory and practice that demonstrates their applications in a variety of disciplines. Revised and updated to include new material and novel formulations, this edition features a new chapter on algebraic power laws and Fisher information theory, along with detailed updates on irreversible phenomena, Landau theory, self-assembly, Caratheodory's theorem, and the effects of externally applied fields. Drawing on the experience of its expert author, this book is a useful tool for both graduate students, professional chemists, and physicists who wish to acquire a more sophisticated overview of thermodynamics and related subject matter.

Thermodynamics is a self-contained analysis of physical and chemical processes based on classical thermodynamic principles. Emphasis is placed on the fundamental principles with a combination of theory and practice, demonstrating their application to a variety of disciplines. This edition has been completely revised and updated to include new material and novel formulations, including new formulation and interpretation of The Second Law, discussions of heat vs. work, uniqueness of chemical potential, and construction of functions of state. This book will appeal to graduate students and professional chemists and physicists who wish to acquire a more sophisticated overview of thermodynamics and related subject matter.