Advanced Microeconomics
Advanced Microeconomics presents microeconomic problems in an intuitive way. Using lucid narratives to build upon students' initial understanding of economics and economic reality, equations and diagrams are incorporated to provide accessibility to students with a basic level of calculus to reach precise quantitative answers.
Broken Trust
"Broken Trust: How Economic Turmoil Shaped Zimbabwe's Financial Landscape" dives into Zimbabwe's economic history, exploring how hyperinflation and past financial crises shattered public confidence in the financial system. The book examines key events like land reform and unbudgeted wars that fueled the economic downturn. It analyzes how the government's response, including printing money, exacerbated the situation. By tracing this cause-and-effect chain, the book sheds light on the deep-seated mistrust many Zimbabweans hold towards financial institutions today.
The Development Dilemma
Development faces a three-headed challenge: fueling growth, boosting efficiency, and protecting the environment. Traditionally, economic progress has been synonymous with rising energy consumption, often relying on polluting fossil fuels. This creates a dilemma - how can we achieve prosperity without sacrificing the planet? The answer lies in a delicate balance. We need to invest in renewable energy sources like wind and solar, ensuring a clean and sustainable future. However, simply switching energy sources isn't enough. Innovation in energy efficiency is crucial. From smarter buildings to energy-saving appliances, we need to do more with less. This two-pronged approach - clean energy and efficiency - can help us navigate the development dilemma. It allows us to propel economic progress while leaving a healthy planet for future generations.
Budget Your Goals Not Your Silver
When the author purchased a property in the mountains, he daydreamed about owning a large tract in the area. On reflection, he asked himself, What will I do with it? Without a use, the land would have no value. This insight showed him that the value of the land depended on the objective for which the land would be used, not some other person's opinion of its value. As a result, when he studied economics in college, he questioned the basic definition of an economic transaction. Rather than finding that that transaction was an exchange of currency for goods and services, he found that the basic transaction in economics was the use of a resource for accomplishing an objective. This enabled him to look at economies where money was not used. The title of this book, Budget Your Goals Not Your Silver, is the result. Car salesmen are taught not to sell cars but what the cars will be useable for. The real estate agent must sell what the house can be used for and not the house itself. Cash economies must use data, and data is not available unless there is a unit of measurement, but the process of obtaining what is needed is not limited to cash economies. This book discusses the process of economies. As essential as economic studies are, valid economic studies must use data. But understanding the process goes beyond that study.
A Catalyst for Sustainable Digitalization in Asian Economies
Case Study from the year 2024 in the subject Economics - Innovation economics, grade: 19, language: English, abstract: This book explores the concept of open innovation and its potential to drive sustainable digitalization in Asian economies. It addresses concerns related to collaboration and knowledge sharing, the role of digital technologies in enabling open innovation, the alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the consideration of cultural and religious aspects, including the Muslim population. The book aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of open innovation practices and their relevance in advancing sustainable development in Asian economies. It highlights the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing among diverse stakeholders to co-create innovative solutions for sustainable development challenges. The book also emphasizes the significant role of digital technologies in facilitating open innovation, allowing for open collaboration, data sharing, and open source development.
Contests
Contest theory is an important part of game theory used to analyse different types of contests and conflicts. Traditional microeconomic models focus on situations where property rights are well defined, and agents voluntarily trade rights over goods or produce rights for new goods. However, much less focus has been given to other situations where agents do not trade property rights, but rather fight over them. Contests: Theory and Applications presents a state-of-the art discussion of the economics of contests from the perspective of both core theory and applications. It provides a new approach to standard topics in labour, education, welfare and development and introduces areas like voting, industrial organisation, mechanism design, sport, and military conflict. Using elementary mathematics, this book provides a versatile framework for navigating this growing area of study and serves as an essential resource for its wide variety of applications in economics and political science.
Contests
Contest theory is an important part of game theory used to analyse different types of contests and conflicts. Traditional microeconomic models focus on situations where property rights are well defined, and agents voluntarily trade rights over goods or produce rights for new goods. However, much less focus has been given to other situations where agents do not trade property rights, but rather fight over them. Contests: Theory and Applications presents a state-of-the art discussion of the economics of contests from the perspective of both core theory and applications. It provides a new approach to standard topics in labour, education, welfare and development and introduces areas like voting, industrial organisation, mechanism design, sport, and military conflict. Using elementary mathematics, this book provides a versatile framework for navigating this growing area of study and serves as an essential resource for its wide variety of applications in economics and political science.
Evolutionary Games and the Replicator Dynamics
This Element introduces the replicator dynamics for symmetric and asymmetric games where the strategy sets are metric spaces. Under this hypothesis the replicator dynamics evolves in a Banach space of finite signed measures. The authors provide a general framework to study the stability of the replicator dynamics for evolutionary games in this Banach space. This allows them to establish a relation between Nash equilibria and the stability of the replicator for normal a form games applicable to oligopoly models, theory of international trade, public good models, the tragedy of commons, and War of attrition game among others. They also provide conditions to approximate the replicator dynamics on a space of measures by means of a finite-dimensional dynamical system and a sequence of measure-valued Markov processes.
