Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Earth Sciences - Geography    3. Economic Conditions    4. Economic Geography    5. Economics - Theory    6. Management - General    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Public Policy - Economic Policy    9. Science    10. Business & Economics / Economics / Theory   

Reviews (1)

A good introduction...
Arthur O'Sullivan is a professor of economics at Oregon State University, and Steven Sheffrin is dean of social sciences and professor of economics at the University of California, Davis.Together they bring a wealth of practical and teaching experience in the field of economics to this text, which serves as a one-semester introduction to economics for undergraduates, both those who intend to continue as majors in economics, and those who simply want an overview of the subject to enhance their other studies.Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Economic Conditions    5. Economics    6. Economics - General    7. Business & Economics / Economics / General   

Subjects:  1. 1907-1973    2. Economic Conditions    3. Political Ideologies - Democracy    4. Political Science    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Public Policy - Social Services & Welfare    8. Public welfare    9. Social Work    10. Social policy    11. Titmuss, Richard Morris,    12. Welfare state    13. Economic theory & philosophy    14. Social Science / Social Work    15. Social welfare & social services   

Reviews (2)

Bowditch Is Bullish On Ghana
I balked at paying $55 but this book has proved to be a bargain at the price.Bowditch has successfully distilled--in highly readable and enjoyable fashion--seven years of experience as a publicly financed developer of Ghana's newest national park.His insights are informed, not only by his impressive academic training (Harvard A.B. 1966; Princeton M.P.A. 1974), but by the obstacles he faced as a white American newcomer and the comparisons he can draw to his earlier endeavors in a number of countries in Asia and, before that, as Maine's Secretary for Economic Development. Bowditch's enthusiasm for Ghana is heartfelt and contagious.He gives many good reasons why Ghana is likely to be every bit as competitive in the new Millenium as were the so-called Asian Tigers at the end of the last.Whether or not Ghana will prove to be an African Lion, Bowditch can be said to be bullish on its prospects.His famous ancestor and namesake was known as "The Practical Navigator" of the open seas. This generation's Bowditch may well become the practical navigator for the American investor/entrepreneur, or those just interested in Ghana.I therefore highly recommend this book!

Ghana and It's Future Opportunities
I found this book to be very interesting and well organized. The author's personal experiences keep your attention. They make it much easier to follow and understand the points the author is making as he examines Ghana as a country of potential opportunity in the economically emerging continent of Africa. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Enterprise    4. Business enterprises    5. Business enterprises, Foreign    6. Business/Economics    7. Businesspeople    8. Civilization    9. Development - Economic Development    10. Economic Conditions    11. Economics Of Developing Countries    12. General    13. Ghana    14. Infrastructure    15. International - General    16. Business & Economics / International   

Reviews (10)

Required reading????
The guy makes his liberal points like gangbusters. But why on earth is this type of material required reading in several colleges without an equally substantial pro-capitalist book to counter it?
The View from the Far Left
This book is an excellent summary of the thinking of the left wing of the Democratic party. He brings forth a good collection of ways that he sees our society declining. I believe the thing he laments most is that the rich are rich. From this he goes on to saying that the standard work week in the US should be shorter, there should be universal health care, the whole litany of the issues of the far left.
Five Stars for Originality and Scholarship, Three for the Quality of Writing
I give this book five stars for orginality and scholarship and three for the quality of the writing.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Capitalism    3. Democracy    4. Development - Economic Development    5. Economic Conditions    6. Economics - General    7. Free Enterprise    8. General    9. Government - U.S. Government    10. Income distribution    11. Political Ideologies - Democracy    12. Political Science    13. Politics / Current Events    14. Politics/International Relations    15. United States    16. Wealth    17. Business & Management    18. Economics    19. History / General   

Subjects:  1. Economic Conditions    2. Economic Conditions Of Labor    3. Economic aspects    4. Family    5. Income distribution    6. Labor    7. Labor & Industrial Relations - General    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Public Policy - Social Services & Welfare    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. Sociology - General    13. United States    14. Wages    15. Current Events / General    16. Employment & unemployment    17. Poverty    18. USA    19. Work & labour   

Reviews (1)

Gangster Economico
Este libro presenta las ayudas internacionales macoeconomicas de un punto de vista no muy comun.Pero que las ideas presentadas en este tomo son de mucho interes.Los medios de noticias presenta acontecimientos de una forma muy rapida e incimita.Este libro da muchas cosas a la luz del dia para el que no esta tan envolucrado en estes operaciones.Indica muchas conexciones subtiles y otros no tan subtiles.Creo que cada persona que este interesado en asuntos extranjeros debe de leer este tomo. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1945-    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Business & Economics    5. Chas. T. Main, Inc    6. Economic Conditions    7. Economics - General    8. General    9. International - Economics    10. International Economics (General)    11. National Security Agency    12. National Security Issues    13. Perkins, John,    14. Public Affairs & Administration    15. Spanish: Adult Nonfiction    16. United States.   