Evolutionary Games and the Replicator Dynamics
This Element introduces the replicator dynamics for symmetric and asymmetric games where the strategy sets are metric spaces. Under this hypothesis the replicator dynamics evolves in a Banach space of finite signed measures. The authors provide a general framework to study the stability of the replicator dynamics for evolutionary games in this Banach space. This allows them to establish a relation between Nash equilibria and the stability of the replicator for normal a form games applicable to oligopoly models, theory of international trade, public good models, the tragedy of commons, and War of attrition game among others. They also provide conditions to approximate the replicator dynamics on a space of measures by means of a finite-dimensional dynamical system and a sequence of measure-valued Markov processes.
Silver Opportunity Case Studies
Health care systems must be prepared to address the expanding and complex needs of an aging population. Rather than a 'silver challenge, ' this situation should be seen as an opportunity to reevaluate and reorganize the health care delivery system holistically. Silver Opportunity Case Studies presents a comprehensive examination of care for older adults in diverse economic and geographic contexts through a collection of country and regional case studies. This collection of case studies complements the synthesis volume of global evidence--Silver Opportunity: Building Integrated Services for Older Adults around Primary Health Care--by offering practical insights for decision-making, sharing knowledge, and encouraging cross-learning. The book provides a deeper understanding of the complexities involved and highlights key issues and current practices at the country level. The overarching goal of the volume is to inform policy makers, health care professionals, and other stakeholders about effective practices for caring for older adults and to support the development of evidence-based policies that enhance their health and well-being.d well-being.
Gold's Tarnished Legacy
The South African gold mining industry has historically been a major driver of the country's economy as well as socio-political landscape (Smit, 2013). For over a century it has provided employment, investments, infrastructure, and taxes (Onn and Woodley, 2014; Schonfeld et al., 2014), and been responsible for the development of dozens of cities and towns across the country, most notable of which is Johannesburg (Naicker et al., 2003; Durand, 2012; Ojelede et al., 2012; Kneen et al., 2015). Gold was first discovered in the Witwatersrand Basin in 1886, a geographical feature that was once the largest gold resource in the world (Minerals Council South Africa, n.d.). This discovery transformed South Africa's agricultural economy into a mining economy, and opened the country up for international trade (Durand, 2012; Rand Refinery, 2013). However, the gold mining industry is also responsible for a legacy of inequality, exploitation, damaged family structures, health impacts and environmental degradation (Lawrence and Samkin, 2005; Durand, 2012; de Villiers et al., 2014; International Human Rights Clinic (IHRC), 2016). Furthermore, it is important to note that apartheid is inextricably linked to the gold mining industry in particular (de Villiers et al., 2014; Benchmarks Foundation, 2017). The industry has left a legacy of ownerless and abandoned mines and tailing storage facilities that compromise the health and safety of nearby communities and eco-systems due to air, water and soil pollution including but not limited to acid mine drainage (Winde and van der Walt, 2004; Duruibe et al., 2007; Durand, 2012; Bobbins, 2015). Furthermore, the gold industry is in decline and global commodity markets are turbulent (Mudd, 2007; Hartnady, 2009; Chamber of Mines of South Africa, 2017). From 2004 to 2016, South Africa's percentage of global gold production fell from 13.5% to 4.4% (Chamber of Mines of South Africa, 2017). Furthermore, the Witwatersrand reserves are nearly exhausted
Routledge Handbook of Global Economic History
The Routledge Handbook of Global Economic History documents and interprets the development of economic history as a global discipline from the later nineteenth century to the present day. Exploring the normative and relativistic nature of different schools and traditions of thought, this handbook not only examines current paradigmatic wes
The Green Frontier
Addressing climate change will entail major challenges for economic growth, employment, inflation, and public finances. Mitigating the impact of global warming will yield benefits and costs that are yet to be quantified and defined for the global economy and for nations, workers, households, and companies. The Green Frontier: Assessing the Economic Implications of Climate Action offers research originally presented at a major conference at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in June 2023 in Washington, DC, organized to shed light on this still unexplored field of study and recommend policies for the future.
Big Data
The age of big data is transforming how we perceive economies. Unlike traditional, lagging indicators, big data offers a real-time pulse. From search engine trends to social media buzz and online transactions, this digital exhaust paints a detailed picture of consumer behavior, industry shifts, and regional variations. Economists can now: - Forecast with greater accuracy: By analyzing vast datasets, economists can identify early warning signs of economic booms or busts. - Target policy effectively: Real-time insights allow policymakers to tailor interventions to specific economic needs. - Uncover hidden patterns: Big data allows for the analysis of complex relationships, revealing previously unseen economic forces. However, big data isn't a silver bullet. Data privacy concerns and the need for sophisticated analytical tools remain hurdles. Yet, by harnessing its power, we can build a more responsive and data-driven economic future.
Country-by-Country Tax Transparency
Country-by-country (CbC) tax transparency sheds light on the global tax practices of multinational corporations (MNCs). MNCs report financial data for each country they operate in, revealing details like profits, taxes paid, and employee numbers. This transparency aims to: - Reduce tax avoidance: By exposing profit shifting strategies, CbC helps ensure MNCs pay taxes where they're truly earned, potentially generating more tax revenue for countries. - Improve public accountability: Citizens can see how much tax revenue MNCs contribute to their countries, fostering better understanding of corporate tax practices. - Inform tax policy: Data from CbC reports can guide governments in crafting fairer and more effective tax laws, potentially leveling the playing field for domestic businesses.
Developing World
The future of development is collaborative! "Developing World: Shared Solutions" explores the exciting rise of South-South cooperation. This book dives into how developing countries are working together to tackle shared challenges. Learn about successful strategies, innovative projects, and the potential of this new era. From poverty reduction to climate change, discover how developing nations are creating their own solutions and inspiring a more equitable future. "Developing World: Shared Solutions" is a must-read for anyone interested in global development, international cooperation, and the power of the Global South.
Gas for Progress
Gas for Progress: Mozambique's Bridge to Wealth Nestled on the southeastern coast of Africa, Mozambique boasts breathtaking beaches and fertile lands. Yet, for decades, poverty cast a long shadow over this nation. However, the discovery of vast natural gas reserves in the Rovuma Basin in the early 2010s ignited a spark of hope. Could this be the bridge to a more prosperous future? Unearthing Abundance: The Promise of Gas Riches The story begins with a game-changer - the discovery of massive gas fields off the coast of Cabo Delgado province. These reserves hold enough gas to supply Europe for years to come. International energy companies flocked to Mozambique, eager to unlock this resource. Visions of a transformed nation, with a booming economy, improved infrastructure, and a brighter future for its people, captured the imagination of the nation.
Digital Divide Solved
The digital revolution is unlocking a new era of prosperity for Africa! "Digital Divide Solved: Africa Thrives" explores the exciting rise of digital labor and its transformative impact on the continent's economic growth. This book dives deep into how closing the digital gap is empowering Africans to participate in the global online workforce. Discover inspiring stories of entrepreneurs, innovators, and digital nomads thriving in the new economy. Learn about the in-demand skills, platforms, and resources that are fueling Africa's digital future. "Digital Divide Solved" goes beyond theory, offering practical guidance for individuals and governments to harness the potential of digital labor. Whether you're a business leader, aspiring entrepreneur, or simply interested in Africa's economic development, this book provides a roadmap to a brighter future. Join the digital revolution and witness Africa thrive in the age of online opportunity!
Economics 101, 2nd Edition
Discover the ins and outs of the economy with this engaging, informative, and easy-to-navigate 2nd edition guide with all-new entries and updates. Too often, textbooks turn the noteworthy details of economics into tedious discourse that would put even Joseph Stiglitz to sleep. This new edition of Economics 101 cuts out the boring explanations and instead provides a hands-on lesson that keeps you engaged as you explore how societies allocate their resources for maximum benefit. From quantitative easing to marginal utility, this primer is packed with hundreds of entertaining tidbits and concepts that you won't be able to get anywhere else. You'll learn the basics on terms such as monopolies and oligopolies, game theory, inflation, price ceilings, and so much more. Have you ever wondered about the origin of banking or how banks create money? This book has all the answers. Whether you're looking to master major principles of finance or just want to learn more about why money matters, Economics 101 has all the answers--even the ones you didn't know you were looking for.
Diplomazia pubblica del Drago
Public diplomacy, with a focus on China as the case study!
Shocks, Crises, and False Alarms
"a fresh, thorough and practicable book for anyone who wants to sharpen their macroeconomic judgment, structured in an easily accessible and insightful manner. It offers an invaluable framework to better understand growth, the financial sector and the key trends shaping the global economy." -- Financial TimesAn essential new guide to navigating macroeconomic risk.The shocks and crises of recent years--pandemic, recession, inflation, war--have forced executives and investors to recognize that the macroeconomy is now a risk to be actively managed. Yet unreliable forecasting, pervasive doomsaying, and whipsawing data severely hamper the task of decoding the landscape. Are disruptions transient and ephemeral--or permanent and structural? False alarms are costly traps, but so are true structural changes that go undetected.How can leaders avoid these macro traps to make better tactical and strategic decisions?In this perspective-shifting book, BCG Chief Economist Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak and Senior Economist Paul Swartz provide a fresh and accessible way to assess macroeconomic risk. Casting doubt on conventional model-based thinking, they demonstrate a more powerful approach to building sound macroeconomic judgment. Using incisive analysis built upon frameworks, historical context, and structural narratives--what they call "economic eclecticism"--the book empowers readers with the durable skills to assess continuously evolving risks in the real economy, the financial system, and the geopolitical arena.Moreover, the authors' more nuanced approach reveals that the all-too-common narratives of economic collapse and decline are often false alarms themselves, while the fundamental strengths of our current "era of tightness" become visible.With rational optimism rather than gloom, Shocks, Crises, and False Alarms speaks to the key financial and macroeconomic controversies that define our times--and provides a compass for navigating the global economy. Rather than relying on blinking dashboards or flashy headlines, leaders can and should judge macroeconomic risks for themselves.