Reviews (6)

Great passion and conviction -- terribly written
I completely agree with the political agenda of this book. I am glad it was written. Kovel is RIGHT ON TARGET. Makes a powerful case
Anyone who considers themselves an environmentalist should read this book.Kovel makes the case the environmental destruction is inherent to the capitalist system and for the most part, reforms are little more than band-aids for a system that is, by its very nature, out of control. Some background to a flawed but brilliant book
For Joel Kovel the revolution is only a matter of time.Marx was right: Capitalism cannot help but prepare the stew in which it will roast.But Old Whiskers got one thing wrong.The crucial antagonist of capital is not labor but nature.If Marx made a fetish of capital's propensity to generate too much wealth to be profitably re-invested, Kovel does the same in regard to planetary ecosystem crackup.Instead of periodic economic downturn catapulting the proletariat into History, it's the shattering of life-essential natural processes that's destined to set off socialist (make that ecosocialist) revolution. Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Capitalism    4. Economic Conditions    5. Environmental aspects    6. Environmental economics    7. Environmental policy    8. General    9. Marxian economics    10. Natural Resources    11. Politics / Current Events    12. Political science & theory    13. Social & political philosophy   

Subjects:  1. Asia - Japan    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Economic Conditions    6. Economic policy    7. Financial crises    8. International - General    9. Japan    10. Economics    11. History / Japan    12. Technology-Manufacturing - Japanese Techniques   

Reviews (2)

what is history
I am intrigued by this collection of essays in "Capitalism and the Historians" published in 1954.Professor F. A. Hayek of the University of Chicago USA is the editor with contributions from Louis Hacker, W. H. Hutt and Bertrand de Jouvenel.The topic of discussion is specifically, the "legend of the deterioration of th eposition of the working classes in consequence to the rise of 'capitalism'", and generally, "the widespread aversion to 'capitalism'".On a larger scale, these essays examine what is "history", as apart from "political legend".Professor Ashton attacks a general pessismism and lack of economic sense in the commonly accepted views of the economic developments of the nineteenth century.He opposes the views of Sombart and Schumpeter which write history "as though it its function were simply to exhibit the gradualness of inevitability."Rather, Ashton maintains "that it is from the spontaneous actions and choices of ordinary people that progress springs."Louis M Hacker addresses the same themes as Ashton and discusses the present attitude of American historians toward capitalism. Hacker summarises, "When, therefore, historians learn to treat their materials more sensitively and make corrections on the counts indicated, the popularly accepted notions about profits as exploitation will undergo drastic revision." Bertrand de Jouvenel examines the treatment of capitalism by continental intellectuals.He explains that the modern intelligentsia occupies a similar position as the clerics of Medieval Times although their authority is undermined because they lack the responsibility of the clerics who were themselves part of the community."The study of the past," writes de Jouvenel, "always bears the imprint of the present views." In the second part of this book, Ashton examines what happened to the standard of life of the British working classes in the late decades of the eighteenth and the early decades of the nineteenth.W H Hutt also examines the British factory system of this period.The report of the "Sadler's Commitee" in 1832 is analyzed.Although this examination and defence of "capitalism" made for extremely interesting reading, I was more impressed with the methods these historians used to extract their view of events and thereby, redefine common misconceptions of an historical period.If you are interested in the early development of the Industrial Revolution in Britain, or in history as a dynamic organism, this book will be interesting to you.

Capitalism not as a "dirty word."
Hayek's books are always not easy ones. This book, not unlike other ones,is hard to understand.Read more

Subjects:  1. Capitalism    2. Economic Conditions    3. Economic history    4. General    5. Great Britain    6. Historiography    7. History    8. History - General History    9. History: World    10. Working class    11. Capitalist or free market economies    12. Conservatism & right-of-centre democratic ideologies    13. History / General    14. Social history    15. United Kingdom, Great Britain   

Reviews (2)

Mischaracterizes the position of professionalism in modern society
Following the Weberian tradition, Freidson contrasts the professions with the competitive market and the bureaucratic institution as ideal types. This is an interesting task and should take about twenty pages, not a whole book. The interesting observation, however, is that in modern economies, the three are not alternatives, but rather are complementary. For instance, physicians (professionals) work in hospitals (bureaucracies) whose success depends on attracting patients (the competitive market). The interesting question, not addressed in this book, is the conditions under which professionalism can be maintained and expanded, even in the context of markets and competitive bureaucratic institutions. Answering this question requires using sophisticated analytical tools from economic theory (e.g., game theory and principal agent models) as well as anthropological skills used in investigating the characteristics of professional activities. Friedson is capable of neither.