Strategic Investment Funds
Strategic investment funds (SIFs) have gained prominence over the past two decades as governments and other public sponsors globally have increasingly co-opted the investment fund model to further policy objectives. Since 2000, more than 30 SIFs have been formed at the national level, typically to boost economic growth through infrastructure or small and medium enterprise investment. In the current COVID-19 pandemic environment, governments have frequently turned to sovereign investment vehicles to address the economic effects of the pandemic, echoing the emergence of new SIFs in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. However, SIFs are not devoid of challenges, and the setup and operation of such funds can be fraught with risks, particularly in contexts of weaker governance, inadequate rule of law, and limited financial market regulation. The intent of 'Strategic Investment Funds: Establishment and Operations' is to provide guidance to practitioners and policy makers considering a SIF model where little widely available, practice-based experience has been documented and disseminated. The book provides a reference for policy makers who are creating or strengthening the operations of SIFs, particularly as governments examine the value of such funds as a policy instrument in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overweight and Obesity in Saudi Arabia
Overweight and obesity constitute a major global epidemic that has grown substantially. They are particularly alarming in Saudi Arabia, where more than half of the adult population is overweight and one out of five people are obese. Additionally, the prevalence of all noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)--such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers--has increased substantially in recent decades, and today they are the leading cause of disability and death in the country. While the causes of overweight and obesity are complex and numerous, several innovative and multisectoral evidence-based interventions are emerging globally. Saudi Arabia has already embarked on the design and implementation of several such interventions and is committed to further expanding and scaling up such efforts in order to meet national goals and achieve results. This book builds on this work by laying out the remaining challenges while highlighting the opportunities lying ahead. The book provides new evidence and analysis on obesity in Saudi Arabia in order to support planning efforts on obesity prevention in the country. This includes examining the current prevalence of obesity and its risk factors, estimating the health and economic burden associated with obesity in the country, exploring the relationship between obesity and COVID-19, and identifying existing obesity prevention efforts and ways to enhance their impact based on the latest evidence. Finally, the book explores the use of a food system approach to connect human health and the environment, including through the production of a Saudi-specific Nutrient Profiling Model to help guide nutrition and obesity-related policies.
Polycentric Governance and the Good Society
Polycentric Governance and the Good Society: A Normative and Philosophical Investigation offers an examination of the idea of polycentric governance as one of the pillars of a flourishing human society. Rather than following the conventional path of suppressing complexity and diversity for the sake of reaching agreement on justice and political stability, David Thunder and Pablo Paniagua see complexity and diversity as assets that should be leveraged to make the "Open Society" a more prosperous, resilient, and flourishing place to live. Polycentric Governance and the Good Society provides valuable food for thought for academics and students looking for a probing, cross-disciplinary discussion of the ethos and institutions of liberal democracy under conditions of social pluralism. Although the volume includes diverse disciplinary lenses, such as public choice theory, MacIntyrean social theory, and constitutional law, the driving concern is to exhibit the potential advantages of polycentric approaches to governance and social coordination for constructing a feasible and morally attractive social order. This is the first extended academic work to explore in depth the advantages, not only from an economic and organizational standpoint but also from a broader ethical, sociological, and anthropological perspective, of polycentric governance arrangements.
Health Financing Reform in Ukraine
In 2015, the government of Ukraine initiated fundamental reform of its health system with the goals of improving the health outcomes of the population and providing financial protection from excessive out-of-pocket health care payments. This reform was to be implemented through modernizing and integrating the service delivery system, introducing changes to provider payment arrangements that incentivize efficiency, and improving the quality of care. It culminated in the passage of a new health financing law--the Law on Financial Guarantees for Health Care Services 2017--which established a health benefit package called the Program of Medical Guarantees (PMG) and created the National Health Service of Ukraine to serve as the strategic purchaser for this program. Health Financing Reform in Ukraine: Progress and Future Directions provides a comprehensive description and assessment of the development and implementation of policies associated with the PMG reform from the start of the reform in 2017 through mid-2021. It examines (1) how the PMG is financed, (2) strategic purchasing of the different components of the PMG benefit package, and (3) the governance arrangements of the PMG. The report also positions these developments within broader contextual discussions of the financing and organization of health care in Ukraine to make the key features of the financing reforms and their importance accessible to domestic and international audiences.
A Guiding Framework for Nutrition Public Expenditure Reviews
Nutrition investments affect human capital formation, which in turn affects economic growth. Malnutrition is intrinsically connected to human capital--undernutrition contributes to nearly half of child mortality, and stunting reduces productivity and earnings in adulthood. Improving nutrition requires a multisectoral effort, but it is difficult to identify and quantify the basic financing parameters as used in traditional sectors. What is being spent and by whom and on what? To address these questions, nutrition public expenditure reviews (NPERs) determine the level of a country's overall nutrition public spending and assess whether its expenditure profile will enable the country to realize its nutrition goals and objectives. When done well, NPERs go beyond simply quantifying how much is spent on nutrition; they measure how well money is being spent to achieve nutrition outcomes and identify specific recommendations for improvement. A Guiding Framework for Nutrition Public Expenditure Reviews presents the key elements of an NPER and offers guidance, practical steps, and examples for carrying out an NPER. The book draws upon good practices from past NPERs as well as common practices and expertise from public expenditure reviews in other sectors. This handbook is intended for practitioners who are tasked with carrying out NPERs. Other target audiences include country nutrition policy makers, development partner officials, government technical staff, and nutrition advocates. The book presents data and analytical challenges faced by previous NPER teams and lays out the kinds of analyses that past NPERs have been able to carry out and those that they were unable to perform because of data or capacity constraints. It concludes with further work needed at the global and country levels to create the conditions necessary to conduct more comprehensive NPERs.
Ruins to Riches
In 1945, Germany and Japan lay prostrate after total war and resounding defeat. By 1960, they had the second and fifth largest economies in the world respectively. This global leadership has been maintained ever since. How did these 'economic miracles' come to pass, and why were these two nations particularly adept at achieving them? Ray Stokes is the first to unpack these questions from comparative and international perspectives, emphasising both the individuals and companies behind this exceptional performance and the broader global political and economic contexts. He highlights the potent mixtures in both countries of judicious state action, effective industrial organisation, benign labour relations, and technological innovation, which they adapted constantly - sometimes painfully - to take full advantage of rapidly growing post-war international trade and globalisation. Together, they explain the spectacular resurgence of Deutschland AG and Japan Incorporated to global economic and technological leadership, which they have sustained to the present.
Managing County Assets and Liabilities in Kenya
Public entities around the world possess an enormous volume of assets and wealth, which includes land, buildings, historic sites, parks, and infrastructure networks, among many others. Good management of such assets is a catalyst for accelerating development and expanding services; poor asset management generates enormous losses, including lost opportunities to build wealth. Private enterprises increasingly use computerized systems to manage assets such as fleets and buildings. Many city leaders in developing countries, however, are unaware of asset management or feel they lack the time or money to undertake it. Managing County Assets and Liabilities in Kenya: Postdevolution Challenges and Responses can help them begin or maintain their efforts to manage assets sustainably. This book helps readers understand the basic concept of asset management; explains systems, tools, and procedures; and provides models and guidance. Kenya has achieved much since its 2013 devolution of governance and management to new counties. However, counties, which are the local governments in Kenya, are still working toward establishing systems and procedures, creating asset and liability registers, verifying and valuing assets, using assets strategically, and resolving disputes surrounding inherited assets and liabilities. This book provides glimpses into the Kenyan devolution process and asset transfer challenges, draws lessons, and explores options relevant to both Kenya and other nations. Ample studies discuss various aspects of municipal asset management, such as managing infrastructure, fixed assets, water services, building properties, roads, or fleets. This book is unique among asset management studies in three ways: it discusses all sorts of assets and liabilities and their interlinkages, exemplifies the close connection between financial results and asset management of municipalities, and reveals the political economy challenges in transferring assets and liabilities across public entities.
Artificial Intelligence
Is Artificial Intelligence a more significant invention than electricity? Will it result in explosive economic growth and unimaginable wealth for all, or will it cause the extinction of all humans? Artificial Intelligence: Economic Perspectives and Models provides a sober analysis of these questions from an economics perspective. It argues that to better understand the impact of AI on economic outcomes, we must fundamentally change the way we think about AI in relation to models of economic growth. It describes the progress that has been made so far and offers two ways in which current modelling can be improved: firstly, to incorporate the nature of AI as providing abilities that complement and/or substitute for labour, and secondly, to consider demand-side constraints. Outlining the decision-theory basis of both AI and economics, this book shows how this, and the incorporation of AI into economic models, can provide useful tools for safe, human-centered AI.
Land Policies for Resilient and Equitable Growth in Africa
Land institutions and policies will be critical to help African countries respond to the challenges of climate change, urban expansion, structural transformation, and gender equality. Together, they affect urban dwellers' ability to access productive jobs, live in decent housing, and breathe clean air; farmers' and women entrepreneurs' capacity to insure against shocks, increase productivity, and diversify income sources; and governments' ability to plan, tax property to provide services, and manage public land in a way that provides sustained local benefits by attracting investment, including via climate finance. Land Policies for Resilient and Equitable Growth in Africa draws on a wealth of data, examples, and studies from Africa and beyond to show that regulatory and institutional reforms can harness this potential by improving quality, coverage, usefulness, and sustainability of documented land rights. By identifying viable reforms with transformative potential that fully harness digital opportunities, this book provides practical guidance to governments seeking to enhance their land institutions' performance; to their partners supporting such reform; and to policymakers, land professionals, scholars, and civil society aiming to lay the foundations for Africa to better utilize its economic, human, and ecological potential. --------------- This volume provides an essential reference, based on an impressive review of the literature on land issues in Africa and an exhaustive account of policies and policy experiments aimed to promote the efficient use of this key resource for the development of the continent. -- Fran癟ois Bourguignon, Professor Emeritus, Paris School of Economics Many African governments will find this report highly useful. It is full of little-known successes and practical ways by which they can improve their land policies by harnessing new technologies. Africa's urban population will rapidly triple: clarifying land rights is an urgent priority in building the successful cities of the future. By 2050, if the inherited policies of the past were retained, today's youth would be struggling in unliveable mega-slums. -- Sir Paul Collier, Professor of Economics and Public Policy, Oxford University This is an excellent study that combines insights from years of research with practical insights for policy and action on the ground. -- Jyotsna Puri, Associate Vice President, Strategy and Knowledge, International Fund for Agricultural Development Land institutions affect the effective use of land but also the functioning of credit, labor, and product markets. Nowhere are these issues more relevant than in Africa, and this report is important and timely. -- Johan Swinnen, Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute This report illustrates how legal and institutional reforms that capitalize on digital opportunities can strengthen land institutions and policies to optimize land use, enhance people's rights, narrow gender disparities, and catalyze structural transformation in a manner that aligns with the continent's distinctive context and serve as a pivotal instrument for social and economic advancement. -- Maximo Torero, Chief Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization
Investing in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health in Uganda
In Uganda, conditions in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) remain the primary drivers of morbidity and mortality, accounting for 60 percent of years of life lost. The high burden of these conditions can be attributed to a poor quality of care resulting from inadequate financial, human, and material resources compounded by weak multisectoral coordination. Moreover, the country's high population growth rate and a young population imply that RMNCAH service delivery will continue to dominate health sector reforms--even with the increasing prevalence of noncommunicable and infectious diseases. Over the past two decades, Uganda has focused on improving the quality of RMNCAH service delivery, leading to declines in the maternal, infant, and under-five mortality ratios and the increased use of modern contraception among married women. However, the neonatal mortality and teenage pregnancy rates have stagnated, and the low civil registration of births and deaths remains challenging. Investing in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health in Uganda: What Have We Learned, and Where Do We Go from Here? comprises 12 studies conducted as part of the RMNCAH Operational Research Program drafted between 2019 and 2021 and finalized and disseminated in October 2022 across 45 districts of Uganda with funding from Sweden and the World Bank. These studies underscore important lessons learned and offer suggestions for enhancing the delivery of RMNCAH interventions. Each chapter represents one study and discusses service delivery, the health workforce, financing, health information systems, and governance and leadership. Two appendixes summarize key findings and recommendations and explain the roles of key stakeholders in the RMNCAH Operational Research Program.
Economics as a Social Science
This book explores the separation of economics from the social sciences. Raimund Dietz attributes this development to the adoption of a too narrow, instrumentalist perspective and demonstrates how close the mainstream is to the idea of a socialist planned economy, despite all its liberal phraseology. The book attempts to comprehensively reconstruct economics as catallactics, explicitly including and assigning a central role to liberal forms of socialization, such as exchange and money - an approach that, it argues, is the only way to overcome the methodological deficits of the mainstream. It allows monetary theory to be integrated into economic theory. Further, the book shows that modern societies have no choice but to organize themselves as capitalist market economies. For good economic reasons, money has lost its physical value over the course of time and is now merely symbolic. As a result, the importance of the state has also grown. The author proposes that the power to create money should be consistently placed in the hands of the central bank. The book offers a transformative perspective that addresses the urgent need for sustainable resource management worldwide. It invites social scientists, policymakers, and especially economists to rethink economics and pursue a holistic approach to a more sustainable future.
Rural Marketing as a Tool for National Development
Rural marketing entails applying marketing strategies customized for rural areas to enhance the economic and social welfare of the communities it serves. It aims to generate demand for affordable goods and services while fostering interest and skill-building among rural populations. Rural Marketing as a Tool for National Development: Strategies for Socio-Economic Progress delves into the multifaceted realm of rural marketing and its impact on national advancement. It covers fundamental concepts, the adaptation of strategies to different rural settings, and the promotion of interest and skill-building among rural communities. The study also scrutinizes the intricate nature of development, underscoring the significance of indigenous wisdom and participatory governance. By shedding light on obstacles such as urban biases and governmental oversight, it delves into regulatory frameworks, financial hurdles, and the socio-economic opportunities inherent in rural marketing. Additionally, the integration of environmental sustainability into rural development is explored, drawing insights from global initiatives. This work benefits a wide range of professionals and academics, including those in marketing, rural studies, policymaking, government studies, business, entrepreneurship, environmentalism and sustainability.
Revenue Allocation for a Stable Democrac
Nigeria's political and macroeconomic development is examined to provide better understanding of the intricacies of revenue collection and allocation. The author peruses the constitutional responsibilities of various tiers of government to expose its expenditure profile, which reveals lopsided revenue allocation formulae. He proceeds to examine the various ways in which Nigeria may allocate revenue more equitably, which he considers key to the project of attaining stable democracy after decades of military rule.
The Neapolitan Creative Economy
This book analyses the emergence and growth of the creative sector in Naples between the early modern and modern eras, focusing particularly on the development of music markets in the city. From the seventeenth century, Naples became one of the most culturally enriched regions in the Italian peninsula, with internationally known music schools, theatres and opera venues attracting visitors from across Europe in a burgeoning tourist market. This book sheds light on the driving economic factors and political contexts behind this key case study for the early growth of the opera and music sector in Europe. Starting with a discussion of the value of economic history to understanding cultural industries, the chapters approach this analysis through multiple lenses: the formation of human capital as the result of Naples' institutional urban welfare system; the role of cultural consumption as it evolved from a primarily religious activity to growing popular demand; and the rolethat central city authorities played in encouraging cultural activity through private investment and public policy. The book also draws on fascinating archival research to examine the contribution of Naples' music conservatories in the local creative economy. This book is a valuable resource to a broad range of readers, including those working in economic history, tourism history, the history of music and theatre, Italian social history and more.