A short article would have sufficed
I cannot speak fairly of the rest of Friedson's work, so perhaps this book is received differently by those who are familiar with his oeuvre.That being said, there is nothing in this book that justifies its length.Its subject matter could have been soundly dealt with in an article-length piece.Read more

Subjects:  1. Economic Conditions    2. General    3. Occupations    4. Professions    5. Social Science    6. Social aspects    7. Sociology    8. Sociology - General    9. Business ethics    10. Political science & theory    11. Social Science / General    12. Social theory   

Reviews (25)

I am smarter than you !
The core of the book is correct, but much is an attempt to show how clever the writers are and how much research they have collected over the years. Sure a business does need the people who drive their own car to a passenger's home 150 miles away to deliver a birthday present left on their aircraft, but if you have more than a few of these, you go broke. If things look too good compared to the world around them then they probably they are just too good to be real. Markets are a fine balance bewteen giving paying customers what they will pay for, and having a few layers of very thin gold plate (based on extreme service stories) that make the offer look better than what they are paying for today. Ask anyone who started a business (and gets paid last after the staff and the government) if they believe in the tooth fairy of good times capitalism, and they will tell you if this exists, they are yet to see it.

An Outstanding Diagnosis
I strongly recommend The Support Economy. Stellar!!
This book has changed the way I think about the world and business. I never thought about the fact that when markets change the way we do business must change. The book calls us ' history's shock absorbers" as we live with the pain and opportunity that arises when one business model is dying and another is being born. The book is packed with insights, facts and theory that open the mind to a new way of doing business. It is ground breaking stuff. We never think about capitalism in our everyday business livesbut maybe we should have done . We are part of history and we can make more money and build bettercorporationsif we really understood this. I would recommend this book to everyone. It is a great read and a map to a new future. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business And Society    4. Business/Economics    5. Economic Conditions    6. Economic Theory    7. Economics - General    8. Free Enterprise    9. Business & Economics / Economics / Theory    10. Capitalist or free market economies    11. Ownership & organization of enterprises   

Reviews (1)

Working in the New Economy
As a member of the New Left in the 1960's, Richard Sennett was a young radical railing against big corporations and big government.He was also critical of state socialism for being just another bureaucratic system holding the individual in its suffocating grip.That was then, now the bureaucracies have been delayered and flattened out. It's management by email.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Capitalism    4. Economic Conditions    5. Economics - General    6. General    7. Industrial organization    8. Industrial sociology    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Social Science    11. Social aspects    12. Sociology    13. Capitalist or free market economies    14. Economic theory & philosophy    15. International economics    16. Social Science / General   

Reviews (7)

Out of an abundant Heart...
He put's his faith on africa's young up and coming "cheetahs", and so do I. I feel empowered by George's bare knuckle rumble in the jungle with the political elite and can't wait to join this fight.
InsightfulAnalysis of Africa Today
This is the most brilliant texton Africa I have read, and I don't say that lightly. With almost 500 pages of small text, it's not exactly a breeze to get through, but it is worth every second spent. The author unapologetically describes the mess that the "Hippo" generation following decolonization made, and how it ruined the continent. His prescriptions, which amount to `Africans must solve their own problems in their own way, growing out of African traditions', is right on. I hope that anyone interested in Africa reads this book.

good book
this is a great book. IF we have more people like George that tell the truth about Africa like he does in his book, maybe, just maybe we will be able to transform Africa. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1960-    2. Africa    3. Development - Economic Development    4. Economic Conditions    5. Economic policy    6. General    7. Political Science    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Poverty    11. Public Policy - Regional Planning    12. African history: postwar, from c 1945 -    13. Development economics    14. Political Science / Economic Conditions    15. Political economy    16. Political science & theory   

Reviews (6)

An intellectual turn of the page
Writing about most countries goes through cycles, where perceptive observation along with cliches and received ideas gel into a conventional wisdom that lingers, obscuring the view and damaging the public's ability to come to grips with new realities.
Excellent, well organized
Great book describing all facets of Japan following its fall from grace after its booming 1980s.I did not find all of the sections of the book equally captivating (due to personal biases...or maybe I'm being too lenient) and glossed over a few, but I was able to do that since the book was organized so nicely.Each chapter is a good length at about 30 pages x 10 chapters for a total of just over 300 pages.There are relevant pictures included in black and white, and that substantially helped the book avoid lapsing into dry, academic writing that I have found in some other books on this subject.I fancy economics and business, and the book covered those to my satisfaction.
Less transformation than revolution
Japan's Quiet Transformation is one of the most important books published about Japan in recent years. It is unsparing in its critique of Japan's many ills. But it goes well beyond the standard doom-laden portrayal to paint a picture of a country in the midst of a sweeping transformation. At a glance, it seems like an unlikely yarn. The subject is Japan, after all. But Quiet Transformation is a compelling and entertaining read that stands to become a classic on Japan's largely ignored battle to turn itself around in the early 21st century -- albeit with no guarantees of success. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Asia - General    3. Asia - Japan    4. Civil society    5. Economic Conditions    6. General    7. History - General History    8. Japan    9. Political Science    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Public Policy - Economic Policy    12. Social change    13. Sociology    14. 21st century    15. Asian studies    16. Cultural studies    17. Economics    18. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    19. Political Science / General    20. c 1990 to c 2000   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (2)