Inside Thatcher's Monetarism Experiment
In 1979, Margaret Thatcher's new government was faced with rampant double-digit inflation, rising unemployment and flatlining economic growth. In response, Thatcher pursued an economic policy which rejected the old orthodoxies and was promoted by only a minority of economists: a policy based on the doctrine of monetarism. Tim Lankester was the private secretary for economic affairs to Thatcher during the early years of her government. His insider's account explains her attitudes and decisions and those of the other main players in this deeply damaging experiment in economic policy making, which promised much but completely failed to deliver. Offering fascinating insights into one of the most unsuccessful episodes of British economic history, he also examines the legacy of monetarism for the economy today.
More Is Less
Why are contracts incomplete? Transaction costs and bounded rationality cannot be a total explanation since states of the world are often describable, foreseeable, and yet are not mentioned in a contract. Asymmetric information theories also have limitations. We offer an explanation based on 'contracts as reference points'. Including a contingency of the form, 'The buyer will require a good in event E', has a benefit and a cost. The benefit is that if E occurs there is less to argue about; the cost is that the additional reference point provided by the outcome in E can hinder (re)negotiation in states outside E. We show that if parties agree about a reasonable division of surplus, an incomplete contract is strictly superior to a contingent contract. If parties have different views about the division of surplus, an incomplete contract can be superior if including a contingency would lead to divergent reference points.
The Green Economy Transition in Europe
The study plans to focus on economic, political and strategic mechanisms, strategies and policies to be established and implemented in the EU and member countries in the context of the Green Deal, which is the new development plan accepted by the European Union.
Essence of ESG
"Do you want to master ESG? This book is a great place to start.ESG stands as one of the most powerful forces influencing businesses today and in the coming decades. While it's easy to grasp the language of ESG, understanding its true essence requires a deeper dive. Only then can we uncover its genuine value.This book offers a perspective on ESG that has been acquired through hands-on experience, involving the assessment of thousands of companies across various sectors and countries worldwide. It reflects insights gained from working with industry frontrunners, pioneers, and leaders who have actively shaped the landscape in the investor, government, regulatory, and corporate worlds over a dynamic career spanning 25+ years."Essence of ESG" is not a primer that one can find on the internet. Instead, it delves deep into ESG's complexities, simplifying them and providing a practical guide for effective use and maximum results.The book covers the history of ESG, the reasons behind its development, and its fundamental relevance, illustrating what it can do for you in the future. Knowing the past, present, and future of ESG is key to creating value for ourselves, our organizations, and the planet.Without this understanding, there's a risk of treating ESG as just another trend or simply arequirement from regulators, investors, or clients. If we don't get it fully, we won't see its true value, limiting what we can gain from it.""A trailblazer in emerging markets ESG ratings, Vipul founded Solaron in 2007 and collaborated with Innovest, MSCI, Sustainalytics and S&P DJSI to rate thousands of companies. By 2014 Solaron was ranked as the #1 EM ESG rating firm globally. Vipul pioneered the "Best in Context" rating methodology that successfully predicted the $20 Billion Corporate Governance scandal at Petrobras in 2012, two years before it surfaced in 2014. Solaron was acquired by Sustainalytics (Morningstar) in 2018 and Vipul was recognized among the top 25 people who made the most positive contribution to ESG globally. "
Ideological Warfare
In this book, Darryl Naranjit examines the part the World Bank and the IMF play in the structuring of the world and of the Caribbean. The World Bank and IMF, according to Naranjit, are used as economic weapons to shape the political landscape of developing countries. Whilst, initially, the Bank was conceptualized as a tool for reconstruction and development, from the 1980s its main role seemed to be the promotion of the ideology of market fundamentalism and the combating of any lingering forms of socialism or Keynesian economics in the Third World. The World Bank and the IMF appeared to be engaged in ideological warfare on a global scale. Their Structural Adjustment policies were based on the conservative Reaganomics of the 1980's. Wealth, according to this theory, trickles down from the wealthy to the poor. This, however, has not happened in the Caribbean or other parts of the developing world. What has happened is that the gap between rich and poor has widened considerably. Structural Adjustment, in the form of market fundamentalism, has become a powerful ideological weapon for consolidating the gains of the wealthy in the face of the increasingly desperate plight of the poor and for fulfilling the neoconservative dream of an American Empire.
Borderless Africa
The African Continental Free Trade Area, established in 2018, represented a monumental step forward for Africa in terms of meeting longstanding aspirations for greater economic and political integration. But it has nonetheless been met with skepticism in some quarters, both within the continent and beyond. Borderless Africa makes the case for the AfCFTA in an accessible and compelling way, without shying away from technical and academic debates. Francis Mangeni and Andrew Mold take us on a journey through the different dimensions and implications of the AfCFTA, the largest free-trade zone in the world, starting with its underlying economic rationale. Pointing to the numerous historical examples of successful regional integration, they argue that the African continent will need to take on board such lessons as the agreement is implemented. They discuss, too, the more controversial elements of the AfCFTA, including the freedom of movement protocol, contending that this should not be seen as an optional extra, but as an intrinsic part of the accord.Also exploring the role of external partners in the construction of an economically stronger, more united Africa, this fascinating study reveals how the AfCFTA is contributing to sustainable development across the continent.