Good Overview of European State Formation
Charles Tilly is obviously taking on a big topic.In this book, he covers 1000 years of state formation in Europe.His primary interest is to determine why states have converged from divergent state forms (city states, federations, and empires) to a single form (the national state).What I enjoyed about this book is that, unlike so many theories of international politics, it does not take the modern state system for granted but shows that it is the product of a complex historical process.Central to the process is the imperative of the state of extend its influence and to protect itself from rival states. Tilly shows that the growth in the capital intensity and complexity of warfare has led over time to a strengthen of the state and an expansion of its role.This is a plausible theory which has much to commend it.I would have liked to have seen two more issues addressed in the book ... A difficult but highly rewarding read
In these days of historical specialization, a comprehensive treatment of any subject is most welcome, whatever its faults.Tilly has indeed set himself a daunting task, namely to explain the development of state formation in Europe over the last millennium; specifically, he seeks to explain why a pattern of divergent state formations ultimately converged in the form of the modern nation-state.To the chagrin of social scientists, he assumes that war has always been the central object of the state; economic/political determinism is complementary but subordinate.Given that the nation-state has enjoyed the greatest military success throughout the centuries, all states have been forced either to move in that direction or cease to exist.Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Capitalism    4. Economic Conditions    5. Europe    6. Europe - General    7. History    8. History - General History    9. History: World    10. Politics and government    11. Business & Economics / Economic Conditions    12. Constitution: government & the state    13. EUROPE_ECONOMIC CONDITIONS    14. EUROPE_HISTORY    15. European history (ie other than Britain & Ireland)    16. Modern period, c 1500 onwards    17. c 1000 CE to c 1500    18. c 500 CE to c 1000 CE   

Reviews (3)

Inequality is worldwide.Is it human evil or human nature?
The message of "Inequality Matters" is that inequality is a man-made phenomenon, especially egregious in the United States, that demands to be redressed through public policy.
Unequal Representation but Good Essays
"Inequality Matters" is a collection of 22 essays by different authors about the growing gap between the rich of America and the rest of us. The best is Bill Moyers' opening -- and passionate -- shot at the "plunder of public trust" and the "spectacle of corruption" that is the present day situation of the United States.
Inequality Matters -- and How!
Midway through 2004, veteran journalist James Lardner, with the help of the Demos think tank in New York, put together the first national conference directly focused on economic inequality - the gap between America's rich and everyone else - since that gap started widening in the late 1970s.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Economic Conditions    5. Economic aspects    6. Economics - General    7. Equality    8. Government - U.S. Government    9. Income distribution    10. Public Policy - Economic Policy    11. Social aspects    12. United States    13. Economics    14. USA   

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. China    3. Commercial policy    4. Economic Conditions    5. Globalization    6. Government policy    7. Investments, Foreign    8. Labor    9. Labor & Industrial Relations - General    10. Middle East - Egypt    11. Political Science    12. Political aspects    13. Politics/International Relations    14. Asian and Asian American Studies    15. Development economics    16. Economics    17. Egypt    18. Labour economics    19. Political Science / Globalization    20. Political Science and International Relations    21. Political economy   

Reviews (3)

Explaining the past illuminates the present
The European Miracle is a book I have been meaning to read for years.Having finally done so, I found it a pleasure to read, a work which explains much of the past in ways which illuminate the present. Only if you HAVE to read it....
This book was extremely informative for anyone that might enjoy the economic history of Europe.For those that are reading it because you HAVE to; expect for the reading to go slow and to have to re-read certain areas.Jones could have said the same things with words half as long with half as many pages!In all fairness to the author, I read this only because it was mandatory for a college economics class; not because it is a topic I typically enjoy.

Interesting but not great
A sort of precursor to the brilliant book Guns Germs and Steel by Diamond. This book is by an Australian academic E.L.Jones. It seeks to explain why Europe a backward area of the world in the 1300's came to be the strongest by the 19th Century.