Forex Forever
The world's largest market is that for foreign exchange with a turnover running into trillions per day. The mystery is why this market is dominated by trading in London when the US dollar is the main currency in use. What role is played by this market? To many it is a speculator's paradise, exposed to manipulation and contributing to currency volatility. For others it plays a central role in in the operation of the global banking system and a mechanism for maintaining currency stability. In Forex Forever, Ranald C. Michie seeks to provide answers to these and other questions by examining how the foreign exchange market has developed in the City of London over the past 150 years and uncovers its secret existence in London before the First World War. Michie explores how the City of London became the centre of the global foreign exchange market before 1914 through the international banking network, trading on the floor of the Stock Exchange, and the communications revolution that began with the telegraph. He investigates how that position was sufficient to make London the centre of a new foreign exchange market that emerged between the wars, survived the era of fixed exchange rates after the Second World War, and then flourished from 1970 onwards. This in-depth study helps to explain how and why the global monetary system has functioned since the middle of the nineteenth century.
Survival of the Greenest
The pathways to economic development are changing. Environmental sustainability is no longer a choice but a necessity to maintain a competitive edge in the global economy. Just like in nature, where survival hinges on adaptation, this Element shows how nations adjust to -and take advantage of- the new dynamics of structural transformation induced by climate change. First, by analysing the uneven industrial geography of decarbonisation, the inadequate state of climate financing and rise of green protectionism, it demonstrates that the low-carbon economy stands to increase economic disparities between nations, unless action is taken. Then, by examining green industrial policies and their varied success, it explains how governments can still join the green industrialisation race. Finally, it examines how to adapt green industrial policy to different starting points, market sizes, productive structures, state-business relations dynamics, institutional layouts, and ecological contexts. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Survival of the Greenest
The pathways to economic development are changing. Environmental sustainability is no longer a choice but a necessity to maintain a competitive edge in the global economy. Just like in nature, where survival hinges on adaptation, this Element shows how nations adjust to -and take advantage of- the new dynamics of structural transformation induced by climate change. First, by analysing the uneven industrial geography of decarbonisation, the inadequate state of climate financing and rise of green protectionism, it demonstrates that the low-carbon economy stands to increase economic disparities between nations, unless action is taken. Then, by examining green industrial policies and their varied success, it explains how governments can still join the green industrialisation race. Finally, it examines how to adapt green industrial policy to different starting points, market sizes, productive structures, state-business relations dynamics, institutional layouts, and ecological contexts. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
International Trade, Economic Crisis and the Sustainable Development Goals
In an ever-shrinking world, the intricate web of international trade has bound nations together in unprecedented ways. The flow of goods, services and ideas across borders is a testament to human ingenuity and cooperation. Yet, the ripples of economic crises, whether spurred by financial meltdowns or unforeseen sociopolitical turmoil, remind us of the fragility that underlies our global economic system. As the deadline for the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) looms before us, International Trade, Economic Crisis and the Sustainable Development Goals delves into the nuances of international trade dynamics, the causes and consequences of economic crises and the alignment of these forces with the SDGs. Together, chapters seek to answer pressing questions: How can international trade be harnessed to foster sustainable development? What strategies can nations employ to weather economic storms while staying true to the SDGs? How do we reconcile the pursuit of economic growth with environmental and social responsibility? Proposing international trade as a path for achieving the SDGs, this curated collection envisions a more equitable and sustainable world, one where the benefits of international trade are fairly distributed, where economic crises are met with resilience and innovation and where the SDGs are not just aspirations but lived realities.
The Waste-Free World
The next revolution in business will provide for a sustainable future, from founder, CEO and circular economy expert Ron Gonen Our take-make-waste economy has cost consumers and taxpayers billions while cheating us out of a habitable planet. But it doesn't have to be this way. The Waste-Free World makes a persuasive, forward-looking case for a circular economic model, a "closed-loop" system that wastes no natural resources. Entrepreneur, CEO and sustainability expert Ron Gonen argues that circularity is not only crucial for the planet but holds immense business opportunity. As the founder of an investment firm focused on the circular economy, Gonen reveals brilliant innovations emerging worldwide-- "smart" packaging, robotics that optimize recycling, nutrient rich fabrics, technologies that convert food waste into energy for your home, and many more. Drawing on his experience in technology, business, and city government and interviews with leading entrepreneurs and top companies, he introduces a vital and growing movement. The Waste-Free World invites us all to take part in a sustainable and prosperous future where companies foster innovation, investors recognize long term value creation, and consumers can align their values with the products they buy.
Property and the German Idea of Freedom
This book offers a new interpretation of German law and politics during the era between the Thirty Years' War and the French Revolution. Liberal ideas of freedom and equality were prototyped in Germany in property law: through the free disposition of estates, freedom from taxation and other extractions, and free use of paper money. Civil liberty, ideas about equality, and restrictions on arbitrary state power were real, recognized, and meaningful. These freedoms were enjoyed by all classes of Germans. They were thought to have been built atop Germans' ancient heritage of freedom and a federalist imperial constitution which inspired Montesquieu and the American Founders. Driving these trends were ideas about political economy, enlightened reform, practical problem-solving, as well as forces of supply and demand in everything from the market for books to the market for justice. This book places the story of early modern German freedom close by the side of more familiar stories of England, North America, France, and the Netherlands.
